Arizona State University

The Arizona State women's gymnastics team is proud to announce Stephanie Hangartner has signed a letter of intent to study and compete at Arizona State University for the 2009 season.

A local athlete from Mesa, Ariz., Hangartner comes from Desert Devils, the same gym as current Sun Devil Tiana Jean. Hangartner joins the Sun Devils as a potential all-arounder.

"We are very excited to have Stephanie on our team next year," says head coach John Spini, "Being from the area, she has been a lifelong Sun Devil fan. She is solid in all four events and will be a good fit for our team."

Hangartner was the State Champion in the all-around in 2005. She went on to place fifth at regionals and was a Junior Olympic qualifier. This past year, she placed third in the all around at the Crystal Cup and fifth at the Pikes Cup. She won the 2007 Fiesta Bowl all around competition as well.

The Sun Devils open their season on January 4th at the Lady Luck Invitational in Las Vegas. Their first home meet is on January 25th against long-time rival Utah.

TEMPE, Ariz. - Arizona State University football student-athletes Thomas Weber and Omar Bolden have been named Freshmen All-Americans in 2007 by Scout.com, the website announced today. Weber was named the First-Team kicker while Bolden was named a First- Team cornerback.

Weber, a Lou Groza Award Finalist, is 20-21 on field goals this season, including a long of 53-yards. The Downey, Calif. product began his ASU career by making the first 17 field goals he attempted, a school record. He is the Pacific-10 Conference's leading scorer at 9.1 points per game and has twice been named the Pac-10 Special Teams Player of the Week.

Bolden (Ontario, Calif.) has emerged as one of ASU's top defensive players. He has totaled 24 tackles, broken up five passes and returned an interception 29 yards for a score against Stanford.

The Sun Devils take on in-state rival Arizona Saturday night at Frank Kush Field/Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe. The battle for the Territorial Cup will kick off at 6:06 p.m. on ESPN2.

On his experiences with rivalry games:
"They're always the most interesting game of the year. It depends on when you play them. The real rivalry games are the last game of the season, which I experienced when I was at Oregon State, at Washington State, when I was at Idaho, when I was there the first time when we played Boise. When I was at Miami, they kind of varied, a lot of times you played Florida State in the middle of the season. One of the bigger rivalries was when I played and coached at Montana. I think anytime you have two schools that play Division I football, or Division I-AA, but there are two schools, basically, in that state, you're either a Sun Devil or a Wildcat, I don't know that there is anything in between. Anytime it's something like that, it becomes very important, not only to the teams, but to all the alumni for the next 365 days until they play again. It's bragging rights, that's what it's about. To me, those are the most important games there are. As you go through the season, there are important football games, but at the end of the day, when you look at it at the end of the season, the most important one is the rivalry game, no question about that."

On how rivalry games can make or break a career at a school:
"My career has been broken a lot of times. If you break it again, go ahead and break it again. It's been broken so many times. It's important to win the rivalry game. It's important for Arizona State. It's important for Arizona. It's like I said, it's the biggest game of the year."

On changing his mind and allowing the players to talk to the media this week:
"I felt this, after I thought about it, that you guys have been here the whole season, reported on us, and talked to our players. So as I thought about it, in fairness to you people that have followed us, that to close it down this week wasn't right. I'm not scared about somebody saying something or anything like that. I'm beyond that. Once it's kicked off, it doesn't make any difference any way. Basically, that's why I did it, after I thought about it."

On this year's seniors:
"It's a great group of seniors. Anytime there's a coaching change, you're recruited by one coach, they had some ups and downs in their first few years, and then to have a coaching change their senior year, that is always difficult. It's difficult because a new coach probably has a little different personality, a little different philosophy in a lot of things and to play for somebody else other than the guy they've been playing for. The bottom line is they've adjusted very well. They've had a great season, the best season they've had in a long time and they've adjusted to everything, have done everything that we've asked them to do and bought into everything that we're telling them. So I'm real proud of what they've done. To me, that's probably harder than being a senior after being there four or five years with the same guy. They've done a great job of it and deserve a lot of accolades for winning nine football games so far. You always want to see your seniors go out the right way."

On the momentum Arizona has coming into the game:
"They're playing well. I've said this all along; coach [Mike] Stoops has done a heck of a job there. When he took the program over, it was about as low as you can get. He came in and hung with his plan. They've gotten better and better all the time. I can't say enough about the good things that he and his staff have done. He's made changes when he's felt he had to make changes offensively to get them better, and they are. They started out a little slow, but now they are playing extremely well. The last three games they won pretty convincingly. They're playing really well. They got things going right now. But when it's a rivalry game, it really doesn't make any difference who does or who doesn't. The bottom line is what they've done with that program, and they've done an extremely good job. They've got a lot of seniors playing. You look at that defensive team that they have, which is an extremely good defensive team, they've got a lot of seniors of that team that have played for a long period of time. Spencer Larsen is a guy that I recruited when I was at Oregon State, and he ended up going to Arizona and then going on a mission. He's what football is all about. He plays how he should, and he's a senior leader. They've fought back from not playing well early and they're playing really well right now."

On Arizona's defense, especially Larsen and Antoine Cason:
"They've got a lot of seniors coming back, led by those two guys. Cason is as good a corner as there is in the country. He is going to, I would assume, be a number one pick, probably an early number one pick. He's got that kind of talent. Those seniors have been through a lot of different ups and downs in their career too. You take those two football players, and they are the leader of that defense. They've got a lot of guys. There is a whole bunch more that I could mention, and they've got some guys offensively. They made some changes offensively. [Mike] Thomas, he makes so many plays, big plays catching the football. They've got talent on both sides of the ball."

