Arizona State University

TEMPE, Ariz. The 2008 Sun Devil Softball Team is gearing up for another campaign towards the College World Series and would like to invite friends and fans to their third annual Meet, Greet and Select-A-Seat Night on Saturday, January 26. The event will also include a free all-skills camp taught by the 2008 Sun Devils and coaches for ages 8-18.

The event kicks off at ASU's Farrington Stadium at 2 p.m. with the free all-skills camp, which will run until 4 p.m. Starting at 4 p.m., fans will have an opportunity to purchase season tickets, join the booster club, have pictures taken with the team and get autographs.

The Sun Devils' 2008 home season will kick off Feb. 14 in Tempe against Western Kentucky followed by the Kajikawa Classic February 15-17 featuring five of the eight 2007 College World Series Participants.

The Sun Devils thank you for your support and hope to see you out at Farrington Stadium this season as they look to make their third consecutive trip to Oklahoma City and the College World Series.

After winning the 2007 Pac-10 championship and advancing to the College World Series for the 20th time in school history, Arizona StateUniversity baseball is preparing for another run to Omaha in 2008. With the 2008 roster stocked with graduating seniors and draft eligible players expected to be taken in the 2008 MLB Draft, 14th year head coach Pat Murphy has announced his recruiting class for the 2009 season. The 24-man class is expected to pay immediate dividends and keep ASU among the top collegiate baseball programs in the country for years to come.

"I'm excited about this group of future Sun Devils and confident that this is one of the best recruiting classes ever assembled here at ASU," said coach Murphy. "This class is a very deep and talented group of players and will be the foundation of our program in the years to come.  Because we will lose so many of our current student-athletes in next spring's draft, we need a group capable of making an immediate contribution and this recruiting class will certainly serve that need." 

"Recruiting coordinator Josh Holliday and assistant coach Andy Stankiewicz did an excellent job identifying a group of players that will continue to represent the proud winning tradition of Sun Devil Baseball.  I'm excited about the contributions they will make on the field and in the classroom and very proud to announce this recruiting class."

Arizona State University Baseball's 2008 Signees:

 

Name                          Pos.                Ht.       Wt.      Hometown (Previous School)
Austin Barnes           INF               5-10   160     Riverside, Calif. (Riverside Poly HS)

Kole Calhoun            OF/LHP          5-11   200     Buckeye, Ariz. (Yavapai College)

Jarek Cunningham     INF               6-1     175     Spokane, Wash. (Mt. Spokane HS)

Alex Curry               RHP              6-1     190     Buena Park, Calif. (Cypress College)

Jaff Decker              OF/LHP          5-10   180     Peoria, Ariz. (Sunrise Mountain HS)

Brad Hand               LHP/1B           6-2     205     Chaska, Minn. (Chaska HS)

Ray Hanson             RHP              6-8     205     Long Beach, Calif. (Wilson HS)

Eric Hosmer             1B/LHP          6-4     210     Cooper City, Fla. (American Heritage HS)

Jeeter Ishida            RHP              6-0     200     Honolulu, Hawai'i (Punahou HS)

Mitchell Lambson      LHP              6-1     175     Tualatin, Ore. (Tualatin HS)
Brett Lawrie             UTL              6-0     190     Langley, B.C., Canada (Brookswood SS)

Jeff Lusardi              OF                5-10   175     Lee's Summit, Mo. (Blue Springs South HS)

Zack MacPhee          INF/OF           5-7     170     Phoenix, Ariz. (O'Connor HS)

Kyle Peterson           OF/C             6-0     190     Chandler, Ariz. (Hamilton HS)

Carlos Ramirez          C                 6-0     210     Tucson, Ariz. (Chandler-Gilbert CC)

Devyn Rivera            RHP              6-2     180     Higley, Ariz. (Highland HS)

Johnny Ruettiger       OF                6-2     180     Joliet, Ill. (Joliet Catholic Academy)

Abe Ruiz                  INF               6-3     205     Pacific Grove, Calif. (Pacific Grove HS)

Kyle Skipworth         C                 6-3     200     Riverside, Calif. (Patriot HS)

Josh Spence            LHP              6-1     175     Victoria, Australia (Central Arizona College)

Jordan Swagerty       C/RHP           6-1     175     Sachse, Texas (Prestonwood Christian Acad.)

Trask Switzenberg    INF               6-3     205     Cave Creek, Ariz. (Chandler-Gilbert CC)

Riccio Torrez            INF               6-0     190     Phoenix, Ariz. (Brophy College Prep)

Zach Wilson             INF               6-1     190     Long Beach, Calif. (Wilson HS)

 

A detailed look at Arizona State University's signees:

 

Austin Barnes (5-10, 160, INF, Riverside Poly HS, Riverside, California)

• A four-year varsity starter for Coach Aaron Moore at Riverside Poly.
• Winner of three straight Ivy League titles.
• Named the Ivy League and Riverside Poly Team MVP in 2007.
• Earned All-Riverside County honors in 2006 and 2007.
• Named 1st Team All-CIF and All-State in 2007.
• Helped lead his summer league team, the Trombley Braves, to the 2007 AABC Don Mattingly Championship under Coach Steve Trombley.
• Won Mattingly World Series batting title, hitting .524 with three homers in five games. 

Austin is a hardnosed middle infielder with solid defensive skills and pop in his bat. He should contribute early in his career because of a great feel for the game and his defensive talents.

 

Kole Calhoun (5-11, 200, OF/LHP, Yavapai College, Buckeye, Arizona)

• Hit .296 with 32 RBI and picked up two saves as a freshman at Yavapai College for Coach Sky Smeltzer.
• 2007 Northwoods League Co-MVP while leading the Eau Claire Express to a runner-up finish.
• Hit .286 with 6 HR's and 34 RBI for Eau Claire while recording a 3-0 record with 14 saves and a league leading 0.38 ERA.
• Two-time All-State pitcher at Buckeye High School.
• Skyline Region Player of the Year in 2006.
• West Valley Player of the Year in 2005.
• 1st Team All-State Pitcher in 2006 and 2007.

Kole is a blue-collar player with two-way talent. He has great leadership skills, experience and should contribute immediately both on the mound and at the plate.

 

Jarek Cunningham (6-1, 175, INF, Mt. Spokane HS, Spokane, Washington)

• A member of Coach Alex Schuerman's two-time league champions.
• 1st Team All-Greater Spokane League in 2007.
• Hit .397 with seven home runs as a junior in 2006.
• Named "Mr. Baseball" by the Greater Spokane League coaches in 2007.
• 2007 Area Code Games participant for the Washington Nationals.
• Earned All-Tournament honors at the 2007 Area Code Games.
• Named an Under Armour Preseason All-America by TeamOneBaseball.com for 2008.
• His brother, Brendan, is a student manager on the ASU baseball team.

Jarek is an athletic player with great bat speed and is capable of playing several different positions on the field. He hails from the Pacific Northwest, a region that has produced recent Sun Devils greats Willie Bloomquist, Travis Buck and Colin Curtis.

 

Alex Curry (6-1, 190, RHP, Cypress College, Buena Park, California)

• Went 8-4 with a 2.36 ERA as a freshman at Cypress College for Coach Scott Pickler.
• 1st Team Orange Empire Conference starting pitcher in 2007.
• Named to the 2007 All-Southern California Team as a starting pitcher.
• Named Century League Pitcher of the Year in 2006 and lead league in ERA for Coach Joe Hoggatt at Canyon High School.
• Named 5th best prospect in New England Collegiate Summer League in 2007 by Baseball America.
• Drafted in the 32nd round of the 2006 Major League Baseball First Year player draft by the Chicago White Sox.

Alex is a very talented pitcher from junior college powerhouse Cypress College. He throws four pitches with outstanding command and will make an immediate impact on our pitching staff.

 

Jaff Decker (5-10, 180, OF/LHP, Sunrise Mountain HS, Peoria, Arizona)

• Ranked 26th best high school player by StudentSportsBaseball.com.
• Ranked 129th best High School prospect by Perfect Game Crosschecker.
• Ranked 133rd best prospect for the 2008 Draft by Perfect Game Crosschecker.
• Named West Valley Player of the Year in 2007 by the Arizona Republic.
• Named 1st Team All-State and 1st Team All-Desert West Region in 2007.
• Named Desert West Region Player of the Year and 2nd Team All-State in 2006.
• Four-year varsity starter for Coach Eric Gardner at Sunrise Mountain HS.
• 2007 Area Code Games participant for the Cincinnati Reds.
• 2007 USA Baseball Tournament of Stars participant.
• Played in the World Wood Bat Championships for the Texas Rangers Scout Team.
• Named to All-Tournament team and named Top Hitter for the USA Youth National Team in 2006 by hitting .571 at the Youth Pan Am Championships.  Also set tournament record with 16 hits.
• Named back-to-back Under Armour All-American by TeamOneBaseball.com.

