Category: Uncategorized (Page 78 of 174)

Arizona State doesn’t have the deep history of say Oklahoma State. But what they do have is an impressive list of champions, and a budding program that is giving the best teams in the country a run for their money. In this article I will examine the entire career of 10 of Arizona States best wrestlers.

10 Dan Severn

Dan’s wrestling career didn’t begin until he was a sophomore in high school, but that didn’t really seem to matter as in 1976 he won Junior Nationals in both Freestyle and Greco and was named the nations most outstanding high school wrestler. At Arizona State Dan was a 2x all-american finishing 4th and 2nd at the NCAA tournament. He would go on to have a hall of fame career in MMA. To date he is the only triple crown winner in UFC history.

9 Ray Miller

Miller compiled 115 victories in a career that came to a close with the 1993 NCAA Championship at 167 pounds. One of the first two wrestlers in Sun Devil history to earn four All-America honors in a career, Miller also was a national runner-up in 1992. A three-time Pac-10 Champion, Miller was twice honored as the Pac-10 Wrestler of the Year and was a member of three Pac-10 Championship squads.

8 Shawn Charles

Charles was ASU’s first four-time wrestling All-American and was a two-time Pac-10 individual champion at 126. A two-time NCAA finalist, He helped ASU to a second-place finish at the 1990 NCAAs as well as three Pac-10 titles (1990, 1991, 1993). He collected 103 victories in his collegiate career, ranking him tied for 19th on the program’s all-time wins list at Arizona State. He also ranks 19th in career dual-match victories after he posted a 44-15-5 record in those matches. Inducted in the ASU Sports HOF in 2010, was the Sun Devil wrestling head coach from 2009-14.

7 Anthony Robles

Captured the 2011 NCAA Championship at 125 pounds in his senior season to cap a perfect 36-0 season and earn his third All-America honor… advanced to the NCAA Championships four times in his career, falling one win shy as a redshirt freshman of becoming a four-time All-American… finished fourth as a sophomore and seventh as a junior before winning the title as the No. 1 seed his senior season… advanced to the Pac-10 Conference finals all four seasons and won the title his last three years… capped his career with 122 victories, the eighth-most in school history… also ranks 10^th all-time in ASU history with 53 wins in dual meets… one of the most prolific point-scorers in ASU history, won 75-percent of his career matches (92 of 122) with bonus points, including a school-record 47 technical falls… as a senior, set single-season records for bonus-point wins (31) and technical falls (24).

6 Bubba Jenkins

Bubba began his college career, at Penn State, and entered the program a highly touted recruit, he was the number 1 ranked 145 coming out of high school, and was the reigning NHSCA National Champion. At Penn State, he was an NCAA finalist, before transferring to ASU for his senior season. At Arizona state, his winning ways continued, as he stormed his was to an NCAA title. Finishing his career, as a 2x all-american, 2x NCAA finalist and a NCAA Champion. In 2007 Bubba won a Junior World Title in Freestyle. He has impressive wins over World Champions Jordan Burroughs and  David Taylor, and NCAA Champion, Frank Molinaro. Bubba is now enjoying  a career in MMA.

5 Eric Larkin

In high school Larkin was a two-time state champion with a 130-2 record. The 1998 Arizona Wrestler of the year, Larkin went 38-0 as a senior and added several national junior titles to his list of accolades. Eric had an outstanding career as a Sun Devil, finishing his career with an impressive 120-12 career record with 36 pins. He was also one of only four wrestlers in school history to become a 4x all-american, finishing 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and finally winning an NCAA Championship his senior season.  His collegiate career was capped with a perfect 34-0 season, and a Hodge Trophy. The first in school history.

4 Zeke Jones

Jones, who’s 134-21-3 record ranks fourth in wins at ASU, was a member of the 1988 NCAA Championship team while also earning three All-America honors and three Pac-10 titles. He also owns the ASU single-season record for dual wins with 22. A national runner-up at 118, Jones later went on to international success as he took the silver medal at the 1992 Barcelona Games. He was also a 1991 World Champion, and is also a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Zeke returned to his alma mater to helm the Sun Devil wrestling program in April of 2014. He was inducted into the ASU Sports HOF in 2004.

3 Dan St. John

Arizona State’s all-time wins leader with a 147-17-3 record, St. John was the program’s first two-time NCAA champion, winning crowns in 1989 (158 pounds) and 1990 (167 pounds). St. John is one of two Sun Devils in program history to earn NCAA titles in multiple weight classes. A three-time Pac-10 champion, St. John was a member of four Pac-10 championship teams while also competing for the 1988 NCAA Championship team. St. John also holds program records for wins in a season (45) and career dual wins (71). Inducted into the ASU Sports HOF in 2001.