On if there will be any hangover from the USC loss:
"I don't know that we'll know until we play. It was a big game. We didn't play very well, obviously. But that's over and done. This is a whole different situation for us. Playing the University of Arizona is playing the University of Arizona, it doesn't make any difference. I think we'll come and play as well as we can. We haven't had as much rest at they've had. Normally that doesn't happen, but we'll see. In this game, a rivalry like this that's been going for so many years and has so much tradition, I would be certainly shocked if they didn't come out and play as well as they could."

On whether he often hears from fans about beating Arizona:
"Without question. That's all you hear. That's all you hear when you win during the season, what are going to do against the U of A. That's how it is. It's important to people. As I've said, it's bragging rights. They can go to the water coolers or wherever they go and brag one way or the other about who won that football game. That's what this state or any state that has these kinds of rivalries is all about."

On ASU's bowl scenarios going into this game:
"I don't really understand the scenarios myself, to be very honest with you. It doesn't make any difference what bowl game we go to. That doesn't make any difference. This is way more important than any bowl we can go to, any bowl game we can play in, so our focus is totally on this and whatever happens happens."

On whether there is any recruiting advantage in-state from beating Arizona:
"I don't know that anybody judges where they are going to go on one game. Recruiting is about developing relationships with players, players wanting to go to that school. I don't believe it has anything to do with who wins that football game. People are going to watch it. But people who have been around for a number of years, players that have been recruited for a couple of years, probably make their minds up way before this game is played. I don't think it has any influence whatsoever."

On whether former ASU coach Frank Kush has said anything to him about this rivalry:
"He doesn't have to. All he's got to do is look at me. It's understood. When I look at him this week, it's scary."

On defending Arizona's offense:
"All spread offenses are a little different. It kind of depends on what your philosophy is. They run the football a little bit more. They're in two tight ends a little bit more. They'll get in the I-formation, and then they'll go to the spread stuff, so they're a little bit more multiple-formations. Some spreads are four-wides all the time, some are five, some are three, but they vary personnel quite a bit more. If you look at their spread compared to Oregon's, it's quite different. Passing game is a lot of the same things. They run a lot of receiver screens and so forth. But they're getting better. They're running the football well. [Willie] Tuitama, he's getting better all the time. But their spread, it's quite different than Oregon's. They don't read things quite as much with their quarterback, so it's a little different. But they get at the line of scrimmage, they hurry up and their passing game is very similar."

On the offensive line's injury status:
"We're beat up pretty good there right now. I won't know probably until tomorrow exactly where they are at. They didn't practice last night, Brandon [Rodd] and Richard [Tuitu'u], neither one of them practiced. Josh Barrett probably won't play. Robert Gustavis would be moved out to left tackle. He's been a left guard, hasn't played tackle, but that's kind of where we're at right now."

On playing after a loss:
"It's only our second lost of the season, so I think guys are ready to play. It's obviously our biggest game of the year for us right now. U of A is our biggest rival and it's a game we look forward to every single year. We have a countdown to the game in our weight room, so I would hope that guys don't have trouble getting up for this game. I know I will be up for it."

On USC's talent compared to other teams:
"SC is a really good team. The thing USC has that a lot of other teams do not have is so much depth and talent everywhere. They can just keep bringing guys in and there is no drop off. Their front forward, defensive linemen and three linebackers was the best front seven we have seen all year. I know two of those guys will be first round picks in the drafts. Those guys are really good and they are a talented team all the way around. They are definitely by far the most talented team we have played and maybe one of the most talented teams I have played since I have been here."

On this week's preparations:
"It is a big week for us. It is a rivalry game so there is a lot of emotion in it. It is a big week for both schools and for all of the players. The biggest thing is that it is a big week for the seniors on both teams too. It is the last time they get to play in a game, excluding the bowl game, and last time they get to play at home. It is something you want to do, sending the seniors out right."

On the importance of the game to the fans:
"I think it has been amplified from the beginning of the season. We do our fan photo day at the beginning of the year and the only thing everyone says is beat U of A. They say they don't care about how many games we win throughout the year, but to beat U of A. So, I think it is obviously very important to all of the fans and very important to us as well."

On the success he has had against the rivalry team and the difference in preparation:
"I think the preparation for every game really stays the same, but it is a rivalry game and I think there are always some tricks both teams might have up their sleeve and guys have to be ready for that. The success that I have had in the past two games is important to me. For me personally, to be 2-0 right now going against U of A and hopefully get a chance to go 3-0 this Saturday. Like I said, one of my goals since I have been here is to beat U of A every single year we play them. So, it is a hard thing to do because U of A is a good team, but it has been fun so far."

On playing U of A each year right when they really start to play well:
"Yeah, I think that was the same case last year. They were playing very well towards the end of the season when the beat Cal, Oregon and Washington State. I pay attention to what they do and I like college football. Obviously I watched them play against Oregon a couple of weeks ago and they played very well on defense and on offense, so we are going to have to be our best."

On blitzing:
"I think it is something we are going to practice this week in preparation for this game. Of course I think our offensive line and running backs can all handle it. It is something we are accustomed to right now, so we just have to make a couple big plays off those blitzes and hopefully we can get them to stop."

