Feb. 8, 2004
TEMPE, Ariz. - On a day with two tough road tests only several hours apart, the No. 16 Arizona State wrestling team got off to strong start as the visiting Sun Devils handed the host Mustangs of No. 25 Cal Poly a 19-12 decision in San Luis Obispo, Calif., Sunday afternoon in Pac-10 Conference action. The Sun Devils (10-6, 6-0 Pac-10) remained perfect in conference duals by winning six of the 10 individual bouts, including one mild upset to close the dual.
Action opened at 197 pounds with No. 2 Ryan Bader (So., Verdi, Nev.) staking the visitors to an early 3-0 team lead with his 6-1 decision victory over Ralph Garcia. Heavyweight Clifford Starks (Jr., Phoenix) extended the ASU lead to 6-0 with his 5-1 decision over Arturo Basulto.
The Mustangs made a comeback, and then took the lead, with three wins in a row. It started with No. 6 Vic Moreno handing No. 11 Christian Staylor (Fr., Chesapeake, Va.) an 8-1 loss at 125. No. 7 Darrell Vasquez followed with an 8-2 decision over No. 10 Mike Simpson (Jr., Anaheim, Calif.) at 133 to tie the team score at six. At 141, Jeremy Mendoza (So., Temecula, Calif.) dropped a close, 5-4, decision to Steve Esparza to give the hosts a 9-6 lead.
But the lead was short-lived as No. 11 Patrick Williams (Jr., Homestead, Fla.) picked up a takedown in overtime to defeat Matt Cox, 3-1, at 149 to tie the score at nine. Brian Stith (Fr., Hampton, Va.) followed with a 6-2 decision win at 157 to again give the visitors the lead, 12-9. The score, however, was tied again when Erik Shortenhaus scored a 7-0 decision over Jamie Robbins (Fr., Mesa, Ariz.) at 165.
With two bouts remaining and the team score tied, Ron Renzi (Sr., Burke, Va.) picked up the only bonus points scored in the dual with his 10-2 major decision at 174 over Sam Temko to put the Sun Devils ahead, 16-12. Coming down to the final bout of the afternoon, No. 10 Nick Frost (Sr., Tucson, Ariz.), who made his return to the lineup Friday, scored a 5-2 decision over No. 9 Ryan Halsey to end the dual with the Sun Devils on top, 19-12.
ASU closes its three-dual road trip with a 7:30 p.m. bout at No. 23 Cal State Bakersfield Sunday. The Sun Devils return home Friday for a 7:30 p.m. dual with Fresno State before closing out the regular season dual slate with a 2 p.m. dual against the Panthers of Northern Iowa. Both duals will be inside Wells Fargo Arena.