Feb. 8, 2008
GLENDALE, Ariz. - A standing-room only crowd of over 2,000 fans packed the gymnasium at Copper Canyon High School in Glendale, Ariz., Friday night to see the Arizona State University wrestling team put up a fight against No. 1 Iowa in a dual sponsored by both Food City and Cigna. Although the Sun Devils battled, they won just one bout as the visiting Hawkeyes took a 36-3 win. ASU fell to 9-6 on the year while Iowa improved to 17-1 overall.
"We had seven freshmen take the mat again tonight and everyone, including the upperclassmen, wrestled hard," Head Coach Thom Ortiz said. "We did some great things in our matches tonight and I feel we learned some things tonight that will help us throughout the rest of the season. We also had a great crowd out here tonight and I want to thank everyone for supporting us. It was a great day for wrestling in the Valley.
"I would also like to thank Copper Canyon [High School] for their hospitality and thank Food City and Cigna for their sponsorship of the dual tonight," Ortiz continued. "It means a lot to see those two companies support our team as we compete and also to see them assist us in making a difference in the community. We want to be able to help those around us and Food City and Cigna did just that tonight."
The dual opened at 141 pounds with rookie Chris Drouin scoring several takedowns and forcing the bout into overtime, but game up a takedown in the extra period to see his upset bid fall short, 10-8, to No. 8 Dan LeClere. From there, the Hawkeyes won by technical fall at 149 and major decision at 157 to build a 12-0 advantage in the team race.
At 165 pounds, senior Patrick Pitsch went all out as he and Jake Kerr scrambled for points, going into overtime tied at one. In the extra session, Pitsch shot in and worked hard for the takedown, which he was awarded with 19 seconds remaining to take the 3-1 victory. But, the Hawkeyes quickly took back the momentum with a win by fall at 174 pounds before winning four more by decision and one by fall for the final margin.
Two bouts featured a pair of ranked wrestlers with the Sun Devils putting up a battle all the way. At 184 pounds, No. 15 Brent Chriswell hung tough with No. 8 Phillip Keddy before falling, 7-4. Then, at 125 pounds, No. 14 Anthony Robles thrilled the crowd in his bout with No. 3 Charile Falck before falling, 8-6. Trailing 2-0 after one period, Robles chose top and picked up all six points on a pair of tilts, but it was not enough in the end.
ASU closes out the weekend at home in a 2 p.m. dual against No. 9 Iowa State inside Wells Fargo Arena. Cyclone head coach and 2004 Olympic champion Cael Sanderson will be on hand between 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to sign autographs.
#1 Iowa at Arizona State
February 8 Copper Canyon HS Glendale, Ariz.
Dual Official: Mike McCormich Attendance: 2,036
141 - #8 Dan LeClere (UI) decision Chris Drouin, 10-8 sv
149 - #1 Brent Metcalf (UI) tech fall Jerrad Trulson, 22-4
157 - #15 Ryan Morningstar (UI) major Alex Pavlenko, 10-2
165 - Patrick Pitsch (AS) decision Jake Kerr, 3-1 sv
174 - #2 Jay Borschel (UI) pinned Cory Nelson, 1:48
184 - #8 Phillip Keddy (UI) decision #15 Brent Chriswell, 7-4
197 - Chad Beatty (UI) decision Thor Moen, 4-2
285 - #7 Matt Fields (UI) pinned Kenny Lester, 2:57
125 - #3 Charlie Falck (UI) decision #14 Anthony Robles, 8-6
133 - #3 Joe Slaton (UI) decision Todd Schavrien, 10-6
#1 Iowa (17-1) defeats Arizona State (9-6), 36-3