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Wrestlers Open Up With Optimism
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by Brian Wong
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| On paper, SJSU's wrestling team has all the potential to top last year's ninth place finish in the NCAA championships. |
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| In coach T.J. Kerr's mind, however, the pieces of the puzzle still need to be assembled. |
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| "We could do as well as last year," said Kerr, last season's PCAA Coach of the Year who is in his 11th
season with the Spartans. "If we don't do well, it's hard to raise money and sell tickets." |
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| SJSU's wrestling program, which doesn't offer any scholarships under the university, has been outstanding under
Kerr. In 10 years, the Spartans have won eight PCAA titles and there's no reason to believe that it won't happen
again this winter. |
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| "If everything goes right, we could be in the Top 10 (in the country) again," assistant coach Rudy Guevara
said. |
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| The Spartans, who visit Chico State Thursday night, hope to win without the services of graduated All-Americans
Eddie Baza and Wayne Jones. |
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| Jones finished third in the nation last season at 126 pounds, while Baza was fourth at 134 pounds. |
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| Five PCAA titlists are back. They are Brad Gustafson (126), John Middlestead (142), David Barnes (142), Andy Tsarnas
(190), and Jerry Morrison (hwt). |
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| Also returning are Jay Slivkoff (150), Pat Huyck (158), Michael Hairston (167), Marvin Jones (177), and redshirts
Brian Canali (118) and Albert Perez (134). |
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| "This is the best group of overall returnees," Kerr said. "I also like the group of freshmen. I
see two years of maturity in them." |
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| The new Spartans include 16 high school wrestlers, six of whom were state champions or runnerups. Standouts so
far in practice are North Salinas' Danny Cota (118) and Escalon's Darryl Pope. |
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| Kerr said he will use last week's Blue-Gold meet to determine who will be in the starting lineup of the Chico Sate
meet. |
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| Spartans nursing injuries are Canali (pinched neck nerve), Hairston (sprained knee), Ciprian (fractured patella),
Fugfugosh (knee), Eric Middlestead (knee), Newton (skin infection), and Jeff Smith (knee). |
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| SJSU's first home meet is Nov. 23 against wrestling powerhouse Cal State Bakersfield. |
