Dec. 29, 2002
TEMPE, Ariz. - No. 4 Dana Holland (Sr., Glendale Heights, Ill.) came two points away from winning his third tournament title in a row as he fell in the finals of the 141 division at the 40th Midlands in Evanston, Ill., Sunday. Holland was one of three Arizona State wrestlers to place in the prestigious event with No. 5 Kellan Fluckiger (Sr., Preston, Idaho) finishing fourth and Mike Simpson (So., Anaheim, Calif.) taking sixth at heavyweight and 133, respectively.
Holland has won 14 matches in a row heading into the finals, including five at the Las Vegas Invitational and five at the Reno Tournament of Champions while taking their titles. After a 5-3 semifinal win, Holland met No. 3 Dylan Long of Northern Iowa, their third meeting of the year, with Long scoring the 3-1 decision.
Fluckiger, after going 2-1 on the first day of competition with his only loss coming at the hands of No. 4 Kevin Hoy of Air Force, won three consolation matches and moved on to try for third place, meeting Hoy again. In the consolation final, Hoy again took the match, this time with a 3-0 decision, sending Fluckiger to fourth place.
Simpson entered the day on a hot streak, upsetting the No. 1 seed on Saturday to make the semifinals. After going 3-0, Simpson's fortunes were reversed with an 0-3 day, dropping him to sixth place. He lost close matches in all three cases, falling 4-3, 3-2 and 8-6. His final loss came to No. 1 Cliff Moore of Iowa.
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.
2002 Midlands (Evanston, Ill./Northwestern Univ.)
Number listed before wrestler is tournament seed
Results from Day Two ONLY
133 - Mike Simpson (0-3, Sixth Place)
Semifinal - lost decision to #5 Foley Dowd (Michigan), 4-3
Conso Semi - lost decision to Marat Tomaev (Penn St.), 3-2
Fifth/Sixth - lost decision to #1 Cliff Moore (Iowa), 8-6
141 - #4 Dana Holland (1-1, 2002 Runner-up)
Semifinal - won decision over Derek Phillips (Central Michigan), 5-3
Championship - lost decision to #3 Dylan Long (Northern Iowa), 3-1
285 - #5 Kellan Fluckiger (3-1, Fourth Place)
Conso 6th - won decision over Henry Lossen (Michigan St.), 10-4
Conso Quarter - won decision over Zach Thompson (Sunkist Kids), 1-0
Conso Semis - won forfeit over #2 Mitch Clark (Ohio International), medical forfeit
Third/Fourth - lost decision to #4 Kevin Hoy (Air Force), 3-0
Complete Tournament Results from ASU's three place winners
133 - Mike Simpson (3-3, Sixth Place)
Champ 1st - Bye
Champ 2nd - won decision over #1 Cliff Moore (Iowa), 6-5
Champ 3rd - won major decision over Juston Collins (Lincoln), 13-3
Quarterfinal - won decision over #9 Mark Jayne (Illinois), 7-4
Semifinal - lost decision to #5 Foley Dowd (Michigan), 4-3
Conso Semi - lost decision to Marat Tomaev (Penn St.), 3-2
Fifth/Sixth - lost decision to #1 Cliff Moore (Iowa), 8-6
141 - #4 Dana Holland (4-1, 2002 Runner-up)
Champ 1st - Bye
Champ 2nd - won major decision over Matt DePolo (Cleveland St.), 10-2
Champ 3rd - won decision over Doug McGraw (Penn), 9-3
Quarterfinal - won major decision over Whitey Chlebove (Sunkist Kids), 17-6
Semifinal - won decision over Derek Phillips (Central Michigan), 5-3
Championship - lost decision to #3 Dylan Long (Northern Iowa), 3-1
285 - #5 Kellan Fluckiger (5-2, Fourth Place)
Champ 1st - Bye
Champ 2nd - won decision over Tony Grygorzyk (Michigan), 7-0
Champ 3rd - won technical fall over Dan Garay (Hofstra), 4:38
Quarterfinal - lost fall to #4 Kevin Hoy (Air Force), 5:32
Conso 6th - won decision over Henry Lossen (Michigan St.), 10-4
Conso Quarter - won decision over Zach Thompson (Sunkist Kids), 1-0
Conso Semis - won forfeit over #2 Mitch Clark (Ohio International), medical forfeit
Third/Fourth - lost decision to #4 Kevin Hoy (Air Force), 3-0