One of the top two-way players in the country, Jaff will make an immediate impact both on the mound and in the outfield. He is an advanced hitter with power and has a 90+ mph fastball on the mound. He is not only one of the top players in Arizona, but is also one of the finest prospects in the country.

 

Brad Hand (6-2, 205, LHP/1B, Chaska HS, Chaska, Minnesota)

• Ranked #1 Player in Minnesota by Perfect Game Crosschecker.
• Ranked 40th best high school player in the country by Perfect Game Crosschecker.
• Ranked 176th best prospect for the 2008 Draft by Perfect Game Crosschecker.
• 1st team All-Lake Conference Team in 2006 and 2007.
• Elected team captain by his teammates in both baseball and hockey in 2007.
• 2007 Area Code Games participant for the Chicago White Sox.
• 1st Team All-Metro in 2007 by the Minnesota Star Tribune.
• 1st Team All-State in 2007 by the Minnesota Coaches Association.
• Batted .419 with 6 HR in 2007 while going 4-1 with a 1.69 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 42 innings for Chaska coach Troy Stein.

One of the top two-way players in the country, Brad has a 90+ mph fastball and an outstanding curveball to go along with a classic left-handed swing. The top player in Minnesota, Brad has tremendous talent  and will make an immediate impact for the Sun Devils.

 

Ray Hanson (6-8, 205, RHP, Woodrow Wilson HS, Long Beach, California)

• Ranked 118th best high school prospect by Perfect Game Crosschecker.
• 2007 Team USA Junior National Team alternate.
• Helped lead Long Beach Wilson HS to 2007 CIF Southern Section Championship and the #1 National High School ranking by Baseball America.
• Named 2007 Moore League Pitcher of the Year while competing for Coach Andy Hall at Long Beach Wilson.
• 1st Team Dream Team honors from the Long Beach Press Telegram.
• 2nd Team All-AAF from the California Baseball Coaches Association.
• Pitched for Connie Mack World Series Champion Midland Redskins in 2007.
• Pitched for 2007 World Wood Bat Champion Braves Scout Team in Jupiter, FL

Ray is a talented pitcher with tremendous upside. He possesses a 90+ mph fastball and a 6'8 frame that he will continue to grow into. He is a proven big game pitcher for Long Beach Wilson High School.

 

Eric Hosmer (6-4, 210, 1B/LHP, American Heritage HS, Cooper City, Florida)

• Ranked 4th best High School Prospect by Baseball America.
• Ranked 6th best high school prospect by Perfect Game Crosschecker.
• Ranked 3rd best prospect in the 2008 Draft by Perfect Game Crosschecker.
• Hit .548 with 10 home runs and 38 RBI in 2006 for American Heritage and Coach Todd Fitzgerald.
• Hit .398 with 9 home runs and 30 RBI as a junior in 2007.
• MVP at World Wood Bat Association Championship in 2007.
• Named Top Prospect at the WWBA Championship in 2007.
• Ranked Top Power Prospect at the WWBA Championships in 2007.
• 2007 USA Junior National Team Member.
• 2007 AFLAC All-American.
• 2007 Rawlings High School Gold Glove winner.
• Miami Herald State Player of the Year in 2006 and 2007.
• 2007 Sun-Sentinel Player of the Year.
• Three-time team MVP for nationally ranked American Heritage High School.
• Lead the Midland Redskins to a Connie Mack World Series Title in 2007.
• Named 2007 Connie Mack World Series MVP while playing for Coach Joe Hayden and Dave Evans of the Midland Redskins.

The top high school hitter in the country, Eric possesses a tremendous all-around feel for the game. He has make-up and leadership qualities that will make him an integral part of our program for years to come.

 

Jeeter Ishida (6-0, 200, RHP, Punahou School, Honolulu, Hawai'i)

• Key member of Coach Eric Kadooka's four-time Defending State Champion Punahou Buff N'Blue.
• 2007 Gatorade Hawaii Player of the Year.
• Honolulu Star-Bulletin State Player of the Year in 2006 and 2007.
• 2007 Honolulu Advertiser State Player of the Year.
• 2007 Louisville Slugger State Player of the Year.
• 1st Team All-State in Water Polo in 2006 and 2007.

Jeeter is a proven winner from traditional powerhouse, Punahou School. He has a tremendous split fingered fastball and a great feel for pitching. He is an outstanding student-athlete from one of the country's finest academic high schools.

 

Mitchell Lambson (6-1, 175, LHP, Tualatin HS, Tualatin, Oregon)

• 1st Team All-Pacific Conference selection in 2006 and 2007.
• 2007 Pacific Conference Pitcher of the Year.
• 2nd Team All-State in 2007.
• Led Coach Matt Unis Tualatin HS team to the Oregon Final Four in 2007.
• Honorable Mention All-State in 2006.
• Honorable Mention All-Pacific Conference in 2005.
• 2007 Area Code Games participant for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
• Helped lead his Oregon Metro team to the Pacific Northwest Championship in 2007.
• Named Most Valuable Pitcher of the Pacific Northwest Championship in 2007.

Mitchell is a skilled pitcher with an outstanding change-up and great command of his pitches. He is a very mature and motivated young man and is an excellent student.

 

Brett Lawrie (6-0, 190, UTL, Brookswood Secondary School, Langley, British Columbia, Canada)

• Ranked #1 player in Canada by Perfect Game Crosschecker.
• Ranked 77th best high school player by Perfect Game Crosschecker.
• Led Team Canada, coached by Greg Hamilton, to a Bronze Medal at the 2007 World Junior Championships.
• Named MVP of Canadian Junior National Team in 2007.
• Selected to World Junior Championships All-Tournament Team in 2007.
• 2007 Area Code Games participant for the New York Yankees.
• Played on New York Yankees' team at 2007 East Coast Pro Showcase in Lakeland, FL.
• Plays for the Langley Blaze coached by Doug Mathieson.

The top player in Canada, Brett is a versatile athlete with physical strength, speed and agility to go along with his tremendous hitting ability.

 

Jeff Lusardi (5-10, 175, OF, Blue Springs South HS, Lee's Summit, Missouri)

• 1st Team All-Big 7 Suburban League in 2006 and 2007.
• Career .440 hitter in three varsity seasons at Blue Springs South High School.
• Became the first freshman to start on varsity in school history and hit a team high .480.
• Named All-Area and All-State in 2006 and 2007 for coach Richard Wood.
• Helped lead his summer team, the Mac-N-Seitz Indians, to the finals of the NBC World Series.
• Played for the 2007 Missouri Junior Sunbelt team and hit a team high .469.
• His father, Mike, is the team chaplain for the Kansas City Royals and Kansas City Chiefs.

An accomplished hitter with a great feel for the game, Jeff has tremendous work habits and a great make-up. Lusardi is considered the best pure hitter in the state of Missouri.

 

Zack MacPhee (5-7, 170, INF/OF, Sandra Day O'Connor HS, Phoenix, Arizona)

• 1st Team All-Northwest Conference in 2007
• 2nd Team All-State selection in 2007 for coach Jeff Baumgartner
• Led Sandra Day O'Connor to the  Northwest Regional Title in 2007.
• 2007 Area Code Games selection for Cincinnati Reds.
• Plays for the Arizona Firebirds during the summer, one of the top Connie Mack teams in the nation.
• Named to Connie Mack All-World Series Team in 2007.

Zack is a fierce competitor that can play multiple positions. He has tremendous running speed and is one of the top players in the state of Arizona.

 

Kyle Peterson (6-0, 190, OF/C, Hamilton HS, Chandler, Arizona)

• Ranked 332nd best high school player by Perfect Game Crosschecker.
• Named All-Fiesta Region in 2006 and 2007.
• First freshman to ever start for Hamilton High School and Coach Mike Woods.
• 2007 Area Code Games participant for the Cincinnati Reds.
• Played for Team Arizona in the 2007 Junior Sunbelt Tournament.
• Also plays for the perennial football powerhouse Hamilton HS team that won the 2006 State 5A Championship.

Kyle is a physically gifted athlete who possesses strength, foot speed and arm strength. He is a member of the Hamilton football dynasty and has a great baseball future ahead of him.

 

Carlos Ramirez (6-0, 210, C, Chandler-Gilbert CC, Tucson, Arizona)

• Hit .378 with 23 RBI in 38 games at Chandler-Gilbert College for Coach Russ Luce.
• Three-time First Team All-Southern Region selection at Sunnyside High School.
• 1st Team All-State as a senior in 2006.
• 2nd Team All-State as a junior in 2005.
• Played summer ball in 2007 for the Santa Barbara Foresters of the California Collegiate League for Coach Bill Pintard. 
• Selected in the 34th round of the 2007 MLB First Year Player Draft by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Carlos is an experienced catcher who has solid defensive skills and a great bat control. He will contribute immediately to the program.