On U of A's secondary:
"I think their secondary is pretty good. I think Antoine Cason is a very good corner; he plays the run very well and the pass very well. I don't think where all of the teams rank really matters. It is just a rivalry game, so I think all of that stuff just gets thrown out the window. We just need to play the game and see what happens. I don't think any of that other stuff matters."

On the sense of feel on the field against the rivalry school:
"I think once the game starts it just becomes any other game. We are still going to run the same plays, the refs are still going to call the same penalties and we're still going to have all of the same things. It is before the game or the week leading up to the game, where I think there is a lot of emotion. Guys talk about how much they want this game on both teams. I think there is more emotion leading up to the game and once the game starts it just becomes football. It really just comes down to executing, who plays better, less penalties and all of those things to who is going to win the game. I think that is obviously the important thing in rivalry games is for everyone to keep their cool and not get those penalties, which can really cost teams."

On Willie Tuitama:
"I don't know him, but I have played against him twice and that is all. Before he got there they were struggling a little bit and since he has been there, he has helped give them opportunities to come close to bowl games a couple of years. That is hard to do, going to bowl games, and I don't think people understand that. I have a lot of respect for what he does and I give him credit for that."

On Coach Erickson's view of the game:
"I don't think he is taking it differently. Coach Erickson has been a part of a lot of rivalry games and I'm sure he understands the magnitude of U of A and ASU. I don't think he will prepare any differently and he will have us ready to go."

On ASU's offense:
"I think we are kind of where we have been all year. Up and down with some games good, some games not so good. We are still trying to find our way, which I think is also to be suspected with our new offense. I think we have done just enough on offense to be successful, which is why we're down two."

On the screen game:
"Well, we scored 24 points, but it obviously was not enough to win. I think the screen game worked a little bit and I think the three-step game worked a little bit. Obviously there is still so much we can do and we just need to get better in some areas. With the style, it is something we do everyday in practice and it is something that I have done since I have been playing. Like I said, the screen aspect of it is something that was good for us. That was something that we kind of got away from all year and we finally got back to that, which was good for us."

On this game and the bowl scenario:
"It's about the same. It's U of A. I know they are a rival and it is a big game for us and a lot of the fans. Then again, it's just another Pac-10 game that we are playing. There was a big bowl scenario last week, there was one the week before and there was a big bowl scenario against San Jose State. We are just trying to win as many games as we can. I don't think we are really looking at the big bowl scenarios because we can't really control any of that."

On ASU's offensive line:
"We have had our issues everywhere on the team this year. With Brandon Rodd out right now, that is obviously a big issue for us. Brandon is our left tackle and is probably one of our best offensive linemen and we need him to be ready to play. So, hopefully he will be ready to play well. If he can't, it will still work out for us. We have a lot of guys who can come in and play and we can move guys around who have had a lot of game experience. I think Robert Gustavis could come in, which will be fine, so I'm not really concerned with that."

On the seniors:
"I think the seniors here have been through a lot and since they got here. I know their first year, for most of the seniors here, didn't go to a bowl game and then they have been to three straight now. Then for their senior year they had to deal with a coaching change and they stuck it out and stayed. I think a lot of those guys made it real easy on Coach Erickson, when the switch happened. I think they really helped bring the team together and let everybody know that everything was going to be okay. Myself and other teammates look up to the seniors to really get feel for how they feel since they have been here longer and have more experience. Now, with all of the things they have been through they have a chance to possibly play in a BCS game if things work out for us, or if not a BCS game, a big bowl game. It's important for us to try to send those guys out the right way."

America might be a melting pot, but that does not stop ancestry from bubbling up in the national consciousness. Identity springs from it, art dwells on it and society ponders it. The dawning of modern genetics has only further whetted our appetite for such knowledge, inspiring 460,000 people in the past six years to spend $100 to $900 on commercial genetic ancestry tests.

But according to a study published in the Oct. 19 issue of Science, the results of such tests should be taken with a grain of salt.
The article, titled “The Science and Business of Genetic Ancestry Testing,” was co-written by Kimberly TallBear of ASU’s department of American Indian studies. It cautions that the tests are fraught with assumptions and limitations – and, therefore, probably are not as enlightening as people would like them to be.

“The problems with the tests are both technical and social, and those two things are entangled,” TallBear says. “So we have these oversimplifications of human social and ethnic history that lead to inadequate scientific assumptions and interpretations of genetic data.”

The basic idea behind genetic ancestry testing is to compare telltale snippets of the buyer’s DNA to a geographic catalog of equivalent telltale snippets from persons around the world. Most tests scrutinize mitochondrial DNA inherited from the mother, or Y-chromosome DNA inherited from the father. The tests check less than 1 percent of the subject’s genetic code and offer clues regarding only one ancestor per generation.

A third type of test, AncestrybyDNA, offered by the company DNAPrint, uses multiple markers inherited from both parents in an attempt to get at a better overall picture – but, according to TallBear, such markers “are not definitive indicators of ethnic ancestry.”

The bottom line is that no genetic ancestry test is free of pitfalls. None can pinpoint with certainty where ancestors lived or what ethnic identity they held. All of them can miss potential matches or report false positives or false negatives. Moreover, genetic ancestry tests provide results that often are open to multiple interpretations.

Given what the authors call the “profound social, political and economic consequences” of race, the article recommends that the American Society of Human Genetics and other genetic and anthropological associations develop policy statements that clarify the limitations and potential dangers of genetic ancestry testing.

“It’s a form of peer review,” TallBear says. “Scientific pronouncements carry tremendous weight in the United States. If the science has some problems – and this science does – the people who live governed by science have a right to know about it.”

