Feb. 10, 2002
TEMPE, Ariz. - Seventh-ranked Iowa State dominated the 11th-ranked Arizona State wrestling squad, winning seven matches including four by bonus points, to hand ASU its first loss of the season at home in front of a season-high crowd of 1,782 at Wells Fargo Arena Sunday afternoon.
ASU's overall record falls to 9-3, while Iowa State improves to 15-5. The Sun Devils dropped their second match of the season to the Cyclones after ISU defeated ASU 29-14 at last month's National Duals.
The Sun Devils' three wins came from junior Kellan Fluckiger, earning a close 6-4 decision over Mark Knauer at heavyweight, senior All-American David Douglas with a 4-0 decision over Zach Roberson at 133 pounds, and junior Rocky Smart's 6-4 decision over Matt Veach at 157.
Top-ranked junior All-American Eric Larkin lost just his third match of the season, falling again to fourth-ranked Aaron Holker, 8-5. Holker, having beaten Larkin 9-5 at the National Duals, has been the thorn in Larkin's side and is now responsible for two of his three losses on the season.
Iowa State picked up big wins from falls by top-ranked Cael Sanderson and Billy Maldonado, at 197 pounds and 149 pounds, respectively. Sanderson pinned ASU freshman Scott Hollingsworth in 4:50, picking up his 150th career victory without a loss. Maldonado pinned freshman Evan Larkin in 5:45.
With the match starting at 165 pounds, Iowa State picked up an easy six points for top-ranked Joe Heskett with an ASU forfeit. Wrestling up a weight class at 174, sophomore Nick Frost lost an 11-0 major decision to Nick Passolano.
ASU freshman Will Carr battled through a tough bout with Austen Palmer at 184, as Palmer scored a takedown with five seconds left in the match to win 3-1. Sanderson then gave Iowa State a 19-0 lead with his pin of Hollingsworth.
The first win of the day for the Sun Devils came at heavyweight with Fluckiger's 6-4 decision over Knauer, but the Cyclones quickly answered with a 4-3 decision by Ty Malia over freshman Mike Simpson at 125. With the match ending at 3-3, Malia was awarded the winning point with riding time.
Douglas then came away with a 4-0 decision over Roberson at 133, before Holker and Maldonado's wins at 141 and 149. With a team win out of reach for ASU, Smart salvaged the final bout with a 6-4 decision over Veach.
At the intermission between the fifth and sixth matches, legendary ASU wrestling coach Bobby Douglas, now in his 10th-year as head coach at Iowa State, was presented his ASU Hall of Fame plaque by legendary football Frank Kush. Kush made the presentation to Douglas in the center of the mat surrounded by the ASU wrestling alumni honored on alumni reunion day. Douglas, who coached at ASU from 1974-1992, was greeted by a standing ovation from the Sun Devil fans.
Up next for ASU will be its final home dual with Fresno State, Sunday, Feb. 17, at 2 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena.
ARIZONA STATE WRESTLING RESULTS
#11 Arizona State vs. #7 Iowa State
165: #1 Joe Heskett (ISU) win by forfeit
174: #20 Nick Passolano (ISU) major decision #18 Nick Frost (ASU), 11-0
184 Austen Palmer (ISU) dec. Will Carr (ASU), 3-1
197: #1 Cael Sanderson (ISU) pinned Scott Hollingsworth (ASU), 4:50
HWT: #9 Kellan Fluckiger (ASU) dec. #14 Mark Knauer (ISU), 6-4
125: Ty Malia (ISU) dec. #11 Mike Simpson (ASU), 4-3
133: #6 David Douglas (ASU) dec. #12 Zach Roberson (ISU), 4-0
141: #4 Aaron Holker (ISU) dec. #1 Eric Larkin (ASU), 8-5
149: #5 Billy Maldonado (ISU) pinned Evan Larkin (ASU), 5:45
157: #11 Rocky Smart (ASU) dec. Matt Veach (ISU), 6-4
Attendance: 1,782
Team rankings according to NWCA Poll, individual rankings according to Amateur Wrestling News