2 Zahid Valencia

Zahid was a 3x Califorina state champion, a 3x Ironman champion, and was a 152 lb USAW/Cliff Keen Folkstyle National champion. He enrolled at ASU as a blue chip recruit with a ton of hype surrounding him. He made an imedieate impact on the college scene, quickly establishing himself as one of the top pound for pound wrestlers in the country. Hw was a 3x all-american, 3x Pac-12 Champion, and 2x NCAA champion. He ended his college career with an 88-3 record. Since graduating Zahid, has been competing in freestyle wrestling on the international level. He has already won his first Senior Nationals title.

1 Markus Mollica

Mollica was a two-time NCAA Champion (158, 1993 & 167, 1995). One of the most decorated wrestlers in school history, his first title came in his freshman season, making him the first ASU freshman in any sport to capture a national title. Mollica was a four-time Pac-10 Champion, including two at 158 pounds and two at 167 pounds, while also garnering All-America honors four times. At the NCAA Championships, Mollica placed first, fifth, first and fourth, respectively. He is one of two Sun Devils to win individual NCAA titles in two different weight classes, and was inducted into the ASU Sports HOF in 2008.

Honorable Mention:

Townsend Saunders

At Cal State Bakersfield, he won an NCAA Division II championship at 142 pounds before transferring to Arizona State University. As a Sun Devil, Saunders was a two-time Pac-10 champion and a two-time All-American, finishing second at 142 pounds in 1989 and third at 150 pounds in 1990. In the 1989 finals, Saunders took national champion Pat Santoro of the University of Pittsburgh into overtime, which ended in a 6-6, 1-1 deadlock. Santoro took the title on the 10th criteria. Saunders had a career record of 77-9 for ASU, which ties him for fourth place in school annals with a .895 winning percentage. He is also tied for fourth in dual victories in a season with 20 wins in 1989-90 and is tied for seventh on ASU’s single-season overall victories list with 40 wins in 1988-89. Saunders competed in six World Championships from 1991-95 and was a gold medalist at the Pan American Games in 1991 and 1995. He won a gold medal at the Goodwill Games in 1995 and was the U.S. Open national freestyle champion in 1991 and 1996. He was also a silver medalist at the 1996 Olympic Games.

Dan Henderson

At this point Dan is most well known for his legendary MMA career, and most people probably don’t realize he wrestled at Arizona State. In 1993 Dan wrestled a single season for ASU and even qualified for the NCAA tournament. Prior to ASU , Hendo competed at Cal State for a single season and had mixed results. In high school he was a 2x state place winner in California. Henderson seemed to struggle a bit in folkstyle wrestling, however he more then excelled in greco-roman wrestling. He won University Nationals in 1991, 1993, and 1994. He followed that up by winning Senior Nationals 3x, and even represented the United States in the Olympics in 1992 and 1996. The highlight of his wrestling career came at the 2000 Pam-American Championships, where he won a gold medal. After failing to qualify for the 2000 Olympics, Dan shifted his focus to MMA. In the world of professional fighting Dan concurred the world, winning titles in Rings, Pride, and Strikeforce. He was even the UFC 17 tournament champion. Dan retired for competion i 2016 after a legendary career, he was quickly inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.

Curly Culp  2x All-american and NCAA Champion Gorriaran Award winner.

Eddie Urbano 2x All-American, and NCAA Champion, under legendary coach Bobby Douglas.

KOA Holiday Campground/Lawrence

Whether you’re exploring the local area or hanging out at the campground, KOA Holidays are an ideal place to relax and play. There’s plenty to do, with amenities and services to make your stay memorable. Plus, you’ll enjoy the outdoor experience with upgraded RV Sites with KOA Patio^® and Deluxe Cabins with full baths for camping in comfort. Bring your family, bring your friends, or bring the whole group – there’s plenty of ways to stay and explore. The campground has numerous features that will make your trip memorable, including a beautiful swimming pool,bike rentals, volleyball, horseshoes, frisbee golf, and so much more! The KOA is located at 1473 Highway 40 Lawrence, KS. For more information, click here.

Covered Wagon RV Resort

This is pet friendly campground, that is open year round. There is a pool, 2 playgrounds, full laundry, cable tv, Free WiFi, and a modern shower house. The sites are extra large and many are shade covered. The campground is located at 803 S Buckeye Ave Abilene Kansas. For more information, click here.

Salina KOA

This KOA is midway between St. Louis, Denver, the Black Hills and Texas. You’ll have easy access to I-70 as well as I-135 to Wichita. Located in a shady meadow northwest of Salina, you can relax in a lawn chair while fishing in the private pond. Swim in the pool, play horseshoes, enjoy the Jump pad , watch the kids go for a train ride or rent a bike. All sites are pull thru with free Wi-Fi and cable available on most. At Salina, spend more than one day to see the area’s historic sites. Take your pick, tent, RV, and cabin sites. The campground is located at 1109 West Diamond Drive Salina, Kansas. For more information, click here.