Nick Gerbis, ngerbis@asu.edu
(480) 965-9690
Media Relations

Five ASU faculty members are among the 471 newly elected Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), a prestigious international scientific society. Election as a AAAS fellow is an honor bestowed upon AAAS members by their peers.

Carlos Castillo-Chavez, Ronald Greeley, Devens Gust, Ann Kinzig and Jianguo “Jingle” Wu will be recognized Feb. 16 at the Fellows Forum during the 2008 AAAS annual meeting.

This year’s election brings the total number of AAAS fellows at ASU to 43.

“These colleagues have distinguished themselves at ASU and around the globe through their teaching and their research,” says Quentin Wheeler, ASU vice president and dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, which headquarters all five professors. “They bring deserved recognition to their achievements and contribute significantly to the challenging learning environment in liberal arts and sciences.”

Becoming a AAAS fellow is in recognition of efforts toward advancing science applications that are deemed scientifically or socially distinguished. Within that general framework, each awardee is honored for contributions to a specific field.

Castillo-Chavez, a mathematical theoretical biologist, is cited for “outstanding research, and for exceptional efforts to train, mentor, and motivate minority scientists.” As a Regents’ Professor and the Joaquin Bustoz Jr. Professor of Mathematical Biology in ASU’s Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Castillo-Chavez specializes in the study of disease evolution. He is the executive director of two programs that provide research experiences for undergraduate and graduate students with an interest in mathematics and their applications: The Mathematical and Theoretical Biology Institute and the Institute for Strengthening the Understanding of Mathematics and Science. Castillo-Chavez joined ASU in 2004.

Greeley, a planetary geologist, is cited for “distinguished contributions to our understanding of the geological history of the planets and surface processes that occur in solar system environments.” Greeley, a Regents’ Professor, got his start in the emerging field of planetary geology in 1967 and heads the planetary geology group in ASU’s School of Earth and Space Exploration. He’s been a member of the ASU faculty since 1977. Greeley’s planetary mission involvement includes science team membership on the Galileo Jupiter mission, Mars Exploration Rovers, and the European Space Agency Mars Express mission. Greeley chairs the NASA Planetary Geology and Geophysics Management Operations Working Group, and co-chairs the NASA Science Definition Team for the Europa Explorer flagship-class mission to the outer solar system.

Gust, a physical-organic chemist and inventor, is cited for “pioneering contributions to photochemistry and nanotechnology, and for the design and development of novel intramolecular electron transfer devices and related biomimetic schemes.” As a professor of organic chemistry in ASU’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Gust focuses his research on renewable energy. His research team is investigating applications of biomimetic materials to solar energy conversion and biophotonic molecular electronic devices. Gust has been with ASU since 1975.

Kinzig, an ecologist, is honored for “her exceptional ability to combine outstanding basic science and policy analysis, and for her role as an international leader in uniting ecology and socioeconomics.” As an associate professor in the School of Life Sciences, Kinzig is carving out a niche in interdisciplinary research that explores the dynamics of coupled social and ecological systems. Her major project includes understanding the trade-offs that emerge among conservation goals and other social goals in managing the world’s biodiversity, and how those trade-offs can best be reconciled. Kinzig arrived at ASU in 1998.

Wu, a landscape ecologist, is cited for “outstanding research, for leadership in the United States and international communities in landscape ecology, and for brilliant efforts to build links to Chinese landscape ecology.” Wu, a professor of ecology and sustainability science in the School of Life Sciences, also is a core member of ASU’s Global Institute of Sustainability. Additionally, Wu is the director of the Sino-U.S. Collaboration for Conservation, Energy and Sustainability Science in Inner Mongolia, a recently established joint research center between ASU and Inner Mongolia University. Wu has been at ASU since 1995. 

SUN DEVIL DATA: The Arizona State University basketball team (2-1) plays host to the Cal Poly Mustangs of the Big West Conference (3-2) on Monday, Nov. 26, at 7 p.m. MT. Tim Healey and former ASU assistant coach Russ Pennell have the radio call on KKNT 960 AM and the Sun Devil Radio Network. After dropping its first game in the Maui Invitational to Illinois on Nov. 19, ASU enters the Cal Poly game on a two-game win streak after topping Princeton (61-42) and LSU (87-84 in OT). After hosting Cal Poly (19-11 in 2006-2007), ASU plays host to the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles of the Atlantic Sun Conference on Wednesday (Nov. 28), also at 7 p.m. and also on KKNT 960 AM.

HOME OPENER NOTE: ASU has won 16 of the past 17 home openers, losing only to NAU 75-71 last year in that span. Prior to last year, ASU's previous home opening loss was on Dec. 5, 1989, a 65-64 loss in Bill Frieder's first game at ASU. ASU has won the only meeting with the Mustangs, a 98-43 win on Dec. 20, 1994, during ASU's 24-9 Sweet Sixteen season. The 55-point win is the fourth-largest in ASU history and the biggest in the past 45 seasons, as ASU led 50-18 at the half. ASU is 24-7 (.473) against current members of the Big West Conference. Herb Sendek also is 1-0 against Cal Poly, topping the Mustangs 91-63 in Raleigh on Dec. 30, 2000.

