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Wrestlers Open Season At Home With Wildcats
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by John Ormsby
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| After spending last week tuning up with intersquad and alumni meets, the SJSU wrestling team takes to the mat for
real tonight. |
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| The Spartans host Chico State at 7:30 in a dual meet that should answer some questions about both teams. |
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| Spartan coach T.J. Kerr's teams have won nine out of the last 11 Pacific Coast Athletic Association championships.
Tonight's match will give him an idea how his squad stands as it sets out to make it 10 out of 12. |
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| Since Wildcat coach Armand Brett has redshirted some talented wrestlers this season, the meet should show him how
his team will fare with only three returning lettermen. |
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| Division II Chico State finished 7-10 and third in the Northern California Athletic Conference last year. |
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| "I hesitate to call it a rebuilding year because we have some very good wrestlers," Brett said. "We'll
just try to get as much as we can out of the guys we have on the roster." |
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| Kerr doesn't expect the Wildcats to be pushovers. "They may not be on the same level as some of the bigger
schools," he said, "but they have some quality people." |
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| Brett is counting on his three returning lettermen and one junior college transfer. |
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| Sophomore Joe Grabski (134 pounds) is returning from last year's squad and will match up with freshman Anthony
Palomino. Another sophomore, Todd Wagner, will wrestle at 150 pounds. Wagner draws the unenviable task of facing
defending PCAA champion Jay Slivkoff. |
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| The most experienced Wildcat is senior Rex Davis, a 158 pounder. Davis will take on Spartan Kraig Walker. |
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| Brett will also count on junior Craig Edling to anchor his young squad. Edling is a transfer from Modesto Junior
College where he was fourth in the state as a heavyweight, but Brett says, "we plan to use him at 190 so we
still have some questions about him." |
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| Edling will face a tough test when he takes on two-time defending PCAA champion Andy Tsarnas. |
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| Brett has not picked a man to face Spartan heavyweight Mike Monroe. |
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| "We might move someone up in weight, we might throw a freshman in there, and we might just forfeit that weight,"
Brett said. |
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| Brett said he doesn't shy away from Division I schools, nor does he worry about opening the season against the
powerful Spartans. |
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| "I know T.J. pretty well, so at least i know what to expect," Brett said. "I know they'll be tougher
than hell." |
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