Two of the three programs eliminated from Arizona State’s athletic budget resume competition this month. It turns out that the Sun Devils’ resurrected wrestling program has friends in high places.

(Photo courtesy Arizona Republic.)

It’s been six months since Lisa Love announced Arizona State was eliminating three programs from the athletic budget. Men’s tennis did not survive. But wrestling and men’s swimming and diving secured enough private funding to resume competition when their seasons kick off this month.

As the Arizona Republic recounted over the weekend, the wrestling program was fully endowed just 10 days after the announcement ensuring Sun Devil wrestling’s survival indefinitely. (Former Phoenix Suns owner Jerry Colangelo and Sunkist Kids founder Art Martori are believed to have been major contributors.)

Thanks to the immediate response from donors, coach Thom Ortiz (pictured above) did not lose a single wrestler due to the cut. Instead Kyle DeBerry (165 pounds), Chris Drouin (141), Anthony Robles (125) and Jerrad Trulson (149) will lead the team back to the mat against UC Davis at Mesa High on Friday.

Who knows how the Sun Devils in either sport will perform this season. But if this quote from DeBerry is any indication, the athletes will definitely be motivated.

“We want to make sure that we prove to everyone it was worth the fight. Everyone did their part to make sure we still had a home, and now we want to make sure they know we appreciate it. It’s brought us closer together as a team, and we expect to have a great year.”

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We’ll examine the men’s swimming team’s tenuous status later today.

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Tags: Other ASU Sports , anthony robles, chris drouin, jerrad trulson, kyle deberry, lisa love, thom ortiz // 2 Comments »