Wrestling

Jan. 27, 1998

No. 6 Sun Devil Wrestling Heads Back Home to Take on No. 20 Oregon

On Tap: The Arizona State wrestling team, ranked sixth in the nation, heads back home to take on Pac-10 foe #20 Oregon on Friday night in the University Activity Center at 7 p.m. The Devils then head back out on the road to Provo to take on the Cougars of BYU on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.

Last Week: The Devils were on the road for their first Pac-10 road match of the season against the Mustangs of Cal Poly SLO. Eight of the 10 Sun Devils recorded victories in the match. Senior Aaron Simpson pinned Brian Bowles 25 seconds into the match, putting his dual record at a perfect 14-0 on the season. Fifth-ranked redshirt freshman Steve Blackford defeated 13th-ranked Craig Welk for the third time this season. Blackford won the match in double overtime, 2-1.

About Oregon: Oregon, ranked 20th in the nation, has a 6-2 overall record, and a 4-1 record in the Pac-10. The Ducks defeated Fresno State at home last week 28-13. After losing the first two weight classes, seven of the next eight wrestlers won for the Ducks. The Ducks feature nine ranked wrestlers in the Pac-10, including John Taylor at 118 pounds, also ranked 11th in the nation, and Jeremy Ensrud at 134 pounds, who is ranked third in the nation.

About BYU: The Cougars are coming off a huge win over Portland State at home. The Cougars posted victories by nine of the 10 wrestlers, and routed the Vikings 39-9. BYU features heavyweight Chris Miller, a freshman from Provo, Utah, who has been named WAC Wrestler of the week twice this season, most recently during the week of January 19th.

All-Americans: ASU wrestling returns three wrestlers from last year's squad who gamered all-America honors in their career. Senior Aaron Simpson finished eighth at 177 in 1996, junior Casey Strand finished sixth in the country at 167 pounds in 1997, and senior Matt Suter finished eighth at NCAAs in 1997 at 158 pounds.

Up Next: After BYU on Saturday the Devils return home on February 8th to take on third-ranked Iowa at 3 p.m. in the University Activity Center. The following night the Devils head up to Wyoming to take in the University of Wyoming on Monday night at 7 p.m.

Arizona State Lineup

118 Michael Kawamura, So.
15-11, 6-8 dual
126 Shawn Ford, Sr.
3-2, 3-2 dual
134 Quinn Foster, Fr.
16-5, 9-4 dual
142 Tracy Brown, Sr.
19-8, 11-3 dual
150 Steve Blackford, Fr.
20-3, 13-1 dual 
158 Matt Suter, Sr. 
17-6, 6-3 dual  
167 Casey Strand, Jr.
18-6, 10-4 dual
177 Aaron Simpson, Sr.
22-2, 14-0 dual
190 Jake Harman, Sr.
 9-13, 5-10 dual
Hwt Joe Micela, Sr.
12-10, 7-6 dual

* Sun Devil senior Aaron Simpson (177) was selected the Wrestler of the Tournament at the 1998 Cliff Keen/NWCA National Duals Jan. 18 in Iowa City. Simpson went 5-0 in the tourney, knocking off the fourth and 11th-ranked wrestlers in the nation.

* Freshman Quinn Foster (134) has recorded a team-high seven pins on the season. His quickest fall came at 0:35.

* Junior Casey Strand (167) has posted a team-best five major decisions this season.

* ASU has finished in the top 10 nationally in 11 of the previous 13 seasons.