 

Devyn Rivera (6-2, 180, RHP, Highland HS, Higley, Arizona)

• Ranked 399th best high school player by Perfect Game Crosschecker.
• A three-year letter winner at Highland High School for Coach Scott Cook.
• Highland HS ERA leader in 2006 and 2007.
• Highland HS home run and RBI leader in 2007.
• Honorable Mention All-Fiesta League in 2006.
• 2nd team All-Fiesta League in 2007.
• 2007 Area Code Games participant for the Cincinnati Reds.

Devyn is an athletic pitcher with movement on all his pitches. He has a loose arm with tremendous room to grow and develop. He is one of the top players in the state of Arizona.

 

Johnny Ruettiger (6-2, 180, OF/LHP, Joliet Catholic Academy, Joliet, Ill.)

• Ranked 106th best high school player by Perfect game Crosschecker.
• Participated in Perfect Game National Showcase in 2006 and 2007.
• 1st Team All-East Suburban Catholic League in 2006 and 2007 for coach Jared Voss.
• 1st Team All-Region Quarterback in 2007.
• Starting quarterback for perennial power Joliet Catholic, earning All-State and All-Conference honors while leading his team to a state championship in 2007.
• The nephew of Notre Dame Football Legend Rudy Ruettiger.

Johnny is a tremendous athlete with speed and arm strength. He is capable of contributing early in his career because of his toughness and competitive nature. He is an All-State football player with a tremendous winning background.. 

 

Abe Ruiz (6-3, 205, INF/RHP, Pacific Grove HS, Pacific Grove, California)

• Ranked 97th best high school player by Perfect Game Crosschecker.
• Ranked 249th best prospect for the 2008 draft  by Perfect Game
• Selected to participate in Perfect Game National Showcase in 2007.
• Three-time All-Mission Trail League selection while playing for his father Gil Ruiz.
• All Central Coast section team selection in 2006 and 2007.
• 2007 Area Code Games participant for Milwaukee Brewers.
• Gold Medal winner at USA Baseball Tournament of the Stars in 2007.
• Plays for prestigious Nor Cal program run by Rob Bruno.

Abe is an accomplished power hitter with a classic left-handed swing and good infield actions. Ruiz joins a long line of distinguished Sun Devils hailing from Northern California, most notably Barry Bonds, Dustin Pedroia and Brett Wallace.

 

Kyle Skipworth (6-3, 200, C, Patriot HS, Riverside, California)

• Ranked 3rd best high school player by Perfect Game Crosschecker.
• Ranked 8th best high school player by Baseball America.
• Ranked 9th best draft prospect by Perfect Game Crosschecker.
• 2007 AFLAC All-American.
• Member of the 2007 USA Junior National Team.
• 2007 Area Code Games participant for Milwaukee Brewers.
• 1st Team All-Sunkist League in 2007 while batting .422 with 8 home runs and 45 RBI.
• Three-time Patriot High School Scholar Athlete of the Year for coach Tim Kleveno.
• Member of 2007 World Wood Bat Association's Champion Atlanta Braves Scout Team.
• Named #2 prospect (behind fellow ASU signee Eric Hosmer) at the WWBA.
• Rated as having the best throwing arm at the WWBA tournament in 2007.
• Member of prestigious Angels Elite Scout Team Coached by Steve Hernandez.

The top rated catcher in the nation, Kyle has tremendous arm strength and bat speed. He is recognized nationwide as one of the top five high school players in the country and has an outstanding baseball future.

 

Josh Spence (6-1, 175, LHP, Central Arizona College, Victoria, Australia)

• National Junior College All-American in 2007 by Perfect Game Crosschecker.
• Arizona's State Junior College Player of the Year in 2007.
• 3rd Team Junior College All-American by NJCAA in 2007.
• Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner in 2007.
• Led Central Arizona to ACCAC Conference title and a Region I Championship in 2007.
• Member of four Australian National Championship teams
• Australian National MVP and Golden Arm Award winner in 2005.
• In 2007, went 11-2 with 16 complete games, 0.71 ERA while striking out 119 in 101 innings for former Sun Devil Jon Wente.

Josh is a crafty lefthander with a proven track record of winning. He is one of the top Junior College pitchers in the nation and will be an immediate contributor to our success in 2009.

 

Jordan Swagerty (6-1, 175, C/RHP, Prestonwood Christian Academy, Sachse, Texas)

• Ranked 37th best high school player by StudentSportsBaseball.com.
• Ranked 50th best high school player by Perfect Game Crosschecker.
• Ranked 61st best high school player by Baseball America.
• Ranked 79th best draft prospect by Perfect Game Crosschecker.
• Helped lead Prestonwood Christian Academy, coached by Mike Maack, to a 31-1 record and a State Title Game appearance in 2007.
• Named All-State and TAPPS District 2 Player of the Year in 2007.
• Hit .484 in 2007 to go along with his 12-0 record on the mound for PCA.
• 2007 AFLAC All-American.
• Member of 2007 USA Baseball Junior National Team.
• Played in 2007 Connie Mack World Series with the Dallas Tigers coached by former Sun Devil Linty Ingram.

Jordan is one of the nation's top two-way talents who combines the rare combination of pitching and catching skills. He has a 90+ mph fastball and a great curveball to go along with great defensive skills. He also is a switch-hitting talent who will make an immediate impact.

 

Trask Switzenberg (6-3, 205, INF, Chandler-Gilbert CC, Cave Creek, Arizona)

• Three-time All-Wells Fargo Region selection at Cactus Shadows for Coach Tom Scala.
• Two-time All-State selection at Cactus Shadows.
• Helped lead Cactus Shadows to a state title in 2006, hitting .385.
• Cactus Shadows Team MVP in 2006.
• Cactus Shadows Defensive Player of the Year in 2006.
• Played in Arizona's State 4A All-Star Game in 2006.
• Led his summer team, the Arizona Firebirds, to the 2006 Connie Mack World Series championship.
• Spent fall of 2006 at University of California-Santa Barbara before transferring to Chandler Gilbert Community College in the Spring of 2007.

Trask is the son of former Sun Devil two-sport athlete Don Switzenberg. He is a physically strong athlete who is capable of playing several positions.

 

Riccio Torrez (6-0, 190, INF, Brophy College Prep, Phoenix, Arizona)

• Ranked 53rd best high school player by StudentSportsBaseball.com.
• Ranked 62nd best high school prospect by Perfect Game Crosschecker.
• Ranked 268th best prospect for the 2008 draft by Perfect Game Crosschecker
• Led Brophy to a 30-4 mark and a #6 national ranking by Baseball America in 2007.
• 1st Team All-State in 2007 at Brophy while playing Coach Tom Succow.
• 1st Team All-Desert Valley Region in 2007.
• Hit .430 with 16 home runs in 2007, setting the school record for home runs.
• Member of the 2006 and 2007 USA Baseball Youth National Team.
• Hit .429 for the 2007 USA Junior National Team while earning All-Tournament honors at the Pan Am Championships.
• Played for the Arizona Firebirds in the 2007 Connie Mack World Series.
• His brother, Raoul, is a sophomore infielder for the Sun Devils.

Riccio is one of the most polished and skilled infielders in the country. A confident player, he possesses power and bat speed and will contribute immediately. He has proven to be a winner, playing for one of the top high school programs in the country.

 

Zach Wilson (6-1, 190, 3B, Woodrow Wilson HS, Long Beach, California)

• Ranked 28th best high school prospect by StudentSportsBaseball.com.
• Ranked 113th best high school player by Perfect Game Crosschecker.
• 2007 USA Baseball Tournament of the Stars participant.
• Helped lead Long Beach Wilson HS to 2007 CIF Southern Section Championship and the #1 National High School ranking by Baseball America.
• Won CIF-SS Division I Title in 2007.
• First Team All-Moore League in 2007.
• Member of Angels Elite Scout Team Coached by Steve Hernandez.
• Played in the Area Code Games for the New York Yankees Scout Team.
• Plays summer ball for the San Gabriel Valley Arsenal coached by Mike Vierra.

Zach is an excellent all-around player with an advanced feel for hitting. He displays tremendous leadership qualities and will contribute immediately. He is one of the top players in the talent rich state of California.

TEMPE, Ariz. - Arizona State University football student-athletes Thomas Weber and Robert James have been named to the Rivals.com All-American Team, the website has announced. Weber was named the Second-Team kicker and James was named to the Third-Team as a linebacker.

Weber, a redshirt freshman from Downey, Calif., set an ASU record by making the first 17 field goal attempts of his career. The Groza Award finalist is 20-21 on field goals, including a 53-yarder and the game-winner against Washington State. Weber also has handled the punting duties for ASU, averaging 40.2 yards per punt with nine having been downed inside the 20-yard line.