WAKEENEY KOA JOURNEY

We are located midway between Denver and Kansas City, with easy access to and from I-70. RV sites are spacious pull thru sites to accommodate RVs of all types and sizes and do not require you to unhook. RV sites include access to 50/30 amp electric, water, sewer, cable TV and grass to relax on. Grass tent sites are large and private, with access to electricity and water nearby. Cabins are available for those who want to camp without an RV or tent, and are located near the restroom and shower facilities. Riding your motorcycle?  Come stay in a cabin or pitch a tent for the night. The restrooms, showers, and laundry room facilities are open 24 hours for your convenience. Wi-Fi is accessible throughout the park. Take your pet for a walk around the open space before relaxing to the sounds of the resident songbirds while enjoying a beautiful, peaceful sunset. During the summer months, the swimming pool is always refreshing after a long day on the open road.  An old-fashioned ice cream social, complete with root beer floats, is offered during the summer months every evening. If you like to golf, stay an extra day and play at Big Creek Golf Course only a mile away. Our goal is to make your stay a pleasant one to remember. The campground is located at 25027 S Interstate Wakeeney, Kansas. For more information, click here.

GOODLAND KOA JOURNEY

This award-winning KOA is an oasis of green lawns and mature shade trees less than a mile from I-70. It’s a great place to refresh and regroup! After a long day on the road, take a dip in the pool or just enjoy the abundant flowers. You’ll find 30/50-amp, full-hookup Pull-Thru RV Sites, Back-In RV Sites, basic water and electric sites and Tent Sites. Or try a Cabin with A/C for hot summer days! Free Wi-Fi offered throughout the park. Goodland’s High Plains Museum contains a replica of America’s first patented helicopter, built by two local men in 1909. Near the city park, a giant 32-foot-high replica of Vincent van Gogh’s famous sunflower painting rises on an 80-foot easel, a tribute to Kansas’ status as the Sunflower State. Less than an hour north of Goodland, hike and mountain bike on quiet country roads dotted with yucca and prairie flowers throughout the rugged Arikaree Breaks, a cluster of badlands along the Arikaree River.The campground is located at 1114 East US Highway 24 Goodland, Kansas. For more information, click here.

For more incredible lodging options in Kansas, click here.

Magic Waters Water Park located in Rockford Illinois, is a place the whole family can enjoy.  For the thrill seekers in your group there are plenty of water slides and dump buckets, while those just looking to relax can enjoy the beautiful lazy river. Magic Waters Waterpark is located at 7820 Cherryvale N Blvd., Cherry Valley, IL. For more information, click here.

One of the more popular attractions at Magic Waters is the 707,000 gallon wave pool, known as Tsunami Bay.  The waves alternate between huge ocean waves, and calm relaxing tide, to give you a perfect mixture of thrill and chill.  Tsunami Bay is Illinois’s largest wave park, and can produce waves over 6 feet in height.

Splash Magic River is a perfect way to relax on the water.  This lazy river is 1,200 feet in length and winds all the way around the park.  The river is lined with trees, rock formations, and even 2 waterfalls.

This aquatic wonderland has 12 amazing water slides, and 16 cabanas that are available for rent.  There is also a kiddy pool for those 4 and under.

Over the year’s Magic Waters has won more than 20 different awards, and is currently rated the #4 publicly owned water-park in the country!

Don’t Miss:  2 of the parks most popular water slides the Double Dare Drop which is a 75 foot vertical decent speed slide,  and the Typhoon Terror which takes place on a 4 or 2 person tube and takes passengers under a water fall.

Logistics:  Magic Waters Waterpark is located at 7820 Cherryvale N Blvd., Cherry Valley, IL. For more information, click here.

Best Time:  June and July are the most popular times to visit Magic Water Waterpark.

Pit Stop:  Magic Waters has 8 convenient dining locations found inside the park, including a Tiki Tacos, Coconut Cafe, Ocho’s Pizzeria, The Grills, and several snack bars are scattered throughout.

Extended Play:  After a day of relaxing in the water, visit Competition Grand Prix, for some heart pounding,  Go-Cart racing.  Located less then a mile from Magic Waters.

Travel Smart:  Be sure to pack sunscreen, a towel, swim attire, and sunglasses.  I also suggest checking the weather before making plans to visit.

If you love waterparks, be sure to check out this gorgeous water-park campground by clicking here.

High Trestle Trail Bridge

This picture is owned by Kelly Green

The shining star of Iowa’s trail system, the High Trestle Trail runs for 25 miles through five towns and four counties. The trail includes an iconic, 1/2-mile, 13-story high bridge across the Des Moines River valley, one of the largest trail bridges in the world. The closest parking lot to the High Trestle Trail Bridge is located at 2335 QF Lane, Madrid, IA 50156. The bridge is approximately 3/4 mile from the parking lot.