FRESHMEN CHATTER: ASU opened the season with three freshmen in its starting lineup for the first time in school history against Illinois, as James Harden, Ty Abbott and Jamelle McMillan each earned starts in the opener…it certainly has not been unusual for ASU to start freshmen in the Herb Sendek era, as last year Sun Devil freshmen accounted for a Pac-10 leading 69 starts…in his 33 games as ASU coach, Herb Sendek has had 78 starts by freshmen (out of 165)…the Illinois game marked just the third time in the past 16 seasons at least two freshmen had started the opener…James Harden has posted back-to-back 20-point games as he had 23 against LSU and 22 against Princeton. He is 19-of-23 (.826) from the free throw line…Ty Abbott has made seven three-pointers through three games…

VARIOUS NOTES: Herb Sendek is 48-11 (.814) in November in his 15-year career…ASU went 8-22 last year, but is 4-4 in its past eight games…after playing in 15 games last year of six points or less (half the games) and going 3-12 in those contests, ASU put itself in the good side of that ledger with its 87-84 overtime win over LSU on Nov. 21…with the two wins in Hawaii, Herb Sendek has now won 261 contests in 22 states (plus two wins in Puerto Rico and one in Washington D.C.)…ASU held Princeton to 42 points, tied for the sixth-best Sun Devil defensive output since 1950-51. ASU held Colgate to 36 points last year and also held California to 41.

UPDATED BIG MAN NOTES: Junior Jeff Pendergraph posted a career-high 25 points and 10 boards in the LSU win as he was 11-of-15 from the field. He now has 14 career double-doubles and 12 games of double-digit rebounds.

COACH SENDEK: Former NC State and Miami (Ohio) leader Herb Sendek is in his 15th season as a head coach as he led the Wolfpack to five straight NCAA appearances from 2002-06. Coach Sendek is 264-181 (.587) in 15 seasons and was 191-132 (.591) at NC State. The 44-year old Pittsburgh, Pa., native is the second-youngest coach in the Pac-10 behind only first-year coach Tony Bennett of WSU. An overlooked note is his 10-year stay at NC State. To compare it to the Pac-10, since the league expanded to 10 teams in 1978-79, only five coaches have coached at their schools for at least 10 years: Lute Olson (Arizona), Mike Montgomery (Stanford), Ralph Miller (Oregon State) and Ben Braun (California), while Ernie Kent (Oregon) is in his 11th season in 2007-2008.

THEY ARE FROM THAT CONFERENCE: ASU's next opponent, Florida Gulf Coast, is a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference, which has pulled off some big wins already this year, as Gardner-Webb won at Kentucky, Mercer won at USC and Belmont won at Cincinnati.

SUN DEVIL DATA: The Arizona State University basketball team (2-1) plays host to the Cal Poly Mustangs of the Big West Conference (3-2) on Monday, Nov. 26, at 7 p.m. MT. Tim Healey and former ASU assistant coach Russ Pennell have the radio call on KKNT 960 AM and the Sun Devil Radio Network. After dropping its first game in the Maui Invitational to Illinois on Nov. 19, ASU enters the Cal Poly game on a two-game win streak after topping Princeton (61-42) and LSU (87-84 in OT). After hosting Cal Poly (19-11 in 2006-2007), ASU plays host to the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles of the Atlantic Sun Conference on Wednesday (Nov. 28), also at 7 p.m. and also on KKNT 960 AM.

HOME OPENER NOTE: ASU has won 16 of the past 17 home openers, losing only to NAU 75-71 last year in that span. Prior to last year, ASU's previous home opening loss was on Dec. 5, 1989, a 65-64 loss in Bill Frieder's first game at ASU. ASU has won the only meeting with the Mustangs, a 98-43 win on Dec. 20, 1994, during ASU's 24-9 Sweet Sixteen season. The 55-point win is the fourth-largest in ASU history and the biggest in the past 45 seasons, as ASU led 50-18 at the half. ASU is 24-7 (.473) against current members of the Big West Conference. Herb Sendek also is 1-0 against Cal Poly, topping the Mustangs 91-63 in Raleigh on Dec. 30, 2000.

FRESHMEN CHATTER: ASU opened the season with three freshmen in its starting lineup for the first time in school history against Illinois, as James Harden, Ty Abbott and Jamelle McMillan each earned starts in the opener…it certainly has not been unusual for ASU to start freshmen in the Herb Sendek era, as last year Sun Devil freshmen accounted for a Pac-10 leading 69 starts…in his 33 games as ASU coach, Herb Sendek has had 78 starts by freshmen (out of 165)…the Illinois game marked just the third time in the past 16 seasons at least two freshmen had started the opener…James Harden has posted back-to-back 20-point games as he had 23 against LSU and 22 against Princeton. He is 19-of-23 (.826) from the free throw line…Ty Abbott has made seven three-pointers through three games…

VARIOUS NOTES: Herb Sendek is 48-11 (.814) in November in his 15-year career…ASU went 8-22 last year, but is 4-4 in its past eight games…after playing in 15 games last year of six points or less (half the games) and going 3-12 in those contests, ASU put itself in the good side of that ledger with its 87-84 overtime win over LSU on Nov. 21…with the two wins in Hawaii, Herb Sendek has now won 261 contests in 22 states (plus two wins in Puerto Rico and one in Washington D.C.)…ASU held Princeton to 42 points, tied for the sixth-best Sun Devil defensive output since 1950-51. ASU held Colgate to 36 points last year and also held California to 41.

UPDATED BIG MAN NOTES: Junior Jeff Pendergraph posted a career-high 25 points and 10 boards in the LSU win as he was 11-of-15 from the field. He now has 14 career double-doubles and 12 games of double-digit rebounds.