James, a senior from Phoenix, leads the Sun Devils with 94 total tackles, including eight tackles for loss. He has also intercepted four passes and recorded 2.5 quarterback sacks.

Arizona State University¹s Territorial Cup matchup with the Arizona Wildcats Saturday, December 1 at 6 p.m. at Frank Kush Field/Sun Devil Stadium, has sold out.

Capacity at Sun Devil Stadium/Frank Kush Field is 71,706. The last time ASU had three consecutive sellouts was in 1988. ASU sold out the USC game on Nov. 22 and the California contest on Oct. 27.

The Sun Devil Athletic Ticket Office will open at 12 noon on Saturday, December 1. The Ticket Office will send bowl game ticket information to season ticket holders next week via e-mail and regular mail.

The game will be televised to a national audience on ESPN2. The game also can be heard on KTAR 620 AM.

The Arizona State men and women's swimming teams began competition today at the Texas Invite in Austin, Texas. Three current Devils qualified for "A" finals which will happen later tonight. The Sun Devils earned one NCAA "A" time and six "B" times.

The meet started with the 100 fly. All-American Caitlin Andrew, who placed third at last season's NCAA Championships in the event, finished fourth in her heat with an automatic NCAA qualifying time of 53.32. She qualified for the "A" final which will take place later tonight.

Ashton Aubry also competed in the 100 fly. The sophomore from Leawood, Kan., placed 10th overall in the preliminaries by finishing in 54 seconds flat. Her time, an NCAA consideration time, was not only her personal best but also put her at third on ASU's all-time fastest time list. Aubry's time qualified for the "B" final.

In the men's 100 fly, John Dwelley and Sean Boyle both qualified for the "C" final. Dwelley's time of 48.54 was just above the NCAA consideration time. Dwelley finished 18th in the preliminaries and Sean Boyle's time of 48.81 put him at 21st overall.

In the women's 500 free, Shannon Garrett and Christine Mauro both qualified for the "B" final, finishing 13th and 15th in the preliminaries. Garrett touched in at 4:57.60, a personal best. Mauro clocked in a personal best as well, finishing in 4:59.71.

CJ Nuess led ASU in the men's 500 free. The senior All American clocked in an NCAA consideration time of 4:22.81 to put him at fifth in the preliminaries and qualify him for the "A" final. Vinicius Waked and Adrian Kirkpatrick both qualified for the "C" final with times of 4:31.61 and 4:33.27 respectively.

In the women's 200 IM preliminaries, Ashley Evans was the top Sun Devil finisher. The sophomore earned an NCAA consideration time of 2:01.84 to place 11th overall. Evans will compete in the "B" final later tonight. Rikka Brunner qualified for the "C" final by finishing 18th in the preliminaries. The junior from Mukilteo, Wash., earned a personal best of 2:04.52.

The women's 50 free saw two Sun Devils earn NCAA consideration times. Jen Beckberger qualified for the "A" final by finishing seventh overall. Her time of 22.78 was not only a personal best for Beckberger and is now the third fastest 50 free ever swam by a Sun Devil. Jess Perazzo also swam a personal best, 23.24, finished 15th in the preliminaries, qualifying for the "B" final. Her time is the sixth fastest ASU 50 free time and is also an NCAA consideration time. Lindsey Brown qualified for the "C" final with a time of 23.41.

In the 50 free on the men's side, former Sun Devil Nick Brunelli finished second in the preliminary rounds with a time of 19.43. Steve Neuwert and Mohammed Madwa both qualified for the "C" final, finishing 18th and 19th respectively. Neuwert clocked in a time of 20.24 while Madwa was just behind him, touching in at 20.25.

In the 200 IM CJ Nuess clocked in an NCAA consideration time of 1:49.14 and will compete in the "C" final of the event.

The finals of today's preliminaries will begin at 6 p.m. CT.

 

Fans can take advantage of several promotions during this weekend's Verizon Wireless ASU Classic, which features the No. 14 Sun Devils, No. 18 Auburn, Gonzaga and UC Riverside.

 

Trading Card Giveaway

 

This Friday night when ASU takes on Gonzaga in the Verizon Wireless ASU Classic be one of the first 500 fans to enter Wells Fargo Arena and receive set 1 of the limited edition 2007-2008 Women's Basketball trading cards. Mark your calendars for the distribution of trading cards set 2 on Thursday, December 20th vs. Texas, and trading cards set 3 on Saturday, February 2nd against Oregon. Gates open this Friday at 5:00 p.m. so arrive early to get your trading cards.

 

Canned Food Drive

 

Donate a canned food item and receive $2 admission.

 

 

Verizon Wireless Hopeline

 

Donate a used or new cell phone and receive free admission. Fans, you can help victims of abuse by donating old cell phones and accessories to the Verizon Wireless HopeLine program at the entry gates of the Women's Basketball Verizon Wireless ASU Classic on November 30th and December 2nd. If you donate a used cell phone, you will receive free entry into the game. Together, we can give victims of domestic violence the "HopeLine" they need. This tournament is sponsored by Verizon Wireless, a proud supporter of ASU Athletics and Women's Basketball.

 

ASU vs. UofA Football Ticket Stub Redemption

 

Bring your ticket stub from the ASU vs. UofA football game to the women's basketball game on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. and get in for only $2 general admission.

 

The unknown human health and environmental impacts of nanotechnology are a bigger worry for scientists than for the public, according to a new report published on line (November 25, 2007) in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.
 
The report was based on a national telephone survey of American households and a sampling of 363 leading U.S. nanotechnology scientists and engineers. It reveals that those with the most insight into a technology with enormous potential — and that is already emerging in hundreds of products — are unsure what health and environmental problems might be posed by the technology.
 
Two Arizona State University researchers – Elizabeth Corley, an assistant professor in the School of Public Affairs, and David Guston, director of the Center for Nanotechnology in Society and a professor of political science, are co-authors of the paper.
 
“It’s unusual for experts to see a greater risk in new technologies than for the public at large,” Guston said. “But these findings do not mean that scientists are saying that there is a problem.”
 
“Scientists are saying, ‘we don’t know,” explained the study’s lead author Dietram Scheufele, a University of Wisconsin-Madison professor of life sciences communication and journalism. “The research hasn’t been done.’”
 
The new findings are in stark contrast to controversies sparked by the advent of major technologies of the past, such as nuclear power and genetically modified foods, which scientists perceived as having lower risks than did the public.
 
Nanotechnology is based on science’s newfound ability to manipulate matter at the smallest scale, on the order of molecules and atoms. The field has enormous potential to develop applications ranging from new antimicrobial materials and tiny probes to sample individual cells in human patients, to vastly more powerful computers and lasers. Already, products with nanotechnology built in include such things as golf clubs, tennis rackets and antimicrobial food storage containers.
 
At the root of the information disconnect, said Elizabeth Corley, who conducted the survey with Scheufele, is that nanotechnology is only now starting to emerge on the nation’s policy agenda. Amplifying the problem is that the news media have not paid much attention to nanotechnology and its implications.  
 
“In the long run, this information disconnect could undermine public support for federal funding in certain areas of nanotechnology research, particularly in those areas that the public views as having lower levels of risk,” Corley said.            
 
While scientists were generally optimistic about the potential benefits of nanotechnology, they expressed significantly more concern about pollution and new health problems related to the technology. Potential health problems were in fact the highest rated concern among scientists, Guston said.
 
Twenty percent of the scientists responding to the survey indicated a concern that new forms of nanotechnology pollution may emerge, while only 15 percent of the public thought that might be a problem. More than 30 percent of scientists expressed concern that human health may be at risk from the technology, while just 20 percent of the public held such fears.
 
Of more concern to the American public, according to the report, are a potential loss of privacy from tiny new surveillance devices and the loss of more U.S jobs. Those fears were less of a concern for scientists.
 
While scientists wonder about the health and environmental implications of the new technology, their ability to spark public conversation seems to be limited, Corley and Guston said.
 
That’s because “scientists tend to treat communication as an afterthought,” Wisconsin’s Scheufele added. “They’re often not working with social scientists, industry or interest groups to build a channel to the public.”
 
The good news for scientist is that of all sources of nanotechnology information, they are the most trusted by the public.
 
“The public wants to know more about nanotechnology,” Guston added. “That’s why the Center for Nanotechnology in Society at ASU is conducting additional polls of the public and of scientists, and is organizing a National Citizens’ Technology Forum to elicit informed public perspectives on nanotechnology.”
 
“The climate for having that discourse is perfect,” Scheufele added. “There is definitely a huge opportunity for scientists to communicate with a public who trusts them.”
 
