Jan. 18, 2003
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The No. 10 Arizona State wrestling team won its second dual of the day at the 2003 NWCA National Duals in Columbus, Ohio, Saturday, this time dispatching of Pac-10 rival and No. 20 in the nation Boise State, 19-15. The match, contested at St. John Arena on the Ohio State campus, sent the Sun Devils on to the consolation quarterfinal round to meet No. 3 Minnesota at 8:30 p.m. EST.
BSU took the early lead when No. 5 Ben Vombaur scored a 6-1 decision over Adam Chavira (Sr., Parker, Ariz.) at 125, putting the Broncos up, 3-0. From there, the Sun Devils won the next six matches to build a 20-3 lead. No. 13 Mike Simpson (So. Anaheim, Calif.) at 133, No. 4 Dana Holland (Sr., Glendale Heights, Ariz.) at 141, No. 1 Eric Larkin (Sr., Tucson, Ariz.) at 149 and No. 12 Rocky Smart (Sr., Pleasant Grove, Utah) each won via decision to help build the lead to 12-3. Smart, after sustaining an injury to his knee in the opening minutes of the second period, battled through to keep the momentum going for ASU with an 11-8 win.
At 165, No. 9 Nick Frost (Jr., Tucson, Ariz.) won a major decision, 12-3, before No. 9 Curtis Owen (Sr., Coeur D'Alene, Idaho) pulled down four more points for the team with an 8-0 major decision of his own. The momentum ended when both Ron Renzi (Jr., Burke, Va.) at 184 and Ryan Bader (Fr., Verdi, Nev.) at 197 each dropped 5-4 decisions, bringing the team score to 20-9. Following the match, the Sun Devils' Bader was it with a team point penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct, dropping the lead to 19-9. With the dual in hand, No. 4 Kellan Fluckiger (Sr., Preston, Idaho) forfeited his match, making the final 19-15 in favor of the Sun Devils.
The Sun Devils face No. 3 Minnesota in the consolation round at 8:30 p.m. EST. The winner advances to the consolation semifinals with the loser falling into the fifth-sixth place bout. ASU will return home Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. when they play host to Cal Poly in Pac-10 action.