National Wrestling Hall of Fame

Eric Larkin is an athlete who made a huge contribution to the Latino legacy at Arizona State University. But before Larkin ever stepped on the Sun Devil mat, he was a two-time state high school champ boasting a record of 130-2 which included a perfect 38-0 record his senior year at Sunnyside High School in Tucson. It was no surprise then to his high school fans that Eric was an outstanding wrestler his first year at ASU, taking a fourth place at the NCAA Championships at 133 pounds. The following two years, he moved up in weight to 141, finishing third as a sophomore and second as a junior in the NCAA meet. But anyone who follows wrestling has to admire Eric's quintessential senior year when he moved up in weight again, to the always competitive 149-pound division, and won the NCAA title. On top of that, Eric Larkn was chosen from the best athletes all over the country as the Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament. Not only did Eric take home a national championship in 2003, he also sported a remarkable 34-0 record his last season on the mat. For these truly remarkable achievements, four-time All-American Eric Larkin was awarded the 2003 Dan Hodge Award. This most prestigious award, wrestling's equivalent to the Heisman Trophy, is given each year to the wrestler in any weight division considered to be the best throughout the United States. Graduating from ASU with a Bachelors Degree in Independent Studies, Eric Larkin went on to serve for five years as an assistant coach at his alma mater. He is now the Head Coach at Seton Catholic High School, just a hop, skip, and a jump from the ASU campus. Wrestled 1999, 2001-2003 Arizona State University 133lbs // 141lbs // 149lbs ERIC LARKIN 28 | NATIONAL WRESTLING HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM LATINO WRESTLING EXPERIENCE ERIC LARKIN WAS NOMINATED FOR THE 2003 ESPY AWARDS "BEST MALE COLLEGIATE ATHLETE."

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