Crystal Lake Cave

Located just out side of beautiful Dubuque Iowa, is one of the Midwest’s most amazing cave systems. This breathtaking cave has the largest collection of Crystal formations of any show cave in the Midwest. Tours take about 45 minutes and take place on paved walk ways. During the tour expert guides, will tell you the caves fascinating history, and explain how the beautiful formations came to exist. The cave is located at 6684 Crystal Lake Cave Road in Dubuque Iowa. For more information, click here.

Field Of Dreams

Located near Dyersville Iowa, this baseball field was created for the 1989 blockbuster movie “Field Of Dreams” Starring Kevin Costner. While its been almost 30 years since the filming has ended, the “magic” is still alive and well. Tourists have traveled from all over the world to visit the Field Of Dreams movie site. Several celebrities have also visited the site, including Kevin Costner, Reggie Jackson, Bob Gibson, Kelsey Grammer, and Meatloaf. Admission to the ball field is always free. Even after all these years, the site is still growing in popularity as more and more often MLB is holding events on this amazing field. Field of dreams is located at 28995 Lansing Road, Dyersville, Iowa. For more information, click here.

Maquoketa Caves State Park

 This beautiful state park is one of the most popular in the entire state. The trail system, offers a beautiful hike, that links together the caves, rock formations, and scenic overlooks. The park features 16 accessible caves, which offer great caving  for experienced and inexperienced cavers alike.  The hiking trails are just over 6 miles in length, and are a great way to see the park.  There is also a campground with 29 campsites, 17 of which have electrical hookups. The park is located Northwest of Maquoketa, from Highway 61, take Y31 west till you turn right  onto 98th street, follow the winding road into Maquoketa Caves State Park. For more information, click here.

Dunnings Spring

The waterfall is located in Dunnings Spring Park in Decorah, just a quarter mile up stream from the famous Ice Cave. This gorgeous 200 foot waterfall is just a short walk from the Upper Iowa River. This a popular place for weddings, picnics, and hiking. The Falls is open year round from  6 AM- 9 PM. The park is located on Ice Cave Road. You can find this gorgeous spring on  Ice Cave Rd, Decorah, IA. For more information, click here.

Soco Falls

Harry Zimmerman / shutterstock

Soco Falls are some of the most majestic falls in North Carolina because of the rock formations and double waterfalls. Soco Falls is located 11 miles east of Cherokee, as if you were heading to Maggie Valley. You can pull your vehicle off to the right side of the road and it’s only a short hike to reach the falls, which are great to visit any time of the year.

Rainbow Falls

TheBigMK / shutterstock

Rainbow Falls is a 150-foot waterfall that boasts impressive 360-degree views. It is one of the most incredible waterfalls in the Blue Ridge Mountains. This waterfall is named Rainbow Falls because on sunny days after the mist rolls out, you will be able to see a rainbow. Rainbow Falls is located one hour away from Asheville and near Lake Toxaway. These falls are only one sequence of cascades on a two-mile section of the canal. You can climb up the river 1/3 of a mile and go swimming in Turtleback Fall’s swimming hole.

Looking Glass Falls

Not too far off the Blue Ridge Parkway, close to Brevard, you will find Looking Glass Falls. You can see views of the falls from the road, but the scenes are best enjoyed up close and personal. The hike in and out is less than half a mile and is easy for all levels of hikers. Looking Glass Falls is a tall waterfall that towers down from a cliff. You can dip your toes in the bottom pool of the falls to cool off in the summer months.

Bust Your Butt Falls

Carol A Hudson / shutterstock

If you are looking at visiting Dry Falls, Bust Your Butt Falls is only three miles from there or 10 miles from Franklin. Bust Your Butt Falls is a favorite for people who enjoy climbing and adventure. Many people climb up the falls and jump off – that is probably where the name came from. This place is also known as Quarry Falls and is located on the Cullasaja River near the highlands. For those who just want to sit back and relax, there are many rocks to sit on and enjoy sun tanning, picnicking, or just watching people swim in the swimming hole. These falls are popular year-round.

Dry Falls

Dave Allen Photography / shutterstock

Dry Falls is a kid-friendly hike with only a quarter of a mile trail to reach the falls. You will walk behind the pictorial falls on the Cullasaja River – which is close to the highlands – as well as in the Nantahala National Forest. Many people consider Dry Falls as one of the easiest and most striking waterfalls in North Carolina. The waterfall itself is 65 feet high and tumbles over a rock cliff into a riverbed below. You can access the waterfall with a wheelchair and stroller. The drive to Dry Falls is scenic, as you will be passing through the Cullasaja Gorge.

For more of North Carolina’s Amazing Locations, click here.