TEMPE - The Arizona State University wrestling squad will open its 2011-12 home slate on Sunday, Nov. 13 as the squad welcomes in-state programs from Grand Canyon University and Embry-Riddle University in the form of a double dual. The event is set to begin at 2 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena and is part of the first-ever State of Arizona Wrestling Festival. Prior to the Arizona State duals, clubs from across the state will flock to Tempe to compete in a series of club duals as a precursor to the collegiate events. It will also be the first time in school history that the Sun Devils have dualed two squads at the same time.
OPENING WHISTLE
• ASU remains unranked after its season opener at the EMU Open
• Seven redshirt freshman earned the first victories of their careers while wearing the Maroon and Gold at the EMU Open
• Head Coach Shawn Charles opens his third season as head coach
• ASU will host the NWCA All-Star Classic at Wells Fargo Arena on Nov. 21
• Redshirt freshman Tommy Burriel and redshirt junior Levi Cooper both won the consolation final at the EMU Open
• The Sun Devils return one All-American this season in heavyweight Levi Cooper
• Cooper (HWT) and Eric Starks (174) both enter the season ranked in several rankings in their respective weight classes
• Nine Sun Devils on the preseason probable starter list will make their Division I wrestling debuts this season
IN THE RANKINGS - TEAM
The Sun Devils will enter the season unranked for the first time since the 2008-09 season. This comes despite finishing sixth at the NCAA Championships last year, though the loss of national champions Anthony Robles and Bubba Jenkins and the very young team the Sun Devils will be fielding are likely to blame for their omittance. Despite the youth and loss of veterans, though, the Sun Devils did receive some votes in the NWCA/USA Today Preseason Coaches Poll.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
Seven opponents on ASU’s schedule can be found within the NWCA/USA Today Preseason Coaches Poll that was released on Thursday. No. 3 Oklahoma State, who the Sun Devils are set to face in Stillwater on Jan. 20. Slightly more surprisingly would be ASU’s early season test against Lehigh at the Northeast Duals in Troy, N.Y. in just a couple weeks as the Mountain Hawks enter the season ranked No. 6. Other top 25 teams on this year’s slate include No. 10 Oklahoma, No. 18 Oregon State, No. 20 Iowa State, No. Stanford and No. 25 Penn, the last of which ASU will also face at the Northeast Duals
IN THE RANKINGS - INDIVIDUAL
According to Amateur Wrestling News, two Sun Devils will enter the season ranked in returning All-American heavyweight junior Levi Cooper (8th) and senior Eric Starts at 174 pounds (17th). Cooper and Starks were the only Sun Devils to be acknowledged in any of the ranking services with Cooper being listed as high as sixth (W.I.N. Magazine) and Starks as high as 12th (W.I.N. Magazine). Tommy Burriel entered the D1CollegeWrestling.net rankings at No. 24 this week after his third place performance at the EMU Open
A LOOK BACK: Eastern Michigan Open
Levi Cooper (HWT) and Tommy Burriel (197) both brought home victories in the consolation finals at the Eastern Michigan Open in Ypsilanti, Mich., in the season opener last week. Burriel advanced to the semifinals before giving No. 5 Matt Powless all he could handled but coming just shy of the upset, 11-8. Burriel handled business in the consolation bracket, bringing home a third-place finish in his collegiate debut. Cooper suffered an early setback in the quarterfinals before reeling off four consecutive victories in the consolation bracket for his own third-place finish. Redshirt freshman Nathan Hoffer also advanced to the consolation finals but came just shy of giving the Sun Devils their third third-place finish on the day. In all, seven redshirt freshmen earned their first collegiate victories at the competition.
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