|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
SJSU Wrestling Archives The Spartan Daily 11-5-80 |
||
|
|
||
|
Strongest Mat Team Ever? |
||
|
by Jerry McDonald |
||
| It is too much to expect for the Spartan wrestling team to improve on a season in which it was 19-4 in dual meets,
first in the PCAA and No. 18 in the dual meet rankings? Not according to wrestling coach T.J. Kerr, who feels this year's team could be his best ever. The team is so strong in fact, that the annual alumni meet has been canceled. The reason? Kerr didn't want to throw the ex-Spartan wrestlers to the wolves. "We are just going to have another night of Blue-Gold matches," Kerr said. "This team would just be too strong for an alumni team." "Maybe if all the alumni were at their peak in physical condition, it might be a match. But that's not the case," he added. The Blue-Gold meet is an intersquad to decide the Spartan starters. The Spartan's first Blue_gold meet will start at 7:30 tonight at Spartan Gym. The winners that night will wrestle returnees from last year for the right to represent the Spartans in their first dual meet of the season, a Nov. 25 showdown with powerful Cal State-Bakersfield. "Bakersfield is a national power." Kerr said. "They had two NCAA champs who were on national television last season. "So it is important to our wrestlers, they all want to get in on that meet," he continued. The following is a rundown on tonight's Blue-Gold action: 118-Brian Canali vs. Brad Gustafson. Winner to face Mike Rodrigues Saturday night. 126-David Olmos vs. Albert Perez. Winner to face Wayne Jones Saturday night. 134-David Barnes vs. David Gray. Winner to face Eddie Baza Saturday night. 143-Bart Ah You vs. John Middlestead; Cesar Escudero vs. Brian Strock. Winners meet Saturday night. 150-Corky Olmos vs. Jeff Smith; Jay Slivkoff vs. Dennis Shea. Winners meet Saturday night. 158-no match. John Guy vs. Reggie Thompson on Saturday night. 167-Randy Davis vs. Anthony Garcia; Clay Davis vs. Doug Johnson. Winners meet Saturday night. 177-Ernest Lee Collins vs. Andy Tsarnas. Winner meets David Brouhard on Saturday night. 190-Phil Blocker vs. John Torrise. Winner to face Billy Thomas Saturday night. Hwt-no match. Guy Heath vs. Jerry Morrison on Saturday night. An added attraction to the card will be a match between the Spartans' two finest light weight wrestlers. Wayne Jones (126) and Eddie Baza (134) tonight, since they aren't slated to wrestle in the Blue-Gold until Saturday night. Now a junior, Baza took the PCAA crown in both of his previous seasons at SJSU. "This should be our strongest team," Kerr said. "We've got 36 wrestlers, which is high for this time of year, and we feel if someone gets hurt or we lose a couple of our top guys, we'll have capable fill-ins and still be able to win." The only notable losses for the Spartans were graduates Doug Stewart (150) and Ken Klein (177), who Kerr described as "tough, consistent performers." In addition, Casey Gulliford, currently the starting nose guard on the Spartan football team and last year's PCAA heavyweight champ, did not come out for the team. Kerr assumes he is red-shirting. Kerr said he is happy with the performance of Jones and Baza, but likes the competition they get in practice. "They are both quality people, but if they got beat by someone on our team, i couldn't be happier," Kerr said. One wrestler Kerr is expecting big things from is Thompson (158). "I've always said the only thing keeping Reggie Thompson back is himself," Kerr said. "If he believes in himself, he has all the tools to become a national champion. He's explosive, strong, quick, and well-skilled." Other Spartans to watch are Brouhard (177), who placed eighth in the U.S. Olympic trials, and Thomas (190), another in the line of Thomas bothers. Jewerl, a former Spartan footballer, now with the Los Angeles Rams, and Ken, currently on the Spartan football team, are the others. Thomas red-shirted last year after transferring from UCLA. "Of course, being a Thomas brother, he's got great ability and skill," Kerr said. "We held him out last year so we could get two full years from him. I expect him to slowly improve as time goes on." |
||
