Jan. 9, 2004
TEMPE, Ariz. - The No. 10 Arizona State wrestling team traveled to Hampton, Va., Friday and won a pair of duals to advance to the semifinals of the 24th Virginia Duals in the Hampton Coliseum. The Sun Devils (5-2, 1-0 Pac-10), the third seed in the team tournament, defeated American, 41-8, to open the competition before downing No. 22 Edinboro, 21-16, in the quarterfinals.
In the first dual of the day, the Sun Devils won the first seven bouts to take a commanding 35-0 lead before suffering its first loss. Christian Staylor (Fr., Chesapeake, Va.) did not disappoint the hometown crowd as he handed his opponent a loss by fall at 3:28 to stake the Sun Devils to an early 6-0 lead. Aaron Suzuki (Sr., Flagstaff, Ariz.) added three points to the lead with a 7-5 decision at 133 before Jeremy Mendoza (So., Temecula, Calif.) continued his recent hot streak with a 19-3 technical fall win at 141.
Leading 14-0, No. 12 Patrick Williams (Jr., Homestead, Fla.) won an 11-6 decision before another hometown product, No. 13 Brian Stith (Fr., Hampton, Va.) was to hit the mats at 157. Stith took the mat only to have his hand raised for a forfeit victory, as did Jamie Robbins (Fr., Mesa, Ariz.) at 165 and Ron Renzi (Sr., Burke, Va.) at 174. Following the three forfeits, ASU was ahead 35-0 before Jason Trulson (Fr., Fountain Hills, Ariz.) dropped a 23-8 technical fall at 184 to put the team score at 35-5. Ryan Bader (So., Verdi, Nev.), at 197, broke in his newly acquired No. 2 national ranking by pinning Adam Montgomery at 3:55 to cap the Sun Devils' scoring. Clifford Starks (Jr., Phoenix, Ariz.) dropped an 11-10 decision to close the dual.
In the nightcap, Staylor, Williams and Bader each won again to remain perfect on the day as the Sun Devils again jumped out to an early lead. After Staylor won by forfeit to put the team ahead 6-0, No. 10 Mike Simpson (Jr., Anaheim, Calif.) scored a technical fall (16-1) at 133 to push the advantage to 11-0. The Fighting Scotts picked up three points at 141 with Ron Doppelheuer handing Mendoza a 6-5 loss, his first in his last five matches. The two teams swapped wins at the next two weights with Williams taking a 12-3 major decision at 149 while Stith dropped a 1-0 decision at 165 to make the team score, 15-6.
Trailing by nine, EU won matches at 165 (No. 4 Matt King major decision over Robbins, 24-7) and 174 (No. 7 Nate Yetzer decision over Renzi, 8-3) to cut the Sun Devil advantage to 15-13. Frost then scored a 9-8 decision over Alex Clemsen at 184 to push the lead to 18-13. Needing just one win in its last two bouts, Bader secured the team victory with his 7-1 decision over Jim Gibson. No. 18 Joe Hennis downed Starks, 7-2, in the heavyweight bout.
ASU concludes action at the Virginia Duals Saturday beginning with a 2 p.m. dual against sixth-ranked and second-seeded Nebraska in the semifinals. If the Sun Devils defeat the Huskers, they will face the winner of No. 3 Lehigh (top seed) and No. 16 Wisconsin (fourth seed) in the final at 8:30 p.m. A loss to NU would send ASU to the consolation semifinals where they will face one of four teams (No. 21 Purdue, Cleveland State, Citadel and Old Dominion) at 6 p.m. The winner of the semifinal dual will battle for third place at 8:30 p.m.
Virginia Duals - Quarterfinal Round
#10 Arizona State def. American, 41-8
125 - Christian Staylor (ASU) Fall Matthew Pelligrino (AU), 3:28
133 - Aaron Suzuki (ASU) Dec Ben Lamson (AU), 7-5
141 - Jeremy Mendoza (ASU) Tech Doniel Lobsenz (AU), 19-3
149 - #12 Patrick Williams (ASU) Dec Tom Kniezewski (AU), 11-6
157 - #13 Brian Stith (ASU) won by forfeit
165 - Jamie Robbins (ASU) won by forfeit
174 - Ron Renzi (ASU) won by forfeit
184 - Daniel Waters (AU) Tech Jason Trulson (ASU), 23-8
197 - #2 Ryan Bader (ASU) Fall Adam Montgomery (AU), 3:55
285 - Jared Hyman (AU) Dec Clifford Starks (ASU), 11-10
Arizona State is the No. 3 seed in the tournament bracket
Virginia Duals - Quarterfinal Round
#10 Arizona State def. #22 Edinboro, 21-16
125 - Christian Staylor (ASU) won by forfeit
133 - #10 Mike Simpson (ASU) Tech Jacob Gray (EU), 16-1
141 - Ron Doppelheuer (EU) Dec Jeremy Mendoza (ASU), 6-5
149 - #12 Patrick Williams (ASU) Major Deonte Penn (EU), 12-3
157 - Eric Ring (EU) Dec #13 Brian Stith (ASU), 1-0
165 - #4 Matt King (EU) Major Jamie Robbins (ASU), 24-7
174 - #7 Nate Yetzer (EU) Dec Ron Renzi (ASU), 8-3
184 - #8 Nick Frost (ASU) Dec Alex Clemsen (EU), 9-8
197 - #2 Ryan Bader (ASU) Dec Jim Gibson (EU), 7-1
285 - #18 Joe Hennis (EU) Dec Clifford Starks (ASU), 7-2
Arizona State is the No. 3 seed in the tournament bracket; Edinboro is seeded No. 6