Jan. 16, 2004
TEMPE, Ariz. - Even with two forfeit losses against them in the dual, the No. 13 Arizona State wrestling team competed tough and came from behind to score a 20-19 defeat of Oregon State Friday night inside Wells Fargo Arena. Avenging an 18-16 loss from a year ago in Corvallis, Ore., the Sun Devils got wins a six weights to win their 14th home Pac-10 dual in a row and their 18th conference tilt in a row without a loss, dating back to the 1996-97 season. ASU improved to 6-4 overall and 2-0 in the Pac-10 while OSU slipped to 5-4 overall and 2-1 in conference.
The dual opened at 174 pounds with No. 15 Jed Pennell handing ASU's Jason Trulson (Fr., Fountain Hills, Ariz.) a 10-1 major decision. Coupled with a forfeit at 184, the Beavers took an early 10-0 lead. That is where the Sun Devils stepped up as the hosts would win the next four bouts in a row and six of the next seven to take the lead for good.
The comeback started with No. 5 Ryan Bader (So., Verdi, Nev.) winning a 12-2 major decision at 197. No. 8 Cain Velasquez (So., Yuma, Ariz.), the maroon and gold heavyweight, followed with a 5-2 decision to bring the team score to 10-7 in favor of the guests. Christian Staylor (Fr., Chesapeake, Va.), at 125, won an 8-0 major decision to give the Devils their first lead, 11-10.
From there, No. 9 Mike Simpson (Jr., Anaheim, Calif.) at 133, No. 11 Patrick Williams (Jr., Homestead, Fla.) at 149 and No. 20 Brian Stith (Fr., Hampton, Va.) at 157 all would win their bouts by decision to give ASU a 20-13 lead heading into the final bout that the Beavers would win by forfeit. Jeremy Mendoza (So., Temecula, Calif.) also competed for ASU at 141, dropping a tough 6-2 decision to Kyle Larson.
Home dual action continues Saturday with the Sun Devils playing host to Pac-10 foe Cal State Fullerton. The competition will begin at 6 p.m. inside Wells Fargo Arena.