COACH SENDEK: Former NC State and Miami (Ohio) leader Herb Sendek is in his 15th season as a head coach as he led the Wolfpack to five straight NCAA appearances from 2002-06. Coach Sendek is 264-181 (.587) in 15 seasons and was 191-132 (.591) at NC State. The 44-year old Pittsburgh, Pa., native is the second-youngest coach in the Pac-10 behind only first-year coach Tony Bennett of WSU. An overlooked note is his 10-year stay at NC State. To compare it to the Pac-10, since the league expanded to 10 teams in 1978-79, only five coaches have coached at their schools for at least 10 years: Lute Olson (Arizona), Mike Montgomery (Stanford), Ralph Miller (Oregon State) and Ben Braun (California), while Ernie Kent (Oregon) is in his 11th season in 2007-2008.

THEY ARE FROM THAT CONFERENCE: ASU's next opponent, Florida Gulf Coast, is a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference, which has pulled off some big wins already this year, as Gardner-Webb won at Kentucky, Mercer won at USC and Belmont won at Cincinnati.

TEMPE, Ariz. - With pin fall victories to open and close the dual, the Arizona State University wrestling team captured eight of 10 weight classes to down visiting Embry-Riddle, 35-9, Sunday afternoon for the annual battle of Arizona inside Wells Fargo Arena. The victory improved the Sun Devils to 5-0 overall on the season while the Eagles, ranked No. 5 in NAIA, slipped to 0-2.

The Sun Devils came out and took charge from the start as senior and 14th-ranked Jason Trulson opened the dual with a pin of Justin Masotti at 3:32 after building an early 10-0 lead. With a 6-0 team lead, the Sun Devils turned to Imanibom Etukeren, who was wrestling his first collegiate dual bout and opened a stretch of six bouts in a row with a redshirt freshman representing ASU. Etukeren scored a takedown in the first period and held a 2-1 lead after two before using an escape, a stall point and riding time for a 5-1 victory.

Jumping into the lightweights, No. 19 Anthony Robles made his anticipated home debut at 125 pounds and staked himself to a 12-1 lead after one period. The rookie continued his charge in the second with a reverse for two points before a three-point near fall at the buzzer gave him a 17-1 technical fall over Ryan Luu. Classmate Todd Schavrien then made his home debut at 133 pounds and, despite a 9-2 lead through two, had to hold on for a close 11-8 decision over NAIA-No. 8 Franky Villaescusa to put ASU ahead, 17-0.

Two more rookies scored victories in their home debuts with Chris Drouin defeating Tyler Chang, 9-7, at 141 pounds before Jerrad Trulson scored the second victory of the day for his family with a 6-4 decision over NAIA-No. 4 Trace Billet at 149 pounds. Leading 23-0, the Eagles got their first win of the day as NAIA-No. 6 Eli Arismendez defeated Jalonn Wilkins in his collegiate debut, 4-1, at 157 pounds.

The 165-pound bout was the marquee match-up of the day as No. 3 Patrick Pitsch took on NAIA-No. 1 Hayden Harrison with both putting on a show. The senior Sun Devil built a 4-2 lead through the first period before and escape in the second made it 5-2. After Harrison escaped to open the third and both men scrambled for points, Pitsch took Harrison down with 1:12 remaining in the bout before turning the Eagle to his back and earning the pin at 6:24. Following a forfeit loss at 174, the Sun Devils closed the day with another fall, this time with Jake Cranford sticking NAIA-No. 6 Travous DeGroat in 4:44.

Next up for the Sun Devils will be their annual trip to Las Vegas for the Cliff Keen/Las Vegas Invitational inside the Las Vegas Convention Center on Friday and Saturday. Several of the top teams in the nation will be on hand to compete in one of the top invitationl tournaments held each year.

Arizona State defeats [#5-NAIA] Embry-Riddle, 35-9
November 25, 2007 • Wells Fargo Arena • Tempe, Ariz.
Dual opened at 197 pounds • Official was Charlie Jones • Attendance was 288
197 - #14 Jason Trulson (AS) pinned Justin Masotti (ER), 3:32
285 - Imanibom Etukeren (AS) dec. Chris Brogan (ER), 5-1
125 - #19 Anthony Robles (AS) tech fall Ryan Luu (ER), 17-1
133 - Todd Schavrien (AS) dec. [#8] Franky Villaescusa (ER), 11-8
141 - Chris Drouin (AS) dec. Tyler Chang (ER), 9-7
149 - Jerrad Trulson (AS) dec. [#4] Trace Billet (ER), 6-4
157 - [#6] Eli Arismendez (ER) dec. Jalonn Wilkins (AS), 4-1
165 - #3 Patrick Pitsch (AS) pinned [#1] Hayden Harrison (ER), 6:24
174 - [#4] Calvin DeVault (ER) won by forfeit
184 - Jake Cranford (AS) pinned [#6] Travous DeGroat (ER), 4:44
[##] indicates NAIA national rankings

TEMPE, Ariz. - With pin fall victories to open and close the dual, the Arizona State University wrestling team captured eight of 10 weight classes to down visiting Embry-Riddle, 35-9, Sunday afternoon for the annual battle of Arizona inside Wells Fargo Arena. The victory improved the Sun Devils to 5-0 overall on the season while the Eagles, ranked No. 5 in NAIA, slipped to 0-2.