In addition to ASU’s Corley and Guston and Wisconsin’s Scheufele, other authors of the Nature Nanotechnology report include Sharon Dunwoody, Tsung-Jen Shih and Elliott Hillback of University of Wisconsin-Madison. The study was funded by the National Science Foundation as part of the Center for Nanotechnology in Society at Arizona State University and the UW-Madison Graduate School.
 
###
 
Sources:
Elizabeth Corley, (602) 496-0462; elizabeth.corley@asu.edu
David Guston, (480) 727-8829; david.guston@asu.edu
 
Media contact:
Skip Derra, (480) 965-4823; skip.derra@asu.edu
 

Arizona State University’s School of Global Management and Leadership has received financial support from Scottsdale Healthcare to help fund the school’s development of a Center for Productivity, Innovation and Quality. The center will specialize in working with businesses to explore, investigate, and find solutions to industry-specific issues that are sustainable, responsible and pragmatic.

“We are grateful to Scottsdale Healthcare for their support,” says Dean Gary Waissi, School of Global Management and Leadership. “This resource will help the school move forward with its plans to develop the Center for Productivity, Innovation and Quality.

“The center will bring together leading-edge academic research with practical tools and extensive experience from collaborating closely with industry. This blend of rigorous research and practical application will place the center at the forefront of problem solving and productivity among the business community.”

Leading the efforts to develop the center are ASU’s Adegoke Oke and Mohan Gopalakrishnan, who note that ASU is currently developing collaborative relationships with such collegial peers as Dublin City University Business School, Ireland; Tech de Monterrey, Mexico; IBMEC-Sao Paulo, Brazil; Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada; and the University of Athens, Greece.

Among the industries that could benefit from establishing a partnership with the Center for Productivity, Innovation and Quality are healthcare, financial services, manufacturing-focused small businesses and retail.

“Our focus areas are operational and tactical issues,” says Oke, assistant professor of economics, finance and marketing in the School of Global Management and Leadership. “A project outcome might relate to productivity gains, cost reduction, delivery improvement, the transfer of technology or the adoption of technological innovation, or process innovation.”

The center will be one of only a few established academies devoted to the study of complex issues requiring a mixture of functional and thematic approaches. It is currently developing relationships with local businesses, academic centers and business schools both nationally and internationally. This network of relations will enhance the center’s ability to deliver regional and international interventions.

“We believe it is important for us to invest in the creation of this important center because of its tremendous potential and value to the healthcare community.” says Todd LaPorte, senior vice president and chief financial officer of Scottsdale Healthcare. “The center’s healthcare forums will create dialogue among leaders in the industry, helping us tackle critical issues through cutting edge research.”

Ultimately, the center will bring together networks of companies to collaboratively identify and tackle common issues. Under the guidance of the center, the School of Global Management and Leadership will conduct a series of roundtables that will encourage a vigorous exchange of ideas between the center and the companies involved.

“The new center has the potential of bringing faculty and practitioners together to work on thematic research that addresses real life managerial issues,” says Waissi. “The center is evidence of ASU’s continued commitment to addressing economic workforce development.”

ASU students also will benefit from the creation of the center. By linking research, coursework, and entrepreneurial thinking with practical guidance for future entrepreneurs, the center will connect education to entrepreneurship and provide students exposure to valuable real-world experiences in the classroom.

“Our students will receive the opportunity to work with local businesses, exchange knowledge, get an inside view on industry needs, and build relationships that can lead to new collaborations,” says Waissi. “The center will also allow the school to develop international links that will open up opportunities for our students to engage with institutions and organizations worldwide.

“The Center for Productivity, Innovation and Quality will put the School of Global Management and Leadership and its partnership team on the cutting edge of workforce transformation.”

For additional information about the center contact 602-543-6200.

Can tourism improve life as we know it? How do rapidly growing areas rich in natural and manmade tourism and recreational amenities sustain their resources for tourists, residents and continued industry profits? What role does the global tourism industry play in human and community development, particularly in urban areas?

These types of socio-economic issues are the impetus behind the new Megapolitan Tourism Research Center (MTRC) at Arizona State University’s School of Community Resources and Development, launched today in downtown Phoenix. This approach is reflected in comments from the World Tourism Organization earlier this year stating that the tourism sector can and should effectively contribute to the twin global challenges of climate change and extreme poverty.

Although there are nearly 40 tourism research centers globally, most emphasize regional or local concerns, internet tourism, development, and tourism economics. In contrast, the ASU center will examine tourism’s role in quality of life issues on a global scale and not focus solely on industry gains. The center’s location in Arizona’ Sun Corridor megapolitan region is a model for global areas with hyper-growth, desert environments, borderlands, and significant indigenous and immigrant populations, where many of quality of life issues are exacerbated.

Timothy Tyrrell, a tourism economist, is the visionary behind this interdisciplinary center, along with Debra Friedman, dean of the ASU College of Public Programs. In addition to becoming a magnet for global tourism experts to convene around solving global problems, the center will involve industry leaders in initiating research projects. The center has hosted two statewide conferences on tourism safety and security, bringing public safety and industry decision-makers together around the topics of pandemics, terrorism and identity theft.

“The College of Public Programs has mobilized a critical mass of faculty, students and community partners rallying around the edgiest issues in tourism, quality of life studies, governance, social service delivery and community development,” notes Friedman. “Arizona Board of Regents’ approval of this new ASU center and the investment by the College of Public Programs are natural next steps to examine the power that tourism may have as a force for public good.”

“Our work parallels a new way of thinking emerging in the tourism industry,” says Tyrrell. “Tourism industry leaders and governments are struggling for solutions to the large scale issues affecting tourism at its intersection with society – security, migration, mobility, and competition for scarce resources, to name a few. We will raise the level of global dialogue on these issues.”

Tyrrell, director of the Megapolitan Tourism Research Center, has earned international recognition for his 30-year career in tourism research across the U.S. and overseas, particularly for his work on tourism sustainability. He envisions the new center as a “center of centers” and an “axis for global well-being driven by the engine of tourism.”

Tyrrell's academic colleagues around the world are anticipating collaborative work with the Center.

Peter W. Williams, director of the Simon Fraser University Centre for Tourism Policy and Research in Canada, and member of the International Academy for the Study of Tourism notes, “I commend ASU for building a collaborative research enterprise with the potential to catapult international tourism research into new realms of discovery for global good.”

MTRC’s inaugural community leadership council includes Joe Cole, director, National Investor Relations Institution Arizona Chapter; Pam Del Duca, president and CEO, DELSTAR Companies, Inc.; Ted A. Ferris, president and CEO, Arizona Sports & Tourism Authority; Barbara Garganta, regional manager, Anthropologie; AnnDee Johnson, director of research and strategic planning, Arizona Office of Tourism; Dan Postal, president, Wentworth Webb and Postal, LLC; and David Rauch, partner, Snell & Wilmer, LLP.

Other council members are Judy Reinke, marketing manager, Regional Marketing Office, Southwest Airlines; Rachel Sacco, president and CEO, Scottsdale Convention and Visitors Bureau; Lauren Simons, marketing director, Scottsdale Convention and Visitors Bureau; Michael A. Uehara, president and managing director, King Pacific Lodge; and Cady Wolf, vice president of partner marketing for the Western U.S., Canada and Hawaii, Travelocity.

Arizona State University programs affiliated with the Megapolitan Tourism Research Center’s research include the Morrison Institute for Public Policy, the Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center, the Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation, the Decision Theatre, the School of Public Affairs, the economics department in the W.P. Carey School of Business and the School of Global Studies. The Chase Economic Outlook Center is an affiliate partner.

For more information see mtrc.asu.edu

With Arizona’s population reaching 6 million people, and world population now exceeding 6.5 billion, nearly everyone is talking about sustainability. But the concept means many things to many people. In a new report, Morrison Institute for Public Policy and Arizona State University’s Global Institute of Sustainability (GIOS) open up the ideas contained in sustainability, defining the concept and then relating it to Arizona’s past, present, and future. The report, Sustainability for Arizona: The Issue of Our Age, gives decision-makers a clear understanding of the term and what it means to Arizona.

As Morrison Institute Director Rob Melnick puts it, “Sustainability is about more than just being green. It’s about making policy choices that take the economy, society and the environment into account.”

The first report of its kind, Sustainability for Arizona is a primer on the subject as well as a targeted analysis for Arizona. In addition to thoughtful examinations of the state’s history, economy, environment, and society, Sustainability for Arizona presents the views of 24 leading policy thinkers in Arizona and across the country including Bruce Babbitt, former U.S. Secretary of State; Brad Casper, CEO of Dial Corporation; Allen Affeldt, owner of La Posada Hotel and Mayor of Winslow; and Mandy Roberts Metzger, Flagstaff-area rancher and president of Diablo Trust. With essays from civic leaders, ranchers, developers, educators, business leaders, scholars, and others, the topics span a range and include water resources, education, historic preservation, innovation, health care, green building, and urban planning to present unique perspectives on sustainability’s implications for Arizona.

Sustainability for Arizona answers critical questions about sustainability, such as:

• Is Arizona sustainable now?

• Can a sustainable economy be a competitive economy?

• Does sustainability mean bridging the gap between the “haves” and the “have nots?”

• Will inaction and growth stymie sustainability and environmental efforts?

• How can Arizona keep score on sustainability?

The report’s contributing authors reveal that Arizona can be an ideal test bed for sustainability, and also point out the ways in which sustainability efforts have the potential to connect the state with the rest of the world. According to Jonathan Fink, The Julie A. Wrigley Director of GlOS, “Rapidly growing places can learn from each other about how best to design sustainable cities from scratch. The same pressure we face in Arizona—immigration, urban heat island, limited water supply, and vulnerability to energy disruption—are problems that millions of the world’s urban dwellers either confront now or will soon.”

In addition to these insights, the report highlights nearly 30 examples of public, private, and public-private partnerships that demonstrate sustainability in action. Examples include the program of an oil company to combat malaria in Africa, a carpet manufacturer’s success at reducing waste and energy while growing sales, a micro-lending program to reduce poverty, the use of green roofs in Chicago to curb pollution, and the development of national economic “report cards” that account for environmental impact as well as growth in goods and services. Such tangible examples make the far-reaching concepts of sustainability both attainable and real.

This 6^th edition of Morrison Institute’s Arizona Policy Choices series, Sustainability for Arizona, concludes with ideas for Arizona’s decision-makers. Writing about Arizona’s sustainable future, ASU President Michael Crow emphasizes that sustainability should be a new organizing principle for the 21^st century. He makes the case that “sustainability is a concept with as much transformative potential as justice, liberty, and equality.”

Morrison Institute for Public Policy conducts research that informs, advises, and assists Arizonans. It is a part of the ASU School of Public Affairs and College of Public Programs.

The Global Institute of Sustainability catalyzes and advances interdisciplinary research and education on sustainability, bringing together life scientists, social scientists, engineers, and government and industry leaders to share knowledge and develop solutions to real-world problems.

Download a copy of Sustainability for Arizona: The Issue of Our Age at www.morrisoninstitute.org.

 

MEDIA CONTACT:

Nicole Haas, nicole.haas@asu.edu

602-496-0202

Morrison Institute for Public Policy

Arizona State University

Phoenix, Arizona USA

www.morrisoninstitute.org

 

TEMPE, Ariz. - Five Arizona State University football players have been named to the Rivals.com All-Pacific-10 Conference team and first-year head coach Dennis Erickson has been named the Rivals.com 2007 Pac-10 Coach of the Year.

Linebacker Robert James and kicker Thomas Weber were named to the First-Team, while quarterback Rudy Carpenter, defensive end Dexter Davis and safety Troy Nolan were named to the Second-Team.

James, a senior from Phoenix, leads the Sun Devils with 94 total tackles, including eight tackles for loss. He has also intercepted four passes and recorded 2.5 quarterback sacks.

Weber, a redshirt freshman from Downey, Calif., set an ASU record by making the first 17 field goal attempts of his career. The Groza Award finalist is 20-21 on field goals, including a 53-yarder and the game-winner against Washington State. Weber also has handled the punting duties for ASU, averaging 40.2 yards per punt with nine having been downed inside the 20-yard line.

Carpenter (Westlake, Calif.) has thrown for 2,768 yards and 21 touchdowns so far this year. Davis (Phoenix, Ariz.) leads ASU with 8.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss. Nolan (Los Angeles, Calif.) is tied for the Pac-10 lead with five interceptions and is second on the team with 57 tackles.

Erickson has led the Devils to a 9-2 record, including a win over then-#21 California on October 27. He has the Sun Devils eligible for a fourth straight bowl and is now 157-67-1 in his 19th season as a college head coach. 

EMPE, Ariz. - Three Arizona State University football student-athletes were named to The Sporting News Pacific-10 Conference All-Freshman team, the publication announced today. Defensive lineman Jon Hargis, cornerback Omar Bolden and kicker Thomas Weberwere all named to the team.

Hargis, a redshirt freshman from Mesa, has recorded 18 tackles, including half a sack and two for loss, for the Sun Devils this season. Bolden (Ontario, Calif.) has totaled 24 tackles, broken up five passes and returned an interception 29 yards for a score against Stanford.

Weber, a redshirt freshman from Downey, Calif., set an ASU record by making the first 17 field goal attempts of his career. The Groza Award finalist is 20-21 on field goals, including a 53-yarder and the game-winner against Washington State. Weber also has handled the punting duties for ASU, averaging 40.2 yards per punt with nine having been downed inside the 20-yard line.

TEMPE, Ariz. - Coming off their fifth dual victory of the season and their first at home, the Arizona State University wrestling team (5-0, 2-0 Pac-10) will return to the road as the Sun Devils are set to compete in the 26th Cliff Keen/Las Vegas Invitational this Friday and Saturday. The two-day tournament will be held inside the Las Vegas Convention Center and will feature over 130 nationally ranked wrestlers from 48 teams. Teams from all three NCAA divisions, as well the NAIA and NJCAA, will comprise the field that is billed as one of the top events held each year at the collegiate level.

VEGAS HISTORY
For the 23rd year in a row, the Sun Devils will head to Sin City for the Las Vegas Invitational and will look to finish among the Top 10 for the 22nd time in that span after placing 17th one year ago. Top 5 finishers on 16 occasions, Arizona State has captured the team title three times, winning in 1987, 1989 and 1992, while placing second in 1988 and 1997.

ONE YEAR AGO - LAS VEGAS INVITE
Arizona State scored 46.5 points to finish 17th overall in the 25th Las Vegas Invitational with two Sun Devils placing among the Top 8. Brian Stith went 5-0 during the tournament as the top-seed at 157 pounds and scored a 2-1 decision over Brandon Becker of Indiana in the final for his first Las Vegas title. At 165 pounds, Patrick Pitsch posted a 4-2 record with his final victory, a 6-4 defeat of Max Dean of Indiana, securing fifth place for Pitsch.

VEGAS RANKINGS
Of the 48 teams scheduled to compete at the Las Vegas Invitational this weekend, 22 of which are ranked in their respective national team rankings. According the November 27 USA Today/NWCA/InterMat rankings, the Las Vegas Invitational will feature 13 of the Top 25 Division I teams, along with two more that are receiving votes, including three teams in the Top 10 (No. 7 Missouri, No. 9 Wisconsin and No. 10 Michigan). The tournament will also feature three teams ranked in Division II (No. 1 Nebraska-Kearney, No. 4 Adams State and No. 8 Western State), four teams ranked in the NAIA (No. 5 Campbellsville, No. 5 Dickinson State and No. 5 Embry-Riddle and No. 9 Missouri Valley) and two teams ranked in the NJCAA (No. 7 Western Wyoming and No. 13 North Idaho).

HEAVY WEIGHTS
With the large number of ranked teams, it is no wonder there are over 130 ranked individuals that could be competing in the tournament. With all divisions accounted for, 15 individuals are ranked at 165, 184 and 197 with each of those weights having one Sun Devil in each. Looking at just NCAA Division I, five weight classes have 10 ranked wrestlers that could compete this weekend. Five different top-ranked wrestlers could compete in the tournament with Top 3 at both 157 and 174 possibly set to wrestle in Las Vegas this weekend.

HOME OPENERS
With its 35-9 defeat of Embry-Riddle Sunday, Arizona State improved to 29-17-0 in its first home dual of the season.

COPPER STATE COMPETITION
With the addition of wrestling to the athletic department at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, the Sun Devils now have a second competitor hailing from the state of Arizona, joining Embry-Riddle. With duals against both ERAU and GCU this year, the Sun Devils will face two instate rivals in the same season for the first time since 1981 when Arizona and Northern Arizona each had teams. On February 18, 1981, the Sun Devils won, 34-12, at Arizona in what would be the final meeting in the series that ASU won, 28-8-0. Two days later, ASU hosted NAU and won, 43-6, inside Wells Fargo Arena. The Lumberjacks' program was discontinued in 1988 with ASU leading the all-time series, 17-1-0. Including the Sun Devils' 8-0-0 record against ERAU (after Sunday's 35-9 win), ASU holds an all-time mark of 53-9-0 against teams from the Grand Canyon State.

PERFECT SO FAR
The Sun Devils are now 5-0 overall in duals this season, marking just the ninth time in the programs 46 years that the team has opened the season with a 5-0 record. The 5-0 opening is the best for Arizona State under Thom Ortiz, surpassing the 4-1 mark the team had in 2001-02, his first season with the program. The last time ASU opened a year with a 5-0 or better record came during the 1992-93 season when it opened with six wins in a row before suffering its first loss of the season.

