The ASU wrestling team opens Pac-10 play on Saturday night at Wells Fargo Arena, where they play host to Cal State Fullerton.
No. 20 ASU (2-1) will take on the unranked Titans (0-2, 0-2) hoping to redeem its first home showing, a blowout loss to Oklahoma.
“I think we’re definitely feeling more confident,” redshirt senior Anthony Robles said. “We’re eager to get back in [Wells Fargo Arena] and avenge that loss that we had last week.”
ASU is coming off a strong showing last weekend, where seven Sun Devils placed at the Fullerton Open, including junior Eric Starks taking home the title in the 174-pound weight class. Redshirt seniors Robles and Bubba Jenkins also won their matches handily at Sunday’s NWCA All-Star Classic in Fresno.
“I think the guys are starting to turn the corner now,” junior Te Edwards said. “They just have got to figure out what their bread and butter is, what their go-to is, and just get a feel [for wrestling under the lights].”
ASU heads into the match favored against the Titans, some of whom the Sun Devils faced off against in the Fullerton tournament.
“Every match matters,” ASU assistant coach Ben Askren said. “They have a few tough kids here and there, so it would be nice if our guys could get wins over their more highly-ranked kids. But really, I think we should win this dual meet by quite a few points.”
ASU will prepare for CSFU like they would any other opponent, although this dual will simply act as a stepping-stone toward the Pac-10 and NCAA Championships.
“It’s important, but it’s still early in the season,” Askren said. “I’d say it’s a very minor part of the season.”
ASU has begun to settle into the swing of the things, as they are becoming more comfortable wrestling under the lights and in front of a crowd.
“Like I said, the first couple matches nerves [were a factor],” Edwards said. “Everybody’s getting better at this point.”
With the continued attention to conditioning and form, practice will look pretty much the same for ASU this week, despite Thanksgiving Day being just two days before the meet.
“I know we’re just going to have to watch our weight Thanksgiving night,” Robles joked. “But it’s nothing different for us; we just got to work hard and get the weight off. We’re used to it, we’ve been doing it for years now. It’s just another day.”
This will be ASU’s 12th meeting against the Titans in Tempe, with the all-time 16-3-0 record in favor of the Sun Devils. ASU’s wrestlers will not only look to add another tally to the win column, but to steamroll over CSFU.
“We expect to smash them this weekend,” Edwards said.
Saturday’s dual against the Titans will be ASU’s last competition before its December tournaments, the Las Vegas Invitational on Dec. 3 and 4, and the Reno Tournament of Champions on Dec. 19.
“We’re excited about winning, we’re excited about wrestling in front of the home crowd, but we’ve still got two huge tournaments coming up in December,” Askren said.
Reach the reporter at kyle.j.newman@asu.edu
