Larkin Named TheMat.com Athlete of the Week

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John Fuller (TheMat.com)
02/10/2004


Eric Larkin (Tempe, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) has been named TheMat.com Athlete of the Week for the week of Feb. 3-9.    Each week, TheMat.com will select an Athlete of the Week, based upon performance within wrestling for that week. The selection committee will consider any level of wrestling, from youth programs through the Senior level. The announcement will be made each week on Wednesday.    Larkin won a gold medal at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. at the Dave Schultz Memorial International in Colorado Springs, Colo., Feb. 7-8.    Larkin won the gold medal with an 11-4 victory over T.J. Williams of the Hawkeye Wrestling Club. Larkin trailed in that match 4-2 with just over two minutes remaining.    To qualify for the finals, Larkin defeated Jared Lawrence of the Minnesota Storm 10-4 in a rematch of the 2003 NCAA finals.    In pool competition, Larkin defeated Mark DiSalvo and Zach Flake by a combined score of 21-0.    "I have been training par terre. I don't get anything back home for par terre training, but ever since I came out (to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs) a couple of weeks ago, I have really improved a lot of little things in how I wrestle in par terre," Larkin said. "If I really want to excel on the international level, I may have to move out here."    Larkin also won a gold medal at the 2001 Dave Schultz Memorial International, and he has won medals in 2002 (silver) and 2000 (bronze). He placed fourth at the 2000 University World Championships.    Larkin was a 2003 NCAA champion for Arizona State Univ. He was also a 2002 NCAA runner-up and a four-time NCAA All-American. Larkin attended Sunnyside High School in Arizona, where he was a two-time state champion (1997-98).    He was a 1998 Junior Nationals champion in both Greco-Roman and freestyle.    THEMAT.COM ATHLETES OF THE WEEK FOR 2004  February 3-9 - Eric Larkin (Tempe, Ariz./Sunkist Kids)  January 27-February 2 - Joe Williams (Iowa City, Iowa/Sunkist Kids)  January 20-26 - Sara McMann (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids)