ASU's historic female wrestler set for London Olympics


June 4, 2012

The road to the Olympic Games is a long and enduring challenge. Often, it begins at a young age where resilience and hard work ethic are characteristics lacking in the future Olympian’s peers. At this year’s 2012 London Olympics, a former Arizona State University Sun Devil and two-time National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Champion will take to the mat in a dream that started off as a high school joke. 

Kelsey Campbell, a 2008 Communications and Justice Studies graduate, started her journey to become an Olympian without even knowing she had begun. An all-around athlete, Campbell tacked her track, cross country, soccer and basketball letters to her wall but it wasn’t until a group of guy friends challenged Campbell to attempt the wrestling program that she set herself off on the passage to be a U.S. Olympian. Download Full Image

“I had some guy friends on the wrestling team at my high school that said I couldn’t last two weeks of wrestling,” Campbell said. “I thought to myself, ‘ I could totally handle two weeks and, obviously, I did.’” 

At Milwaukie High School (Milwaukie, Ore.), Campbell earned All-America honors after placing eighth at the Fargo Nationals. She lettered in wrestling and was also selected as the Most Inspirational Athlete for her high school in soccer (2000 and 2002) and track (2003).

“I was just trying to prove some guys wrong,” Campbell said. 

After moving to Arizona in 2006 to aide in opening a new church, Campbell joined the ASU wrestling squad as the Sun Devils’ first and only female wrestler in school history. Campbell made it clear that being the first at anything is not ever easy.

“I don’t think any college wrestler walks into a room and expects to see a girl,” she said. “Some welcomed me with open arms and some didn’t want me there. There was a lot of room to learn and grow but it made me really tough.“

Even though her time at Arizona State wasn’t always shining lights and glamour, her lessons in work ethic and drive played a role in Campbell’s future success.

“It was either going to be I was resilient and tough or I was going to quit,” Campbell said. “It was the best place for me to at the time. I wouldn’t be where I am today without that time at ASU.” 

Campbell competed in seven events, placing in all six tournaments in the 2007-2008 year as a Sun Devil. In 2007, Campbell earned her first tournament victory and national title in the 63kg weight class after going 3-0 in the tournament as an unseeded underdog against the No. 4, No. 2 and No. 1 competitors. Campbell followed up a year later claiming her second crown in the 59kg class. 

“I’m grateful for the experience,” Campbell said. “I’m happy I did it and I’m happy people pushed me to do it.” 

Campbell never really focused on the idea of being the best after falling short multiple times following her time at ASU. She used her loss in the first round back in September’s World Championships in Turkey - where she was a favorite - as motivation to turn her career around.

“This journey that I’ve had here there has always been this sense that I haven’t done what I came here to do,” Campbell said. “If you lose the way that I lost, it’s painful and exposes you. You either quit or make the changes you need to.” 

Campbell made the changes and on April 21, Campbell beat top-seeded Helen Maroulis at the U.S. Olympic Trials for the first time in her career at 55 kilograms. The victory earned her an Olympic berth. 

“It never came together until I made the team. Not one time. I never beat that girl. I never medaled at the world championships,” Campbell said. “But it took that. I just want to do my best. No matter what, I would have left knowing I did my best and gave it my all.”

Campbell upset Maroulis within the first two matches in the best-of-three championship series going, 2-0, 0-1, 1-0 and 0-2, 1-0, 2-1. 

Even before the clock ran out, Campbell dropped to her knees, her hands covering her face as she wept tears of joy and relief after years of fighting what seemed to be an uphill battle. 

“It was an intense out of body experience,” Campbell recalled. “Up until that point, I didn’t really focus on the outcome; I just focused on the moment and I embraced that moment.” 

Since the challenge in April, Campbell has continued her training and competing in tournaments to help prepare for her upcoming world showing in London.

“I don’t think there are any secrets. You work on things and work on them everyday,” she said of her strategy going in to the competition.

Campbell hasn’t lost the spirit that originally pushed her to prove a group of high school boy wrestlers wrong. It’s just now, that spirit brings a heftier goal to mind.

“I think I can make it as big as I want to. My goal is to win a gold medal. If I win a silver or bronze I will be stoked but we aren’t training to lose in the finals.” 

Campbell will represent the USA on the mat in London, beginning Aug. 8.

