Only a year after national champions Anthony Robles and Bubba Jenkins wrestled for the last time as Sun Devils, the ASU wrestling team is in the process of continuing its elite status.
Last year, the Sun Devils had zero All-Americans, a rare feat for the program that has produced legendary wrestlers from Curley Culp to Cain Velasquez.
This year, coach Shawn Charles believes his team, which lacked experience last year, is better equipped to deal with the competition.
“A lot of our guys put in a good summer,” Charles said. “They stayed here and trained with each other and showed me and the coaching staff that they are committed.”
The Sun Devils were the only team that sent freshmen (3) to the Pac-12 championships last year.
One of those freshmen, Kevin Radford, is now a redshirt sophomore and has emerged as one of the leaders on the team.
“(Radford) is one of our best leaders right now,” Charles said. “He leads by example. He’s made some improvements that have let him turn the corner.”
Charles believes Radford, who competes at 184 pounds, could contend for a national championship this year, and the redshirt sophomore is ready to step up and take more responsibility.
“I’m excited to step up and take a bigger role and watch the guys respond to me,” Radford said.
Heavyweight Levi Cooper, who earned All-American honors during the 2010-2011 season, will provide the senior leadership the team needs.
Charles expects big things, literally, on and off the mat from Cooper.
“Levi is in a position to win a national championship,” Charles said. “Every time he walks into the room, being that he’s the only All-American, he has immense credibility. The kids are going to follow him, and it’s important he sends the right message.”
Cooper also believes his senior year could be his best.
“This is my senior year, so this is my last opportunity,” Cooper said. “Every time I come in, I work as hard as I can to become a national champion.”
Cooper, along with the most of the team, spent the summer in Tempe training and is ready to finally start the season.
“I’m very excited to start the season,” Cooper said. “I’m tired of wrestling the same guy every day. I’m ready to put the smackdown on some other guys.”
Charles said other guys could step in and make an impact include redshirt freshman Blake Stauffer and redshirt senior Jake Meredith.
Meredith has experience, though, as he won the Pac-10 Championship during the 2010-2011 season in the 184 pound weight class.
“Jake’s a Pac-10 champion, so I think he’s right there in the hunt to be an All-American,” Charles said.
With a year of experience under most of their returners’ belts, the Sun Devils have a chance to get back to the promise land they are all too familiar with.
“Expectations are very high,” Charles said. “We definitely have a young team, but they are dedicated, hardworking young men and the sky is the limit for us.”
Reach the reporter at dsshapi1@asu.edu
