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Wrestlers Pin Down SJSU Spirit
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Editorial
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| In this time of attendance woes, academic problems and scholarship shortages, the Athletic Department will have
something to cheer about this weekend, when the Spartan wrestlers take to the mats at the National Collegiate Athletic
Association championships in Oklahoma City. |
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| It will be the ninth straight year SJSU will appear at the NCAAs, and six of coach T.J. Kerr's Spartans will be
vying for All-America honors--honors that are reserved for the top eight wrestlers in the country. |
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| Albert Perez, John Middlestead, Dave Barnes, Jay Slivkoff, Andy Tsarnas and Jerry Morrison will represent AP's
and UPI's 15th-ranked squad in the nation, going into the tournament with a 21-5 dual meet record and having won
a Pacific Coast Athletic Association title. |
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| There have been six All-American titles given to SJSU wrestlers, beginning with the two titles won by assistant
coach Danny Kida in 1973 and 1974. Since then, Eddie Baza (who also won two titles), Wayne Jones and David Brouhard
have joined the ranks of the best. |
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| The main reason the Spartans have been so successful is the leadership and training provided by their coach. Since
coming to SJSU as a coach in 1973, SJSU has won eight out of 10 PCAA titles. They have been ranked in the Top-25
three times, and 24 wrestlers have qualified for the NCAA Division I Championships. |
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| A native of San Jose, Kerr wrestled for SJSU from 1967-71, and missed going to the NCAA championships by one place. |
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| But he would not have been able to go even if he did qualify because the school had no money. |
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| "That's one of the motivating factors behind my coaching," Kerr said. "If a kid qualifies, you have
to find a way to send him." |
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| Somehow he has found ways to do just that. |
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| Although the Spartans will enter Oklahoma's Marriott Hotel with no real chance to win the national title, mainly
because of no history and a lack of money, according to Kerr, they will try to beat last year's ninth place finish,
deemed "unbelievable" by Kerr. The best finish before 1982 was 27th. |
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| The Spartan wrestlers are dedicated, practicing and working out all year. Even after winning the PCAA championship
Saturday, they were back to work Monday, and not just the six going to the NCAA championships, but the whole team.
This type of dedication should be applauded. |
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