Arizona State’s Larkin Named Pac-10 Wrestler Of The Year For Second Straight Season
<< Back to Articles
Erin Rowley (ASU)
04/18/2002
TEMPE, Ariz. - For the second straight season, Arizona State junior Eric Larkin was named the Pac-10 Wrestler of the Year, conference commissioner Tom Hansen announced today. A native of Tucson, Ariz., Larkin was the NCAA runner-up at 141 pounds this season, earning his third All-America honors and becoming the first Sun Devil to advance to the NCAA wrestling finals since 1996. He was the 14th ASU wrestler to earn runner-up honors at the national tournament. Larkin also won his third straight Pac-10 title and compiled a 31-5 overall record with a career high 15 pins. He was first named the Pac-10 Wrestler of the Year for his 2001 sophomore campaign that included his second All-America honors, a third place finish at the NCAA Championships and his second Pac-10 title. Larkin is the fourth Sun Devil to twice be named the conference wrestler of the year. It is the third straight Pac-10 Wrestler of the Year honor for Arizona State and 12th overall. Three-time All-American Steve Blackford was awarded the distinction in 2000. Boise State's Mike Young was named this year's Pac-10 Coach of the Year, while Stanford's Matt Gentry was named the Pac-10 Newcomer of the Year. The awards are determined by a vote of the league's coaches. Arizona State Pac-10 Wrestlers of the Year 2002 - Eric Larkin, 141 2001 - Eric Larkin, 141 2000 - Steve Blackford, 165 1993 - Ray Miller, 158 1992 - Ray Miller, 158 1990 - Dan St. John, 167 1989 - Dan St. John, 158 1988 - Mike Davies, 190 1987 - Mike Davies, 190 1986 - Adam Cohen, 150 1985 - Eddie Urbano, 150 1983 - Gary Bohay, 126