The Sun Devils came out and took charge from the start as senior and 14th-ranked Jason Trulson opened the dual with a pin of Justin Masotti at 3:32 after building an early 10-0 lead. With a 6-0 team lead, the Sun Devils turned to Imanibom Etukeren, who was wrestling his first collegiate dual bout and opened a stretch of six bouts in a row with a redshirt freshman representing ASU. Etukeren scored a takedown in the first period and held a 2-1 lead after two before using an escape, a stall point and riding time for a 5-1 victory.

Jumping into the lightweights, No. 19 Anthony Robles made his anticipated home debut at 125 pounds and staked himself to a 12-1 lead after one period. The rookie continued his charge in the second with a reverse for two points before a three-point near fall at the buzzer gave him a 17-1 technical fall over Ryan Luu. Classmate Todd Schavrien then made his home debut at 133 pounds and, despite a 9-2 lead through two, had to hold on for a close 11-8 decision over NAIA-No. 8 Franky Villaescusa to put ASU ahead, 17-0.

Two more rookies scored victories in their home debuts with Chris Drouin defeating Tyler Chang, 9-7, at 141 pounds before Jerrad Trulson scored the second victory of the day for his family with a 6-4 decision over NAIA-No. 4 Trace Billet at 149 pounds. Leading 23-0, the Eagles got their first win of the day as NAIA-No. 6 Eli Arismendez defeated Jalonn Wilkins in his collegiate debut, 4-1, at 157 pounds.

The 165-pound bout was the marquee match-up of the day as No. 3 Patrick Pitsch took on NAIA-No. 1 Hayden Harrison with both putting on a show. The senior Sun Devil built a 4-2 lead through the first period before and escape in the second made it 5-2. After Harrison escaped to open the third and both men scrambled for points, Pitsch took Harrison down with 1:12 remaining in the bout before turning the Eagle to his back and earning the pin at 6:24. Following a forfeit loss at 174, the Sun Devils closed the day with another fall, this time with Jake Cranford sticking NAIA-No. 6 Travous DeGroat in 4:44.

Next up for the Sun Devils will be their annual trip to Las Vegas for the Cliff Keen/Las Vegas Invitational inside the Las Vegas Convention Center on Friday and Saturday. Several of the top teams in the nation will be on hand to compete in one of the top invitationl tournaments held each year.

Arizona State defeats [#5-NAIA] Embry-Riddle, 35-9
November 25, 2007 • Wells Fargo Arena • Tempe, Ariz.
Dual opened at 197 pounds • Official was Charlie Jones • Attendance was 288
197 - #14 Jason Trulson (AS) pinned Justin Masotti (ER), 3:32
285 - Imanibom Etukeren (AS) dec. Chris Brogan (ER), 5-1
125 - #19 Anthony Robles (AS) tech fall Ryan Luu (ER), 17-1
133 - Todd Schavrien (AS) dec. [#8] Franky Villaescusa (ER), 11-8
141 - Chris Drouin (AS) dec. Tyler Chang (ER), 9-7
149 - Jerrad Trulson (AS) dec. [#4] Trace Billet (ER), 6-4
157 - [#6] Eli Arismendez (ER) dec. Jalonn Wilkins (AS), 4-1
165 - #3 Patrick Pitsch (AS) pinned [#1] Hayden Harrison (ER), 6:24
174 - [#4] Calvin DeVault (ER) won by forfeit
184 - Jake Cranford (AS) pinned [#6] Travous DeGroat (ER), 4:44
[##] indicates NAIA national rankings

CANCUN, Mexico (AP) -Kirsten Thompson's layup with three seconds to go gave No. 14 Arizona State a 60-58 win over Iowa in the final game of the Caribbean Challenge on Friday.

Lauren Lacey scored 19, Sybil Dosty had 12 and Briann January added 11 for the Sun Devils, who bounced back after a loss to No. 10 Oklahoma on Thursday.

Kristi Smith lead the Hawkeyes (4-1) with 18 points.

Arizona State (3-2) had a 10-point lead in the first half, but a jump shot by Smith at the buzzer gave Iowa a 28-27 halftime lead.

The Sun Devils trailed most of the second half until Jill Noe nailed a three pointer with 3:34 remaining for a 54-53 lead.

Smith tied it at 58 with 25 seconds to go, but Thompson got the ball in the low post with seconds to go and easily scored the winning basket.

Smith had one last chance, but lost the ball.

CANCUN, Mexico (AP) -Kirsten Thompson's layup with three seconds to go gave No. 14 Arizona State a 60-58 win over Iowa in the final game of the Caribbean Challenge on Friday.

Lauren Lacey scored 19, Sybil Dosty had 12 and Briann January added 11 for the Sun Devils, who bounced back after a loss to No. 10 Oklahoma on Thursday.

Kristi Smith lead the Hawkeyes (4-1) with 18 points.

Arizona State (3-2) had a 10-point lead in the first half, but a jump shot by Smith at the buzzer gave Iowa a 28-27 halftime lead.

The Sun Devils trailed most of the second half until Jill Noe nailed a three pointer with 3:34 remaining for a 54-53 lead.

Smith tied it at 58 with 25 seconds to go, but Thompson got the ball in the low post with seconds to go and easily scored the winning basket.

Smith had one last chance, but lost the ball.

TEMPE, Ariz. - Margie Giordano blasted 17 kills while Kristin Trayser and Staci Smith each collected 12 kills apiece Friday night as the Sun Devils took on the No. 10 UCLA Bruins. Though they stormed back in the third game, the effort wasn't enough as UCLA won 30-25, 30-25, 24-30 and 30-19. The Bruins advance to 20-9 overall and 9-8 in conference play as the Sun Devils fall to 15-15 and 7-10 in the Pac-10.

