| The SJSU wrestling team is off to another fast start. |
| |
| The Spartans overwhelmed Chico State 48-3 Wednesday night, and the outcome was never in doubt, even SJSU coach
T.J. Kerr was surprised by the margin of victory. |
| |
| "I was very pleased with what i saw," Kerr said. "We knew we had a better team, but you never know
what to expect in an early season meet." |
| |
| In their first dual meet of the season, the Spartans showed the form people have come to expect from the team that
has dominated the PCAA for nine of the last eleven years. |
| |
| In other words, SJSU was very tough. |
| |
| There wasn't much to cheer about for Wildcat fans. The Spartans won every bout except the 158 pound class, where
Chico senior Rex Davis took a 10-7 decision from freshman Kraig Walker. |
| |
| The meet began with a battle of freshmen as Spartan Arnold Khanbabian got a surprise start at 118 pounds. Senior
Brian Canali warmed up for the meet, but Kerr went with Khanbabian to give Canali time to rest a shoulder injury. |
| |
| "Brian was ready to go, but i decided to rest him tonight," the coach said. "We need him more against
Bakersfield next Tuesday." |
| |
| Khanbabian did his part by decisioning Chico freshman Curtis Sawyer 6-4, and Kerr was pleased with his performance. |
| |
| "Arnold did a fine job," Kerr said. "He gained some valuable experience tonight." |
| |
| SJSU rolled to big wins in the next four bouts. Albert Perez (126) had little trouble beating Chico freshman Gill
Schmidt 20-7, and Spartan freshman got his first taste of college wrestling by taking the 134 pound class 20-7
from Chico letterman Joe Grabski. |
| |
| "Anthony wrestled very well tonight," Kerr said. "He's making the switch form high school to college
wrestling." |
| |
| Said Palomino, "It's a lot different than high school. I felt some pressure out there because a lot of my
family and friends were here tonight." |
| |
| Palomino was a prep star at San Jose's Independence High School. |
| |
| Three-time PCAA champion David Barnes (142) took a 20-6 win over a determined but overmatched Wildcat Mike Weddel
in the night's most physical match. Barnes used his superior strength to toss Weddel around the mat, racking up
points on takedowns. Spartan Jay Slivkoff got the first fall of the night when he stopped Todd Wagner at 4:05 of
the second round in the 150 pound class, and the Spartans led 24-0 at the halfway mark. |
| |
| Davis finally broke through for the Wildcats when he narrowly decisioned Walker at 158 pounds. |
| |
| "Kraig could have won just as easily," Kerr said. "He wrestled hard but he made a couple of mistakes
at the end." |
| |
| The Spartans then slammed the door by winning the final three matches by falls. Sophomore Darryl Pope wasted little
time winning the 167 pound class. Pope pinned Wildcat freshman Rich Merrell in just 71 seconds. |
| |
| Junior Chris Atkinson (177) went the other way, pinning Chico senior Roger Blake with just two seconds remaining
in the final round. |
| |
| Atkinson was determined to pin Blake in the final seconds. |
| |
| "That's coach Kerr's philosophy...go hard until the end," Atkinson said. "I'm just trying to secure
my place on the team." |
| |
| Andy Tsarnas (190) closed the meet by pinning Craig Edling at 2:56. Spartan heavyweight Mike Monroe won by forfeit
to account for the final score. |
| |
| "It's always good to start with a win, but we'll find out just how good we are against Bakersfield on Tuesday,"
Kerr said about the meet. |
| |
|
Click here for printer friendly version
|