WELCOME BACK
Patrick Pitsch made his senior season debut Sunday against Embry-Riddle and put on a show for the home fans as the third-ranked Sun Devil took the top-ranked wrestler in the NAIA, Hayden Harrison. After some strong shot and scrambles, Pitsch scored a takedown in the third period and put Harrison on his back for the fall at 6:24 for his first victory of the year after not competing at the Keystone Classic because of the All-Star Classic.

HOME DEBUTS
Six Sun Devils competed in the first home bouts of their careers with five winning their matches against Embry-Riddle. Redshirt freshmen Anthony Robles (125),Todd Schavrien (133), Chris Drouin (141), Jerrad Trulson (149) and Imanibom Etukeren (285) each won their debuts while Jalonn Wilkins (157) dropped a close decision.

ROOKIES ROLLING
The early season success of the Sun Devils has been in large part due to the individual success the team's freshmen have enjoyed. So far in 2007, 12 different rookies have competed in at least one bout for the Sun Devils with the collective group posting a 35-21 record. Of those 35 victories, 16 have produced bonus points for the team, including four major decisions, four technical falls, five falls and three wins by forfeit.

BROTHERS WIN
In the dual with Embry-Riddle, Jason Trulson opened the dual with a pin of Justin Masotti in 3:32 of the 197 bout before younger brother Jerrad Trulson won a 6-4 decision at 149 pounds over Trace Billet. The victories by the brothers marked the first time since the 2002-03 season that a pair of brothers competed in the same dual with each winning a bout. The last time it happened was on January 5, 2003, when Chris Smith pinned his opponent from ERAU at 5:29 of the 141 bout and was followed by brother Mike Smith winning a 7-1 decision at 157. One month earlier, on December 5, 2002, brothers Evan Larkin and Eric Larkin each won forfeits against Portland State at 141 and 149, respectively.

IN THE COMMUNITY
Over the past several weeks, the Sun Devil wrestling team has been getting out in the community more and working with local children. On November 22, the day before Thanksgiving, the Sun Devils visited the Crossroad Youth Intervention Center in Phoenix where they interacted with the children while handing out dinner and dessert. On November 27, the wrestlers headed over to the UMOM New Day Center in Phoenix where they read to numerous children from the community.

HAPPY TO UPSET
Despite taking second place in their respective weight classes, a pair of Sun Devils each recorded upset victories in the semifinal round at the Keystone Classic (November 18). Anthony Robles picked up the biggest win of the tournament as the unranked freshman scored an 18-14 decision over No. 8 Javier Maldanado of UT Chattanooga at 125 pounds. The second upset of the tournament came at 184 pounds where No. 19 Brent Chriswell upset Rider's No. 13 Doug Umbehauer, 4-2.

ROBLES RANKED
With an upset victory and second-place showing in his first tournament, Anthony Robles earned his first collegiate national ranking as three publications placed him among the Top 20. In the NWCA/InterMat rankings, Robles was ranked No. 20 at 125 pounds while standing No. 16 in both the Amateur Wrestling News and W.I.N. polls. This week, Robles remained No. 16 in the two polls while moving up to No. 19 in the InterMat rankings.

PITSCH FALLS AT ALL-STAR CLASSIC
Senior Patrick Pitsch, ranked No. 3 in the NWCA/InterMat individual rankings at 165 pounds, dropped a 4-0 decision to No. 2 Eric Tannenbaum of Michigan Monday evening at the NWCA All-Star Classic presented by the United States Marine Corps in Eugene, Ore. Tannenbaum scored on an escape and takedown in the second period and then a riding point in the third for the victory in the exhibition event held on the Oregon campus.

ALL-STAR HISTORY
With his loss, Arizona State is now 10-13-1 all-time in the All-Star Classic. Pitsch was the 27th different Sun Devil to compete in the event.

THE INSIDE TRIP
Senior Patrick Pitsch will blog each week throughout the season, offering fans a behind the scenes look at Sun Devil wrestling. To access The Inside Trip, visit the wrestling page on thesundevils.com.

FIRST WINS
A week after eight Sun Devils competed for the first time in the college ranks, four more added their names to the list with two, Orlando Jimenez (141) andImanibom Etukeren (285), each winning at least once. While Etukeren went 1-2 and did not place at the Keystone Classic, Jimenez turned in a strong performance with a 4-2 record and fifth-place finish. After falling in his first bout, Jimenez won three in a rod, including a pin in 1:40 over the sixth-seeded wrestler in the event, Mark Savino of Brown. After falling to the eventual third-place finisher and second-seeded Kyle Borshoff of American, Jimenez capped his tournament run with a 13-2 major decision victory over Fred Rogers of Rider. So far this year, 11 newcomers have competed for ASU and carry a combined 29-18 record with 13 bonus points victories (four majors, three tech falls and six falls).

SCORING BIG
The Sun Devils have combined to win 63 bouts this year with 46 percent of those victories producing bonus points. Of the 29 bonus point victories, Arizona State has won 14 by fall (including three against Embry-Riddle last weekend), seven by major decision, four by technical fall and added five forfeit victories.

QUICK STICK
Of those 14 wins by pin-fall, only six have come outside of the first period this year. Brent Chriswell (184) has recorded the fastest fall of the year as he pinned UC Davis' Jon Clark in just 33 seconds of his first match with the Sun Devils. At the Keystone Classic, Arizona State recorded four wins by fall, including three in the first two minutes of a bout. Last weekend, all three of ASU's falls came outside the first, including two in the second and one in the third.

OVERTIME
Wrestlers are used to working hard in their seven-minute bouts, but three Sun Devils put in a little extra work over the weekend at the Keystone Classic with each competing in a lengthy bout. Imanibom Etukeren had the longest bout of the trio as he secured his first college win, 7-6, in the sixth sudden victory session, which roughly made the match last 18 minutes. Jake Cranford won his opening bout of the event in the fourth sudden victory period, 8-6, making his bout about 14 minutes. Kenny Lester picked up his win with a 3-1 decision in the third tie-breaker session, or about at 12 minutes.

THIRD FOR CAMPBELL
While the team was in Philadelphia for the Keystone Classic, Kelsey Campbell was competing at the New York Athletic Club's Holiday Invitational, where she placed third in the 59kg (130 pounds) weight class. Campbell went 2-1 in the event, falling only to the eventual tournament runner-up in a 1-0, 0-1, 1-0 decision.

IN THE RANKINGS
Despite its 5-0 start, the Sun Devils are not receiving votes in the national rankings this week, according to the USA Today/NWCA/InterMat Top 25 rankings (November 27). Individually in the InterMat/NWCA/NWMA rankings, four Sun Devils are listed among the Top 20 in their respective weight classes, including No. 3 Patrick Pitsch (165), No. 14 Jason Trulson (197), No. 19 Brent Chriswell (184) and No. 19 Anthony Robles (125).

PAC-10 RANKINGS
The preseason rankings for the Pac-10 Conference were released by tournament host Oregon on November 12 and five Sun Devils have been selected to Top 5 placements. Patrick Pitsch, the two-time defending 165-pound champion, is No. 1 with Jason Trulson ranked No. 2 at 197 after finishing third last year. Rick Renzi (174) and Quinton Pruett (285) are both ranked No. 4 while Todd Schavrien (133) is No. 5. The next rankings are due out December 4.

CAMPBELL ON THE ROSTER
This year, the Sun Devils have a first on their roster as Kelsey Campbell is the first woman to join the Arizona State program. A transfer from Pacific (Ore.), Campbell comes to Tempe after competing for the Boxers during the 2005-06 season and then representing the ASU Women's Club Team last year. During the 2006-07 season, Campbell competed in her first National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships and won the 63kg (138.5) national title as an unseeded competitor. In the event, she knocked off the No. 4, No. 1 and then No. 2 seeds on her way to her first tournament title.

TOP OF HER CLASS
Kelsey Campbell is currently ranked on a pair of national women's lists, including No. 2 at 59kg (130 pounds) in the Collegiate Women's Wrestling Association rankings. She also is ranked No. 5 in TheMat.com's U.S. Senior Women's Rankings (May 2007).

AHOY, CAPTAIN!
Seniors Patrick Pitsch, Rick Renzi and Jason Trulson and junior Quinton Pruett have been selected as the team's captains for the year.

ON THE SCHEDULE
The 2007-08 season will see the Sun Devils compete in 17 duals, including nine home duals, and five tournaments. In the regular season, Arizona State will send competitors to the Keystone Classic (Philadelphia), Cliff Keen/Las Vegas Invitational and Reno Tournament of Champions, all of which come before the end of the December. Following 12 duals after the turn of the New Year, the Sun Devils will head to Eugene, Ore., for the 2007 Pac-10 Championships (March 2-3) and conclude the season at the 2007 NCAA Wrestling Championships (March 20-22).

