Dec. 30, 1999

Results

TEMPE, Ariz.- Junior All-American Steve Blackford finished second at 165 pounds to lead the Sun Devil wrestling team to an 11th-place finish at the Midlands Championships, being hosted by Northwestern University at McGaw Hall in Evanston, Ill. Arizona State finished with 44.0 team points, while No. 1 Iowa finished first with 151 points and the Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club took fifth with 65.0 points.

Blackford went 4-0 at the tournament before falling to Tod Surmon of the Dave Schultz Wrestling Club 3-2 in the championship finals. Currently ranked third in the country at 165 pounds, Blackford is now 23-2 on the season.

Junior Quinn Foster, ranked 13th in the nation, was the only other placewinner for the Sun Devils, finishing seventh at 149 pounds with an 8-6 decision over No. 9 Eric Schmiering of Hostra.

The No. 19 Sun Devils return to action on Sunday, Jan. 2 when they open a nearly month-long road stretch with a dual meet at No. 8 Michigan State starting at 2 p.m. CST.