Wrestling

Jan. 27, 1998

Steady Success

By Luanne Muller
ASU Student SID

TEMPE, Ariz. - Arizona State senior wrestler Aaron Simpson grew up in McCook, Neb., but moved to Wellton, Ariz., when he was 12 years old. When it came down to deciding which college he would go to, Arizona State and Nebraska were his two choices.

"I grew up in Nebraska," he said. "My dream was always to play football there and be a Cornhusker. But, my family is in Arizona, and ASU has one of the top programs in the country."

So, he chose ASU. But he still confesses to being a die-hard Nebraska fan, "except when it plays ASU."

Simpson, the second-ranked wrestler at 177 pounds, also came to ASU because he respected the coaches and he knew that he would be able to learn a lot from them. If he ever decides to coach, he says, being around some of the top coaches in the country will definitely help him.

Before Simpson came to ASU, he wrestled at Antelope Union High School in Wellton, Ariz. Coached by his father, Mike Simpson, Aaron posted a career 142-1 record, and was a three-time prep All-American and a four-time 2A state champion.

Simpson has always been coached by his father, who he says has been the biggest influence on who he is as a person.

"My dad has had a huge impact on who I am both on and off the mat," Simpson said. "He comes to every one of my matches and is one of my best friends."

In addition to wrestling in high school, Simpson also played football and participated in track. He earned All-State honors as a wide receiver his junior year and was named to the All-Star team as a quarterback his senior year. He also earned All-Region recognition in football three out of the four years he played. Simpson was a also two-time 2A state champion in the triple jump.

He captained the football, track and wrestling squads his junior and senior years, and he also ran cross-country one year.

With all of his high school accomplishments, Simpson was a three-time Yuma Athlete of the Year.

Simpson has been wrestling since he was four years old, and although he played four different sports in high school, wrestling is the one that Simpson has focused on.

When he gets out of school, he will continue to train, he says. He hopes to make it to the 2004 Olympics, if not the 2000 Olympics.

To do that, though, he has to keep up the strict work-out regimen that he has set for himself. Outside of regular practices, Simpson runs, swims and lifts weights on his own.

"I put in a lot of extra hours after regular practice," he said. "I work out in the early morning and at night."

That type discipline of has helped him maintain his weight at 177 pounds. The NCAA recently made a new rule to allow wrestlers to be seven pounds outside of their weight class, but Simpson won't have to worry about that.

"I have been the same weight since high school," he said. "I don't have to worry about it, but I do think the new rule will help the sport. It will take pressure off of coaches and wrestlers, and it will eliminate the only negative aspect of the sport."

Negativity is something that Simpson tries to stay away from.

"I always try to stay positive," he said. "I try to block out the negatives, and just go out there, have fun and enjoy myself."

That attitude is what has allowed Simpson to be so successful, both in high school and at ASU. He was ranked as high as No. 2 his junior year, and is ranked No. 2 currently. Last year, he went 32-6 overall and 16-1 in dual matches. This year, Simpson is 21-2 overall and 13-0 in duals.

Simpson has excelled in all levels of competition from junior high to high school, and now in college. Simpson chose to come to Arizona State, and he has represented the Sun Devils very well.