News Summary
The 1988 Arizona State Men’s Wrestling Team made history as the only team west of the Rocky Mountains to win the NCAA Wrestling Trophy. With all seven members earning All-American honors and individual PAC-10 Championships, their collective talent led to an unmatched achievement. Under coach Bobby Douglas, they finished the season with a remarkable 17-2 record, earning a place in ASU’s legacy as one of its greatest teams.
Tempe, Arizona – The 1988 Arizona State Men’s Wrestling Team made history by winning the prestigious NCAA Wrestling Trophy, establishing themselves as the only team west of the Rocky Mountains to achieve this significant milestone. To date, no other team from this region has secured the NCAA Wrestling Championship, marking a remarkable 36-year record that remains unbroken.
This historic team displayed exceptional talent, as all seven members were honored as All-Americans during their championship season. Each wrestler not only achieved this national recognition but also captured an individual PAC-10 Championship, contributing to the team’s standout performance throughout the year.
The collective prowess of the 1988 squad was reflected in their NCAA Finals placements, which were high enough to allow Arizona State to clinch the NCAA Championship title. Among the notable performers was Zeke Jones, who later became the current head coach for ASU Wrestling. Jones achieved sixth place in the NCAA Finals and was a pivotal member of the team.
Mike Davies, team captain and standout player, ended his regular season with an impressive record of 40-3, translating to a 93% winning percentage. At the time of his graduation, Davies held the all-time record for the most wins as a Sun Devil wrestler, with a total of 136 victories. He secured second place in the NCAA Finals, further solidifying his legacy within the program.
Other key contributors to the squad’s success included Dan St. John, Chip Park, and Jim Gressley, all of whom delivered commendable performances with third-place finishes in the NCAA Finals. Notably, Dan St. John is a recognized member of the ASU Hall of Fame. Additionally, Thom Ortiz finished in fourth place, while Rod Severn rounded out the team’s accomplishments with a fifth-place finish in the finals.
The leadership of head coach Bobby Douglas played a crucial role in the team’s historic performance. Douglas, who coached ASU from 1975 to 1992, had a distinguished athletic career in his own right, having achieved an NCAA title as a competitor. His tenure at ASU was marked by a winning percentage of 75% or higher in nine out of his 18 seasons, including one year of a perfect regular season. Under his guidance, the team secured nine PAC-10 Championships, and Douglas himself was recognized as an eight-time PAC-10 Coach of the Year.
The 1988 Arizona State Men’s Wrestling team concluded their regular season with an impressive 17-2 record. Their combination of team success and high individual standings has led many to regard them as the best ASU team in history.
This unmatched achievement in NCAA Wrestling history continues to be a source of pride for Arizona State University and its wrestling program, highlighting the talented individuals and dedicated leadership that made this accolade possible.
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Additional Resources
- SI: ASU Wrestling Big 12
- Wikipedia: NCAA Wrestling Championship
- Sun Devils Hall of Fame Wrestling
- Google Search: Arizona State Wrestling
- Sun Devils: 1988 Team History
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Wrestling
- ASU History: On This Day
- Google News: ASU Wrestling 1988
- Photo Source
- ESPN: Arizona State vs Iowa State