FACING SOME OF THE BEST
Of those 17 duals on the Sun Devils' schedule this season, five teams are ranked among the national Top 25 according the November 12 USA Today/NWCA/InterMat poll. On the list are No. 2 Iowa State, No. 4 Iowa, No. 21 Oklahoma, No. 23 Penn and No. 24 Oregon State.

RETURNING PAC-10 CHAMPION
Senior Patrick Pitsch is the team's lone returning Pac-10 champion, having won the crown at 165 pounds each of the past two seasons. Last year, the No. 2 seed in the tournament opened the event with an 11-2 major over Evan Barbre (Cal Poly) before downing No. 3-seed Brian Perry (Stanford), 7-4. Pitsch closed out the tournament with a close 3-2 decision over top-seeded Dustin Noack (UC Davis) to defend his title. In 2006, Pitsch was seeded third and knocked off No. 6 Risto Marttinen (CS Fullerton), 11-3, No. 2 Ray Blake (Stanford), 4-1, and No. 5 Brian Busby (CS Bakersfield), 7-5, for his first crown. Pitsch will look to become only the 17th Sun Devil to win three conference crowns in a career and the 14th Sun Devil to win three Pac-10 titles in a career.

HOME OF THE SUN DEVILS
Wells Fargo Arena serves as the home of Arizona State's home wrestling duals, as well as basketball (men and women), women's gymnastics and women's volleyball. Opened in the spring of 1974, the 14,198-seat arena has been the home venue of some of the Sun Devil greats with all 16 Pac-10 team titles and one of the two Western Athletic Conference crowns attained by ASU. Since its opening, 57 Sun Devils have captured 109 individual conference titles while 67 different athletes have earned a total of 98 All-America honors. The Sun Devils stand 164-54-2 all-time inside Wells Fargo Arena (202-88-2 all-time at home). With its 36-3 defeat of Utah Valley on Jan. 10, 2005, ASU recorded its 150th victory at WFA.

NEXT TIME OUT
ASU closes out 2007 with its annual trip to the Reno Tournament of Champions in Reno, Nev., on December 19. Following that, ASU plays host to the Sun Devil Duals on January 6, 2008.

Can tourism improve life as we know it? How do rapidly growing areas rich in natural and manmade tourism and recreational amenities sustain their resources for tourists, residents and continued industry profits? What role does the global tourism industry play in human and community development, particularly in urban areas?

These types of socioeconomic issues are the impetus behind the new Megapolitan Tourism Research Center (MTRC) at ASU’s School of Community Resources and Development, which launched Nov. 30 in downtown Phoenix. This approach is reflected in comments from the World Tourism Organization earlier this year stating that the tourism sector can – and should – contribute to the twin global challenges of climate change and extreme poverty.

Although there are nearly 40 tourism research centers globally, most emphasize regional or local concerns, internet tourism, development and tourism economics. In contrast, the ASU center will examine tourism’s role in quality-of-life issues on a global scale, while broadening its focus beyond industry gains. The center’s location in Arizona’ Sun Corridor “megapolitan” region is a model for global areas with hypergrowth, desert environments, borderlands, and significant indigenous and immigrant populations, where many quality-of-life issues are exacerbated.

Timothy Tyrrell, a tourism economist, is the visionary behind this interdisciplinary center, along with Debra Friedman, dean of the ASU College of Public Programs. In addition to becoming a magnet for global tourism experts to convene around solving global problems, the center will involve industry leaders in initiating research projects. The center has played host to two statewide conferences on tourism safety and security, bringing public safety and industry decision-makers together around the topics of pandemics, terrorism and identity theft.

“The College of Public Programs has mobilized a critical mass of faculty, students and community partners rallying around the edgiest issues in tourism, quality of life studies, governance, social service delivery and community development,” Friedman says. “Arizona Board of Regents’ approval of this new ASU center and the investment by the College of Public Programs are natural next steps to examine the power that tourism may have as a force for public good.”

“Our work parallels a new way of thinking emerging in the tourism industry,” Tyrrell says. “Tourism industry leaders and governments are struggling for solutions to the large scale issues affecting tourism at its intersection with society – security, migration, mobility and competition for scarce resources, to name a few. We will raise the level of global dialogue on these issues.”

Tyrrell, director of the Megapolitan Tourism Research Center, has earned international recognition for his 30-year career in tourism research across the United States and overseas, particularly for his work on tourism sustainability. He envisions the new center as a “center of centers” and an “axis for global well-being driven by the engine of tourism.”

His academic colleagues around the world are anticipating collaborative work with the Center.

“I commend ASU for building a collaborative research enterprise with the potential to catapult international tourism research into new realms of discovery for global good,” says Peter Williams, the director of the Simon Fraser University Centre for Tourism Policy and Research in Canada and a member of the International Academy for the Study of Tourism.

MTRC’s inaugural community leadership council includes:

• Joe Cole, director, National Investor Relations Institution Arizona Chapter.

• Pam Del Duca, president and chief executive officer, DELSTAR Cos. Inc.

• Ted A. Ferris, president and chief executive officer, Arizona Sports & Tourism Authority.

• Barbara Garganta, regional manager, Anthropologie.

• AnnDee Johnson, director of research and strategic planning, Arizona Office of Tourism.

• Dan Postal, president, Wentworth Webb and Postal LLC.

• David Rauch, partner, Snell & Wilmer LLP.

Other council members include:

• Judy Reinke, marketing manager, regional marketing office, Southwest Airlines.

• Rachel Sacco, president and chief executive officer, Scottsdale Convention and Visitors Bureau.

• Lauren Simons, marketing director, Scottsdale Convention and Visitors Bureau.

• Michael A. Uehara, president and managing director, King Pacific Lodge.

• Cady Wolf, vice president of partner marketing for the western United States, Canada and Hawaii, Travelocity.

ASU programs affiliated with the Megapolitan Tourism Research Center’s research include the Morrison Institute for Public Policy, the Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center, the Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation, the Decision Theatre, the School of Public Affairs, the economics department in the W.P. Carey School of Business and the School of Global Studies. The Chase Economic Outlook Center is an affiliate partner.

For more information, visit the Web site http://mtrc.asu.edu.

ASU’s School of Global Management and Leadership is bringing video gaming to its classrooms with an eye on using the educational and training tool to teach students about competing in business on three levels: information technology, process management and operations.

The school’s partnership with IBM, a worldwide leader in technology products and services, will help students develop a specific set of business and information technology (IT) skills required in today’s global marketplace.

The “serious games” that form the basis for the partnership are seen by many corporations as an effective way of teaching new skills to a generation that has been brought up in the video-game era, with computer and video games used as educational and training tools. The games can be simulations that have the look and feel of a game but correspond to nongame events or processes, including business operations and processes.

According to the Apply Group, by 2012 between 100 and 135 of the Global Fortune 500 will have adopted gaming for learning. Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States are expected to be the vanguard of such a move. ASU’s global management school plans to begin testing the IBM “Innov8” software in classes immediately.

“This is a 21st century version of the ‘meat and potatoes’ core business courses that deal with technology,” says Pierre Balthazard, director of the school’s graduate programs. “IBM has developed a unique and exciting platform to present complicated material in a way that will engage the students.”

Balthazard says the software was introduced in mid-November to ASU’s master’s in applied leadership and management class as part of an exercise to learn business process management and the assessment of new technologies.

“Our students will eat this up,” he says.

Innov8 has been specifically designed by IBM to help bridge the gap in understanding between IT teams and business leaders in an organization. By featuring simulations that have the look and feel of a video game but correspond to business activities such as improving operational processes, serious gaming recently has emerged as a successful method to train employees or develop new skills.

The game, which is played with a joystick, is based on advanced commercial gaming technologies and allows players to visualize how technology and the related business strategy affect different parts of the organization. Together, players can see business processes, identify bottlenecks and explore “what-if” scenarios before the technology is deployed.

“We believe this is cutting edge and will be of tremendous benefit to our students and faculty,” says Balthazard, whose research in brain mapping for leadership skills recently was the subject of a front-page feature in the Wall Street Journal. “The system and its gaming approach will add an interesting dimension to our pedagogy; we teach to non-technical global management students mostly. IBM has developed the tools that will enhance the learning process for our students, and we are looking forward to using those tools in our classrooms, because this represents great promise as we strive to find new ways to present challenging, heavily quantitative lessons and make them easier to grasp.”

The promise of the serious games concept is evidenced by a recent IBM survey in which 75 percent of chief executive officers surveyed cited education and the lack of qualified candidates as the issues that will have the greatest impact on their business over the next three years.

More than half (56 percent) of IBM’s clients reported that not having the right blend of business and IT skills is the most immediate challenge they face. Other studies show technology workers themselves worry that their lack of business skills is holding them back in areas such as budget management, strategy and business savvy.