Feb. 16, 2007
PALO ALTO, Calif. - The Arizona State University wrestling team closed out its 2007 dual season with a close 23-20 decision over host Stanford Friday night inside the Ford Center in Palo Alto, Calif., the final preparations for both teams before heading to the conference championships. The Sun Devils, who are now 7-0-0 all-time against the Cardinal, finished the dual season with an 8-11 overall record and went 5-2 against league foes while the Cardinal finished 8-8 with a 5-4 mark in the Pac-10.
The dual opened at 174 pounds with Luke Feist turning a 12-2 first period lead into an 18-2 technical fall over ASU's Rick Renzi to stake the hosts to an early 5-0 team lead. Greg Gifford then took the mat at 184 pounds and won his eighth bout in a row, this time with a 10-2 major decision over Zack Giesen. Trailing by one point, Jason Trulson was awarded a win by forfeit at 197 pounds to give ASU the lead, 10-5.
Stanford won the next two bouts, first with Phillip Doerner winning a 5-2 decision at heavyweight over Thor Moen to cut the Sun Devil lead to 10-8. The hosts took the lead back, 14-10, at 125 pounds when No. 3 Tanner Gardner won by forfeit. The lead, however, was short-lived as Shawn Jones picked up a 14-5 major decision at 133 pounds over Cameron Teitelman, tying the score at 14-14.
Robert Galvan gave the Sun Devils the lead once again by snapping a six-dual losing streak, scoring a 15-9 decision over Matt Kim at 141 pounds and putting the Sun Devils on top, 17-14. But, the ASU lead was also short-lived as a forfeit at 149 pounds put the hosts back in front, 20-17, with two bouts remaining.
No. 4 Brian Stith closed out his dual career with a 3-1 decision over No. 15 Josh Zupancic to tie the team score at 20-20, while improving to 21-2 on the year. Stith finished with 55 dual wins in his career and is tied for ninth all-time in Sun Devil history. In the final bout of the evening, No. 12 Patrick Pitsch gave his team the overall win as he posted a 6-0 decision over Scott Loescher at 165 pounds, pushing ASU to the win, 23-20.
The Sun Devils will now prepare to compete in the 2007 Pac-10 Wrestling Championships, slated for Saturday and Sunday, February 24-25, inside the Icardo Center in Bakersfield, Calif. The Sun Devils are two-time defending conference champions and will be looking to win their third crown in a row.
Arizona State at Stanford
174 - Luke Feist (SU) tech Rick Renzi (AS), 18-2
184 - Greg Gifford (AS) major Zack Giesen (SU), 10-2
197 - Jason Trulson (AS) won by forfeit
285 - Phillip Doerner (SU) decision Thor Moen (AS), 5-2
125 - #3 Tanner Gardner (SU) won by forfeit
133 - Shawn Jones (AS) major Cameron Teitelman (SU), 14-5
141 - Robert Galvan (AS) decision Matt Kim (SU), 15-9
149 - Tyler Parker (SU) won by forfeit
157 - #4 Brian Stith (AS) decision #15 Josh Zupancic (SU), 3-1
165 - #12 Patrick Pitsch (AS) decision Scott Loescher (SU), 6-0
Arizona State (8-11, 5-2 Pac-10) defeats Cal Poly (8-8, 5-4 Pac-10), 23-20