The ASU wrestling season unofficially began Friday night with the Sun Devil Wrestle-Offs at Riches Wrestling Complex. The Gold team edged the Maroon team 18-15, the difference coming on a pin in the night’s final match.
The meet was more than simply an intrasquad affair. In addition to bragging rights, the starting positions for several weight classes were on the line Friday in what was the public’s first glimpse of the revamped 2011 ASU wrestling squad.
“These guys work really, really hard preparing themselves mentally and physically in early September, trying to get their minds ready and their bodies ready to come out here and compete and win the spot to be a varsity guy for Arizona State,” head coach Shawn Charles said. “There’s a lot of pressure, and we try to even add on to that pressure by having a crowd here.”
Veterans such as returning redshirt junior and heavyweight All-American Levi Cooper have already locked down a few of the higher weight classes, but the starting spots for many of the smaller weights are still up in the air.
Friday night served as a prime opportunity for the Sun Devil grapplers who were still vying for a starting spot to showcase their talents.
“This is a good opportunity for the public to get a chance to view what we’ve been working on and the kind of things we’ve been doing,” Cooper said. “We’re trying to expose ourselves to everyone before the actual season gets underway.”
Due to the fact that 17 of the 30 Sun Devils listed on this season’s roster are either freshmen or redshirt freshmen, there’s no question that ASU will lean heavily on its youngsters this winter.
“We don’t have as much firepower, obviously, after losing (Anthony Robles and Bubba Jenkins), but we’re deeper throughout the weight classes,” Cooper said. “Some of these freshman are very good. They’re going to surprise some people.”
Four freshmen did just that on Friday. Preston McCalmon, Kory DeBerry, Derek Felton and Tommy Burriel all had statement wins, including Felton’s pin at 165 and Burriel’s pin at 197 that capped the rally for the Maroon team.
“It helps build their confidence,” assistant coach Anthony Robles said. “It’s their first real experience in front of a crowd. They’re in here all day training against each other, and now there’s all these people in here watching, so it’s a little bit different.”
Senior Eric Starks, who recorded a major victory at 174 pounds on Friday, explained that even though the opponent is a teammate, being in front of a crowd for the first time prepares the Sun Devils for actual battle.
“Because we’re in front of people and we got our nerves going,” Starks said, “it simulates a regular duel meet or tournament situation.”
Equipped with the combination of experience and talented underclassmen that was on display Friday night, the Sun Devils feel they are in a good position to be competitive in dual meets this year — pending, of course, their ability to remain healthy. ASU has already had a few minor injury problems this fall.
“A lot of it is just health issues right now,” Cooper said. “If we have our best guys on the mat, I think we’re going to be very competitive with most people.”
ASU is set to travel to Ypsilanti, Mich. next weekend to take part in their Nov. 5 season-opening tournament, the Eastern Michigan Open.
Reach the reporter at kjnewma2@asu.edu
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