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CAMPBELL ON THE ROSTER
This year, the Sun Devils have a first on their
roster as Kelsey
Campbell is the first woman to join the Arizona State program. A transfer
from Pacific (Ore.), Campbell comes to Tempe after competing for the Boxers
during the 2005-06 season and then representing the ASU Women’s Club Team last
year. During the 2006-07 season, Campbell competed in her first National
Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships and won the 63kg (138.5) national
title as an unseeded competitor. In the event, she knocked off the No. 4, No. 1
and then No. 2 seeds on her way to her first tournament title.
The Cougars men's and women's wrestling teams had a fine weekend at the Huskies Open. The men's team took the overall title and the women's team was second in the meet that included the Cougars, Huskies, Alberta Golden Bears and Pandas and the Calgary Dinos.
Jeff Jones (57 kilograms), Cory Horsburgh (61 kg) and Alex McStay (130 kg) all placed first for Regina's men in their weight classes. Kyle Dumont (68 kg), Jarrett Coels (72 kg) and Jason Church (90 kg) were second.
On the women's side, Hajar Ashtiani (48 kg) was the lone first-place finisher, but Kelli Rasmussen (55 kg), Meghan King (59 kg) and Inga Van Vliet (67 kg) were all second.
Both teams are now off until Jan. 11 and 12 when they will compete in the Golden Bear Open in Edmonton.
Thanks to some glaring absences, the University of Saskatchewan Open wrestling meet was wide open.
With the No. 3-ranked Huskies men's team bereft of some of its top performers, the team finished third at the meet with 30 points at Education Gym on Saturday.
The No. 5-ranked Regina Cougars captured top spot with 47 points, while the Calgary Dinos finished second with 31 points. The Alberta Bears were fourth with 15 points.
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"We had a pretty good showing, the guys and girls both performed really well, but we had a few people missing this weekend," said Huskies coach Todd Hinds.
Ryley Walker, a national champion and a top Huskie, and Joseph Nifasha were both unable to compete for personal reasons, while Brad Peters and Craig Albert, the Huskies' two heavyweights, were both nursing injuries after wrapping up the football season.
Still, Hinds was still encouraged by a number of impressive performances.
Saskatchewan's Jeff Adamson was named the outstanding male of the tournament after winning gold in the 90-kg weight class. Daniel Olver (76 kg) and Eric Walker (65 kg) also won gold.
Bryan Blackwell, who competed with the Saskatoon Wrestling Club, was singled out by Hinds after winning the 54-kg weight class.
"He's going to be great and will be joining the men's team after Christmas," said Hinds. "I think he's going to do really well."
On the women's side, the Huskies finished third with 18 points. Calgary won the tournament with 27 points, Regina was second with 21 and Alberta rounded out the group with 12 points. The Huskies women's squad was also without top wrestler Pam Ewanishin.
Calgary's Vanessa Brown was the outstanding female of the tournament, winning the 51-kg category.
Saskatchewan's Jill Gallays won gold in the 55-kg class, Beth Thompson earned silver in the 82-kg class and Jane Packota picked up a bronze in the 67-kg weight class. Amy Dyck, with the Saskatoon Wrestling Club, won gold in the 59-kg class.
"I don't think the standings reflected how well we performed," said Hinds. "We do have an outstanding men's team, and when the second term comes around, I really think we'll rise to another level. And our girls are evenly balanced all the way through, so I think both teams are looking great."
The Huskies women travel to Thunder Bay, Ont., for the national university dual championships Nov. 30, while the men are done until the new year.
cwalper@sp.canwest.com