Oklahoma ousts softball 5-3 in WCWS


June 4, 2012

Final Stats

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Postgame Notes Get Acrobat Reader

Press conference video

Arizona State softball saw its 2012 season end at the Women's College World Series after suffering a 5-3 loss to fourth-seed Oklahoma, June 1.

The Sun Devils finished their season with a 53-11 record after losing to Oklahoma on June 3, 5-3, and previously to Alabama, 2-1, June 1.

Dallas Escobedo garnered the loss, dropping her to a final record of 24-8 on the year. National Player of the Year Keilani Ricketts picked up the win, improving her to a 36-7 tally.

Arizona State started off swiftly in the opening stanza, using an Annie Lockwood double to right center to go up 2-0. Alix Johnson and Amber Freeman scored on the hit, after reaching via walk and single through the left side, respectively.

Not to be outdone, the Sooners chipped at the lead, 2-1, when Katie Norris hit a solo shot over the centerfield fence in the bottom of the second. Oklahoma then took the lead in the third with a four-hit, four-run outing to go ahead 5-2.

The Sun Devils did not give up, however, using a single to left center by Elizabeth Caporuscio on the base path. She then got into scoring position at second base on a wild pitch only to be plated by Katelyn Boyd two batters later off a fielder's choice, closing the gap at 5-3.

The late effort was not enough as ASU eventually fell to the score of 5-3. The Sun Devils cap their season with a final record of 53-11 in the program's 10th appearance in the Women's College World Series.

SENIOR CLASS WIN PERCENTAGE
Arizona State's 2012 senior class finishes their career fifth in the nation in win percentage compared to all 2012 graduating classes. Here is a look at the top graduating classes in the nation:

Top 13 Senior Class Win Percentages
**updated 6/3/12 - 3 p.m. **
1. Alabama 216-39 = .847
2. Florida 216-41 = .840^
3. Missouri 200-49 = .803^
4. Louisiana 194-48 = .802^
5. Arizona State 203-51 = .799^
6. Georgia 193-56 = .776^
7. Oklahoma 184-55 = .770
8. California 185-57 = .764
9. Tennessee 190-59-1 = .760^
10. Washington 177-55 = .763^
11. Notre Dame 175-56 = .758^
12. UCLA 167-59 = .739^
13. Arizona 179-67 = .728^
^Denotes final class win%

WCWS
Appearances: 10, Last 2012
Record: 18-16

NCAA TOURNAMENT
Appearances: 24, Last 2012 - National Champions 2008, 2011
Record: 78-47

ASU BULLPEN IN THE POSTSEASON
Dallas Escobedo: Total 14-4; 2012 (4-4); 2011 (10-0)
Hillary Bach: Total 12-3; 2012 (3-0); 2010 (2-1); 2009 (7-2)

Arizona State softball head coach Clint Myers bio:
http://www.thesundevils.com/sports/w-softbl/mtt/myers_clint01.html

Coach Myers is 48-13 in the postseason overall.
Coach Myers is 25-3 in NCAA action at Farrington Stadium.

Clint Myers IN THE POSTSEASON
2012 (7-4)
2011 National Champions (10-0)
2010 (3-2)
2009 (7-3)
2008 National Champions (10-0)
2007 (5-2)
2006 (6-2)

Clint Myers IN THE WCWS
2012 (2-2)
2011*National Champions (5-0)
2009 (1-2)
2008 *National Champions (5-0)
2007 (0-2)
2006 (1-2)
Total 14-8, .636

Clint Myers IN THE POSTSEASON
2012 (7-4)
Oklahoma 5, ASU 3 (June 3, 2012 at WCWS at Oklahoma City) ASU 6, LSU 0 (June 2, 2012 at WCWS at Oklahoma City) Alabama 2, ASU 1 (June 1, 2012 at WCWS at Oklahoma City) ASU 3, Oregon 1 (May 31, 2012 at WCWS at Oklahoma City) ASU 8, Louisiana 0 (6) (May 25, 2012 at Tempe Super Regional); ASU 9, Louisiana 2 (May 25, 2012 at Tempe Super Regional) Louisiana 6, ASU 0 (May 24 at Tempe Super Regional); ASU 4, Syracuse 0 (May 20, 2012 at Tempe Regional); Syracuse 1, ASU 0 (May 20, 2012 at Tempe Regional); ASU 3, Syracuse 1 (May 19, 2012 at Tempe Regional); ASU 9, Long Island Brooklyn 0 (5) (May 18, 2012 at Tempe Regional)

