Dec. 29, 2002
TUCSON, Ariz. - The No. 7 Arizona State wrestling team traveled south to Tucson Sunday and faced Pima Community College at Sunnyside High School, in a showcase of two of the three collegiate programs in the state, with the Sun Devils walking away victorious, 35-12. Embry-Riddle was slated to compete but was unable to because of a scheduling conflict. All individual matches competed on the day, as well as the team dual, will not count toward ASU's records because the NCAA does not count in matches against two-year institutions.
Evan Larkin (So., Tucson, Ariz.) and Eric Larkin (Sr., Tucson, Ariz.) returned to their high school and the gymnasium where they competed for four years, to help pace the Sun Devils to the victory. Another Sun Devil, Nick Frost (Jr., Tucson, Ariz.), also made his return to his hometown of Tucson and posted a victory before his family and friends.
The dual opened at 197 with Ryan Bader (Fr., Verdi, Nev.) pinning his opponent at 1:40 to give the visitors an early 6-0 lead. Justin Klein (Jr., Simi Valley, Calif.) competed at heavyweight for ASU and brought the score to 12-0 with his win by fall at 1:52. But the Aztecs cut the Sun Devil lead in half with wins at 125, a 12-10 loss for Adam Chavira (Sr., Parker, Ariz.), and at 133, a 9-6 setback for Chris Knox (Jr., Timonium, Md.). Chavira, down by as many as six points, mounted a comeback late in the match and nearly pinned his foe in the waning moments, but could not get him on his back.
Evan Larkin then took the mat, and the momentum, by winning a 15-5 major decision. With the crowd fired up, Eric Larkin came out for the marquee matchup with Antonio Sepulveda at 149. The match, won by Larkin with a 17-0 technical fall after 3:00, pitted two former SHS teammates against one another.
Mike Smith (Fr., Gilbert, Ariz.) followed at 157 with a close 6-5 decision, needing the riding time bonus to secure his win. The final of the three Tusconians to compete, Frost, dominated his match with a 17-0 technical fall and doing so in 2:14. After an ASU forfeit at 174 put the score at 29-12 for the Sun Devils, Ron Renzi (Jr., Burke, Va.) ended the day with a win by fall at 2:42 for a final team score of 35-12.
Following the team dual, three exhibitions were wrestled. Rocky Smart (Sr., Pleasant Grove, Utah) wrestled for the first time this year and won an 11-5 decision at 157. Bader competed again at 197 and scored an 18-2 (6:54) technical fall before Klein lost a 5-1 decision at heavyweight.
The Sun Devils return to action with four duals next week, starting with the Sun Devil Duals on Jan. 5. ASU will face Lock Haven at Noon, Embry-Riddle at 2 p.m. and two-time defending national champions No. 3 Minnesota at 5:30 p.m. The Sun Devils also will play host to No. 4 Oklahoma at 7 p.m. on Jan. 8. ASU's first dual win of the week will be the 400th in the program's history.
#7 Arizona State 35 Pima CC 9 dual started at 197 pounds Wt. Winner Loser Score ASU Pima 197 Ryan Bader (A) Fall Melvin Hunter (P) 1:40 6 0 285 Justin Klein (A) Fall Ryan Vossler (P) 1:52 12 0 125 Jered Medina (P) Dec. Adam Chavira (A) 12-10 12 3 133 Leo Martinez (P) Dec. Chris Knox (A) 9-6 12 6 141 Evan Larkin (A) MD Richard Galvan (P) 15-5 16 6 149 #1 Eric Larkin (A) TFall Antonio Sepulveda (P) 17-0 (3:00) 21 6 157 Mike Smith (A) Dec. Ronald Yousefnejad (P) 6-5 24 6 165 #16 Nick Frost (A) TFall Art Martinez (P) 17-0 (2:14) 29 6 174 Cody Hodgeson (P) Forf. forfeit 29 12 184 Ron Renzi (A) Fall Aaron Wine (P) 2:42 35 12
Exhibitions 157 Rocky Smart (A) Dec. Josh Medina (P) 11-5 197 Ryan Bader (A) TFall John Padilla (P) 18-2 (6:54) 285 Josh Padilla (P) Dec. Justin Klein (A) 5-1