Game one saw both teams come out firing as the Sun Devils tied the score with the Bruins nine times and grabbed lead once. Staci Smith had six kills and Sydney Donahue held down the defense with ten digs in the first game alone as they stayed on UCLA's heels. The Bruins pulled away from the Devils in the end though as Rachell Johnson and Katie Mills both had five kills apiece en route to their 30-25 win. 

Game two saw ASU hit .231 as a team to UCLA's .240, which proved to be the edge for the Bruins as even with Kristin Trayser, Margie Giordano and Danielle Fernandes all collected four kills, but the Bruins stepped it up as Dicey McGraw hit .308 for five kills as UCLA took game two with the same 30-25 score.

Game three was all ASU though as they came out swinging as they accumulated a .294 team attack percentage while holding the Bruins to a .163 attack percentage. Margie Giordano led the attack with five kills as Marina Mercer entered the game for the first time to grab 15 assists as the Sun Devils took the game with a decisive 30-24 win.

The Bruins came back solid in game four though as Kaitlin Sather grabbed five kills while Nellie Spicer quarterbacked the Bruin offense with 11 assists. The Sun Devils couldn't answer as Sarah Reaves led the offense with four kills, but only for a .059 attack percentage as UCLA took the game and the match with a 30-19 win in the final game. 

The Sun Devils will wrap their regular season tomorrow with their final match of the season as they set to face the No. 5 USC Women of Troy Saturday night in Tempe at ASU's Wells Fargo Arena at 7 p.m. The seniors of the 2007 season will be honored prior to the start of the match.

Dana Bennett, a policy analyst at Morrison Institute for Public Policy and a graduate student in ASU’s public history doctoral program, was honored recently by Nevada’s congressional delegation for her book on the Nevada mining town of Midas.

On the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nevada Rep. Jon Porter paid tribute to Bennett’s book and highlighted her accomplishments as a former research analyst with the Nevada Legislature, as well as her current position as a policy analyst and doctoral student at ASU.

The Sept. 6 Congressional Record reads: “I rise today to honor the accomplishments of Dana Bennett and congratulate her on her most recent work in writing ‘A Century of Enthusiasm: Midas, Nevada 1907-2007.’ … Her dedication to recording Nevada history is commendable, and I wish her every continued success.”

The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the U.S. Congress. It is published daily when Congress is in session.

This significant recognition came as a surprise to Bennett, who learned about the tribute when she received a phone call from a former colleague, Stan Olsen, who serves as Porter’s district director.

“Up to that point, I had no idea that the piece had been in the Congressional Record, and so I was speechless when he told me,” Bennett says. “I was surprised, honored, delighted and humbled all at once.”

Nancy Welch, the associate director of the Morrison Institute, describes Bennett as “an exceptional researcher and policy analyst. Her work on Midas shows how she understands the importance of the past as well as the present.”

Noel Stowe of ASU’s public history program in the Department of History, in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, also notes the recognition with a compliment.

“Dana Bennett has a keen sense of how the past influences the present and helps shape current thinking,” he says.
Bennett, who was raised in Reno, Nev., spent childhood summers and family holidays enjoying the small community of Midas. Her parents retired there in 1992. Based on interviews with Midas families and containing historical photographs of the town, her book details the 100-year history of this enduring hub of gold and sliver production.

All proceeds from “A Century of Enthusiasm” benefit Friends of Midas, a nonprofit historic preservation organization.

For more information about Bennett, visit the Graduate College’s Web site http://graduate.asu.edu. Bennett also will be featured in an upcoming graduate student profile.

Nicole Haas, nicole.haas@asu.edu
(602) 496-0202
Morrison Institute on Public Policy

Spring 2008 registration begins Dec. 1 for Herberger College at Large & Herberger College for Kids.

Herberger College at Large & for Kids is part of ASU Herberger College of the Arts. The program offers classes for aspiring artists, from serious high school arts students to adults, and children ranging in age from preschool to teenagers.

Aspiring artists of all ages are encouraged to express themselves through classes in art, digital art, dance, music and theater. ASU employees and their family members receive class discounts.

To spice up their weekly date nights, Jeannie Copley, director of information technology for ASU Herberger College of the Arts, takes “Latin Salsa” with her husband, Tim.

“Most of the time we went to dinner and a movie, but were looking for something more interesting that we could share and learn together,” Copley says. “Herberger College at Large was easy since I work at ASU. Our instructor is very patient with us as we learn. Now, Tim and I just don’t talk during our date nights, we look forward to dancing with each other.”

ASU employees can take advantage of other classes as Herberger College at Large offers teens and adults sessions in art, digital art, dance and music, as well as private instruction in all areas.

Herberger College for Kids provides preschool classes in art, dance and music, including Kindermusik, as well as classes in art, dance, music and theater for children ages 5-12. Children are grouped by age, and private instruction in all areas also is offered.

Don’t miss spring registration, which continues through the first day of class, Jan. 29. To find out more – and to take advantage of the discount for ASU employees and their family members – call Herberger College at Large at (480) 727-0700, or visit the Web sites http://herbergercollegeatlarge.asu.edu and http://herbergercollegeforkids.asu.edu.

Laura Toussaint-Newkirk, laura.toussaint@asu.edu
(480) 965-8796
Herberger College of the Arts