2011 National Champions (10-0)
ASU 7, Florida 3 (June 7, 2011 College World Series at Oklahoma City); ASU 14, Florida 4 (June 6, 2011 College World Series at Oklahoma City); ASU 4, Baylor 0 (June 5, 2011 College World Series at Oklahoma City); ASU 6, Florida 5 (June 3, 2011 College World Series at Oklahoma City); ASU 3, Oklahoma 1 (June 2, 2011 College World Series at Oklahoma City); ASU 4, Texas A&M 2 (May 27, 2011 at Tempe Super Regional); ASU 3, Texas A&M 2 (May 26, 2011 at Tempe Super Regional); ASU 6, San Diego State 1 (May 22, 2011 at Tempe Regional); ASU 8, Long Beach State 0 (May 21, 2011 at Tempe Regional); ASU 10, North Dakota State 0 (May 20, 2011 at Tempe Regional)

2010 (3-2)
Florida 5, ASU 2 (May 30, 2010 at Gainesville Super Regional); Florida 8, ASU 0 (May 29, 2010 at Gainesville Super Regional); ASU 9, LIU 1 (May 23, 2010 at Amherst Regional); ASU 3, LIU 2 (May 22, 2010 at Amherst Regional); ASU 6, Boston University 1 (May 21, 2010 at Amherst Regional)

2009 (7-3)
Alabama 6, ASU 2 (May 30, 2009 College World Series at Oklahoma City); Washington 1, ASU 0 (May 29, 2009 College World Series at Oklahoma City); ASU 7, Missouri 3 (May 28, 2009 College World Series at Oklahoma City); ASU 11, North Dakota State 0 (May 23, 2009 at Tempe Super Regional); ASU 3, North Dakota State 0 (May 22, 2009 at Tempe Super Regional); ASU 5, LSU 0 (May 17, 2009 at Tempe Regional); ASU 6, LSU 4 (May 17, 2009 at Tempe Regional); ASU 7, Cal State Fullerton 0 (May 16, 2009 at Tempe Regional); LSU 10, ASU 2 (May 16, 2009 at Tempe Regional); ASU 5, San Diego 0 (May 15, 2009 at Tempe Regional)

2008 National Champions (10-0)
ASU 11, Texas A&M 0 (June 3, 2008 College World Series at Oklahoma City); ASU 3, Texas A&M 0 (June 2, 2008 College World Series at Oklahoma City); ASU 3, Alabama 1 (June 1, 2008 College World Series at Oklahoma City); ASU 4, UCLA 0 (May 30, 2008 College World Series at Oklahoma City); ASU 3, Alabama 1 (May 29, 2008 College World Series at Oklahoma City); ASU 9, Northwestern 0 (May 24, 2008 at Tempe Super Regional); ASU 3, Northwestern 1 (May 23, 2008 at Tempe Super Regional); ASU 8, Hawai'i 0 (May 18, 2008 at Tempe Regional); ASU 10, Hawai'i 0 (May 17, 2008 at Tempe Regional)ASU 2, Stony Brook 0 (May 16, 2008 at Tempe Regional)

2007 (5-2)
DePaul 3, ASU 1 (June 2, 2007 College World Series at Oklahoma City); Northwestern 2, ASU 0 (May 31, 2007 College World Series at Oklahoma City); ASU 7, LSU 4 (May 26, 2007 at Tempe Super Regional); ASU 1, LSU 0 (May 25, 2007 at Tempe Super Regional); ASU 6, @BYU 3 (May 19, 2007 at Provo Regional); ASU 7, BYU 1 (May 18, 2007 at Provo Regional) ASU 2, Southern Utah 1 (May 17, 2007 Provo Regional)

2006 (6-2)
Tennessee 3, ASU 1 (June 3, 2006 College World Series at Oklahoma City); ASU 3, Oregon State 1 (June 3, 2006 College World Series at Oklahoma City); Texas 2, ASU 0 (June 1, 2006 College World Series at Oklahoma City); ASU 5, Florida State 1 (May 27, 2006 at Tempe Super Regional); ASU 6, Florida State 1 (May 26, 2006 at Tempe Super Regional); ASU 5, @Penn State 0 (May 21, 2006 at Hempstead Regional); ASU 2, Hofstra 0 (May 20, 2006 at Hempstead Regional); ASU 6, Long Island 0 (May 20, 2006 at Hempstead Regional)