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SJSU Wrestling Archives The Spartan Daily 2-26-82 |
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Matmen Favored In PCAA Championships |
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by Mike Jones |
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| Going into today's PCAA wrestling championships at Spartan Gym, the SJSU Spartans are considered the team to beat.
They finished unbeaten in league play this year and are ranked 11th in the nation. "I feel we are in as good shape as can be expected" said coach T.J. Kerr. "I'm pretty confident. I think they're up for it." Kerr also mentions that it would not be surprising if five or six Spartans won titles. Here is the way the lineup for the Spartans will look in the meet: 118 pounds: The Spartans will be going with sophomore Brad Gustafson. Gustafson is one of the wrestlers Kerr said has a good shot at winning a title. His top competition will come from Pablo Saenz of Cal State-Long Beach and Abric Liley from Fresno State. 126 pounds: Wayne Jones is definitely the man to beat. However, Ray Gulmatico from Nevada-Las Vegas could be a big obstacle in Jones' path. 134 pounds: The big favorite here is Ed Baza. Defending the title he won at this weight a year ago, Baza is shooting for his fourth straight PCAA crown. The man Baza must keep his eye on is Mark Tomlinson from Nevada-Las Vegas. 142 pounds: The Spartans will be going with junior John Middlestead. Mittlestead is considered an underdog to win the title as the favorites are John DiGiacoma from Utah State and Bobby Sole from Cal State-Long Beach. 150 pounds: This is the one title that has no clear-cut favorite. The Spartans will send junior Michael Hairston. One favorite is Robert Juarez of Fresno State who finished fourth a year ago. 167 pounds: SJSU's Andy Tsarnas, who finished second last year, will try to better that position this year. His stiffest competition will come from David Hagedorn of Utah State who finished fourth last year. 177 pounds: Sophomore John Torrise will go for the Spartans and he'll be facing many quality wrestlers. Tony De Paoli form Fullerton State who finished second last year, and Andre Bynmum from Utah State who finished fourth, will be the ones Torrise will have to look out for. 190 pounds: Freshman Marvin Jones will be the Spartans' hope here. "Jones is looking better each time he gets on the mat," said Kerr. The favorite here has to be John Schebler from Utah State who finished second a year ago. Heavyweight: After a redshirt year in 1981, Casey Gulliford returns for the Spartans. Gulliford, who won this title in 1980, is coming back from a knee injury he sustained earlier this season. He appears to be healthy now. Last year's champion, J.L. Coon from Utah State, is out with a knee injury, so Gulliford is considered the favorite. The championships begin today at 1:00 pm with the finals starting at 7:30 tonight. KSJS (90.7 FM) will be covering the finals beginning tonight at 7:15. Steve Scott and Tony Kovaleski will be calling the action. |
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