A team with a 5-13 record heading into the conference tournament usually wouldn't have high expectations. But the ASU wrestling squad travels to Corvallis, Ore., this Sunday confident that its poor regular season record is not indicative of its true talent.
Senior captain Bubba Jenkins (157-pound weight class) and junior Eric Starks (174) are both scheduled to return to the mat from knee injuries for the Sun Devils, who are lead by top-ranked undefeated senior Anthony Robles (125) and No. 23 heavyweight Levi Cooper.
“I think that everyone’s attitude is really good,” ASU coach Shawn Charles said. “Our dual meet season is over, and we did what we could do in spite of having to forfeit two weight classes. I think everybody’s excited about having the whole team back heading into the Pac-10 tournament.”
The Sun Devils are healthy for the first time in over a month, and feel like they are peaking just in time to run the table this weekend.
“We’ve been training pretty hard this past week, and I think it’s just time for that final push," Robles said. "I’m hoping that our guys will step up.”
Giving up forfeits at the 157 and 174 weight classes hurt the Sun Devils all year long during duals. This was the main factor in many of ASU's lopsided losses.
“When you’re giving up that many points, there’s really no room for error,” Robles said. “But with [Jenkins and Starks] back, we’ll be a force at the Pac-10s now.”
The Sun Devils have had two weeks off since their last competition, utilizing that time to correct mistakes in the practice room as well as to rest their bodies for the grueling all-day tournament that lies ahead of them.
“I think we’re probably one of the better conditioned teams in the Pac-10, by far," junior Jake Meredith (184) said. "I think it’s just about keeping our bodies ready at this point."
The Sun Devils have had a rough go of it as of late, closing out the season with nine consecutive losses. This losing steak has acted as a motivating factor for ASU during these past few weeks in practice.
"A lot of the guys have a chip on their shoulder,” junior Te Edwards (165) said.
Without question, the Sun Devils are feeling underrated and underestimated heading into the tournament, Edwards said.
"We’ll be ready to go, and we’re going to shock a lot of people,” Edwards said. “I feel like we have a lot to prove, because people are underrating us because our dual meet record wasn’t as good as it could be.”
Jenkins, who was the 2008 NCAA runner-up at 149 pounds for Penn State, is looking to prove his worth with another title run this year, this time in maroon and gold.
“I could take five months off, but as long as my air is there, I’ll be able to wrestle with anybody,” said the redshirt senior, who has not wrestled since Dec. 19. “It’s going to be a good, rude awakening for this country.”
The majority of attention will focus on No. 1 Robles, however, who has developed into a rock star of sorts because of his domination this year (21 of his 28 wins by technical fall this season).
He, like several other Sun Devils, is looking not only to come away Pac-10 champion this weekend, but also hopes to use the tournament as a final preparation for nationals in mid-March.
“I came into this year believing that I could be a national champion, and whether or not I’m ranked number one right now doesn’t change a thing,” Robles said. “I still have to go out there and perform, and that’s what I’ve been training to do. Rankings don’t mean anything, the press doesn’t mean anything — I’m just staying focused on what’s important, and that’s a national title.”
Reach the reporter at kyle.j.newman@asu.edu
