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The 2009-10 college wrestling season is upon us. While teams are gearing up for competition on the mat, TWM takes a look at some interesting tidbits and facts about teams on and off the mat in this new blog feature. First up is 11 things you need to know about the Arizona State wrestling program
By Matt Krumrie
TWM Senior Editor
info@thewrestlingmall.com
1. In the 31 years Arizona State has been a member of the Pac-10 Conference (1979 tournament was its first), the Sun Devils have won the most Pac-10 individual titles with 100 while Oregon State (OSU) is second with 58.
2. When counting all 47 years of competition, OSU has the all-time individual title lead with 117 compared to ASU's 100 accumulated in 31 years.
3. In that same time, ASU has won 16 Pac-10 titles, the second-most all-time behind OSU, who has won 17 in 47 years as a member of the conference.
4. Since 1979, ASU and Boise State are the only schools to have won at least one individual Pac-10 title in each of the 10 current weight classes while ASU is the only school in Pac-10 history to win at least one title in each of the 19 weight classes used since 1979.
5. Sun Devil wrestlers Angel Alegre and Orlando Jimenez both served in the Navy together in San Diego, California. "We also wrestled for the Navy together from about 2003 until 2006," says Alegre. "We actually met after a workout and since then have always been side by side through thick and thin. We attended our first classes together, our first wrestling practice at ASU, and plan on walking across the stage together this May."
6. Ben Ashmore's brother Luke currently competes for Oklahoma State's wrestling team.
7. Imanibom Etukeren originally came to college to play football but settled on wrestling. His brother, Ataefiok, was a four-year letter-winner on the Georgetown football team at defensive end.
8. Jake Hannaford is the second member of his family to letter in a sport at a Pac-10 institution as his father lettered in basketball at Stanford from 1972-74.
9. Orson Lor was struck with Perthe's Disease while in elementary school and was unable to walk for over two years. He went on to win a state title in 2007 and place second and fourth as a senior and sophomore, respectively.
10. Lucas Mariacher comes from a very athletic family that includes his twin brother Reece wrestled at Buffalo, his brother Matt wrestles currently at American, his cousin Kyle Mariacher played football at Oklahoma State and NFL Hall of Fame running back Thurman Thomas is his uncle.
11. There are 33 wrestlers on the team this year with 20 hailing from Arizona (11) and California (nine). 12 different states are represented (AZ, CA, CO, FL, MI, NJ, NM, NV, NY, TX, VA, WA), including four that come from the East Coast (FL, NJ, NY, VA). ASU also has at least one athlete from three of the four corners of the continental U.S., including WA (northwest corner), FL (southeast corner) and CA (southwest corner).
Related: Arizona State Wrestling Official Site
Special thanks to ASU SID Alex Ryan for help with compiling this information.
If there is a team you would like to know more about, please email TWM senior editor Matt Krumrie at info@thewrestlingmall.com with your idea.
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