Feb. 17, 2002
TEMPE, Ariz. - No. 23 Fresno State came back from a 20-9 deficit to win the final three matches and pull a 22-20 upset over Arizona State's 11th-ranked wrestling squad in the Sun Devils' home season finale at Wells Fargo Arena, Sunday afternoon.
With the loss, ASU's overall record drops to 9-4, while the Bulldogs increase their win-streak to four and improve their overall record to 14-7.
ASU won five of the first seven matches, including junior All-American Eric Larkin's 14th pin of the season (141) and major decisions by junior Kellan Fluckiger (HWT) and sophomore Nick Frost (165). The Sun Devils clung to a 20-18 lead going into the final match at 197 pounds, but it was FSU's Marcio Botelho who claimed the 11-3 major decision over freshman Scott Hollingsworth to give the Bulldogs the win. ASU wrestled without three of its regular starters who were out of the lineup due to injury.
With the dual beginning at heavyweight, Fluckiger battled through illness to earn a 14-0 major decision over Grant Harrington, giving ASU an early lead. ASU then forfeited the 125 pound match, giving Fresno State an easy six points.
At 133 pounds, senior All-American David Douglas scored both a reversal and a takedown in the final seconds of overtime to take care of Derrick Hayes 5-1, followed by Larkin's pin of Ralph Lopez in just 44 seconds to give ASU a healthy 13-6 lead.
Fresno State's Jim Medeiros pulled out a 10-8 decision over freshman Evan Larkin at 149 pounds, but the Sun Devils responded with a 7-4 decision by junior Rocky Smart over Ben Baca at 157, and Frost's 11-3 major decision over Darrick Duran at 165.
With what looked to be a commanding 20-9 lead, ASU entered the final three matches of the afternoon. At 174, FSU's Britt Mooney made quick work of freshman Chris Petrie, pinning him in 2:40 to cut the gap to 20-15. Then ASU freshman Will Carr fell to Eddie Gifford 9-2, getting Fresno State to within two, 20-18. In the final match at 197, Botelho proved to be too much for Hollingsworth, earning the 11-3 major decision and giving Fresno State the upset win.
The Sun Devils end the regular season at No. 4 Oklahoma, Thursday, Feb. 21, at 7 p.m. CT, and then return to Tempe to prepare for the upcoming Pac-10 Championships, hosted by Oregon State, Saturday, March 2 through Sunday, March 3.
ARIZONA STATE WRESTLING RESULTS
#11 Arizona State vs. #23 Fresno State
HWT: #9 Kellan Fluckiger (ASU) major dec. Grant Harrington (FSU), 14-0
125: Justin McLelland (FSU) wins by forfeit
133: #6 David Douglas (ASU) dec. #16 Derrick Hayes (FSU), 5-1 ot
141: #1 Eric Larkin (ASU) fall Ralph Lopez (FSU),0:44
149: Jim Medeiros (FSU) dec. Evan Larkin (ASU), 10-8
157: #11 Rocky Smart (ASU) dec. Ben Baca (FSU), 7-4
165: #18 Nick Frost (ASU) major dec. Darrick Duran (FSU), 11-3
174: Britt Mooney (FSU) fall Chris Petrie (ASU), 2:49
184: Eddie Gifford (FSU) dec. Will Carr (ASU), 9-2
197: Marcio Botelho (FSU) major dec. Scott Hollingsworth (ASU), 11-3
Attendance: 529