|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
SJSU Wrestling Archives The Spartan Daily 3-6-70 |
||
|
|
||
|
Spartans Defend PCAA Crown Saturday |
||
|
by Mike Duggan |
||
| SJS, winner of the first Pacific Coast Athletic Association wrestling title last year, defends its crown Saturday
beginning at 1:00 pm in Spartan Gym. Finals should be underway by 4:00. First-year Spartan mentor Bill Smith picks Fresno State as the team to beat. Fresno, who finished third (behind winner SJS and Long Beach State) last year, beat the Spartans 32-10 in a dual meet this season. Defending champ in the heavyweight division, Ken Oyer, heads the Fresno Bulldog attack. The Spartans are 2-2 on dual meets against PCAA squads this year. Besides the loss to Fresno, SJS holds wins over San Diego State and Los Angeles State in addition to a defeat at the hands of UC Santa Barbara. Smith expects UC Santa Barbara to be tough, as will San Diego State, fresh off a 42-0 win over Los Angeles State. Six of the ten Spartans entered will be dropping down in weight divisions. "Our strength will come from the 158-190 pound classes," commented Smith. Cleve Holt (7-4), who finished second in the heavyweight class last year, will wrestle at 190. Walt Thatcher (7-3), who won the 167-pound title last year, will wrestle at 177 with teammate Paul Hatling (11-1) dropping to 167. Hatling finished second at 177 last year. Ray Mendiola, normally a 190 pounder, will fill Holt's spot in the heavyweight division. Terry Kerr (9-3) and Arno Domingues (4-4), who both captured seconds last year, return for SJS and will wrestle in the 150 and 134 weights respectively. Added strength will come from Tim Kerr (6-6) at 158 and John Jacabo (3-3), normally a 150 pound man, who will enter the 142 division. Also dropping in a weight class will be Dave Smith (4-6) to 126 and Tim Owens (3-7) to the 118 weight class. Owens will attempt to fill the shoes of Art Stone, who captured the 118 crown last year, but is sitting out this season with a back injury. Besides Oyer, Fresno's basic strength lies in the lower weight classes. First place finishers in each event qualify for the NCAA meet March 26-28 in Minnesota. |
||
