The end is near.
Our free society has produced countless street freaks who have donned full-bodied signs bearing that very morbid declaration, while handing out flyers to pedestrians who rarely extended their hands for the gloomy literature. Although these pavement pounders' message has been that of a more apocalyptic nature, for a couple of ASU wrestlers, the phrase rings true on a different scale.
Sun Devil grapplers Nick Frost and Ron Renzi share something in common that no one else on the No. 18 ASU wrestling squad can say - they are seniors. And as the team gets set to host its final dual meets of the regular season this weekend at Wells Fargo Arena, the fact that the end is near is something the two are finding difficult to come to grips with.
"I try not to think about it," Renzi said. "Everyone reminds me of that. It's tough, but it's motivated me to work harder from here on out."
Reality, it seems, has hit Frost a bit more.
"It's kinda weird," Frost said. "We've been here for five years, and it's almost over. I think it'll hit harder once Pac-10's role around."
The Sun Devils will host the Pac-10 championships, scheduled to begin Feb. 29. But before that, they take on Fresno State tonight at Wells Fargo Arena, and then will welcome No. 29 Northern Iowa Sunday afternoon.
While it's easy to get caught up in the emotion that goes with seeing the end of their wrestling careers coming closer, the two realize they must take care of business this weekend.
"Fresno State is always tough," Frost said. "They beat us last year, so we're gonna be up for them."
Renzi said he and Frost plan to go out with a bang.
"We're looking to go out strong, on a good note," adds Renzi. "We take every match seriously, especially this being our last at home."
Certainly, the pair needs to focus this weekend in order to solidify their rankings before the Pac-10 Championships, but as the season winds down, the two friends can't help but feel nostalgic.
"He's one of my best friends," Renzi said of Frost. "He's made me a better wrestler. We've worked out together, and we're always there for each other."
While the two will miss the competition of matches and being teammates, the strains of staying fit and practicing every day will not be missed.
"When this is all over, I'm just gonna get fat and sit by the pool," Renzi said.
The inevitable end doesn't seem that bad after all.
Reach the reporter at vic.vela@asu.edu.
