Wrestling: Assistant Coach Honored
September 11, 2003 09:59 AM | General
September 11, 2003
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- West Virginia assistant wrestling coach Zeke Jones has recently been named to the Amateur Wrestling News ASU's Modern-Era Mat Team.
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| Jones is entering his sixth season with the Mountaineer wrestling program. (All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks) |
Amateur Wrestling News selected Arizona State's wrestling program for a continuing series that looks at the top competitors in a selected programs' history. Wrestlers starting with the 1974-75 season through the present were eligible for the honor as selected by the writer and those close to the sport of wrestling and the Sun Devil program.
“It’s an honor to be recognized by Arizona State and it’s really a tribute to their athletic department putting forth the effort to have a successful wrestling program,” says Jones. “I am proud to be acknowledged with the Sun Devil tradition and it is a privilege to have wrestled and coached at ASU.”
Jones was selected among the first-team selections at 118/125 pounds. The mat team includes three teams (first, second and third) with each team containing one member in each of the 10 weight classes. In all, five Olympians were selected in Silver Medalists Zeke Jones and Townsend Saunders as well as Billy Rosado, Gary Bohay and Marco Sanchez.
A 1990 graduate of Arizona State, Jones was a three-time All-American; his 134 wins rank third on the school's all-time win list. He holds the ASU record for most dual match victories in a season with 22 (1989-90). While wrestling at ASU, Jones won three Pac-10 championships at 118 pounds and was runner-up at the 1990 NCAA championship after an undefeated season. He was No. 1 ranked freestyle wrestler in the USA while still competing in college.
While a coach at Arizona State, Jones help lead the Sun Devils to a 60-37 record and four Pac 10 titles. His squads placed in the Top 10 four times at the NCAAs (10th in 1996; fourth in 1995; eighth in 1994 and fourth in 1993). During his five years at ASU, Jones tutored 14 wrestlers to 20 All-America honors, including two wrestlers who won three individual national championships. He is one of the top 100 athletes of all-time as selected by The Arizona Republic.
Jones is entering his sixth season with the Mountaineer wrestling program. The official first day of practice for the defending back-to-back EWL champions is scheduled for October 13.
