March 21, 2008
TEMPE, Ariz. - The 2007-08 season for the Arizona State University wrestling team came a close Friday night inside the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo., as all five Sun Devil representatives fell in the consolation rounds, including four in the Round of 12, at the 2008 NCAA Wrestling Championships. As a team, the Sun Devils are currently in 28th place with 15.5 points while Iowa is in the lead with 102 points.
Anthony Robles (125), Chris Drouin (141), Patrick Pitsch (165) and Jason Trulson (197) all opened their days with a pair of victories to advance to the Round of 12 where they each needed just one more win to earn All-America honors. All four, however, fell in those bouts to see their tournament runs come to an end.
Robles defeated No. 11 David Tomasette (Hofstra) by injury default before scoring an 11-8 decision over Mike Rodriguez. In his next bout, he gave No. 4 Tanner Gardner (Stanford) all he could handle, forcing overtime where he fell, 5-3. Drouin also opened with an upset of a ranked foe, his second of the tournament, with a 7-5 defeat of No. 7 Kyle Ruschell (Wisconsin). Drouin then defeated Jason Kriegbaum (Air Force), 3-1, before falling to No. 5 Manuel Rivera (Minnesota), 12-1.
A pair of seniors saw their careers come to an end on the doorstep of their first All-America honors as both Pitsch and Trulson fell. Pitsch opened with a 5-3 win over Chris Brown (Old Dominion) before taking a 9-2 decision over Dave Rella (Penn State). But, his run came to a close when No. 8 Moza Fay (Northern Iowa) won, 10-2. Trulson had closer scoring bouts as he won 7-2 over No. 9 Patrick Bond (Illinois) before earning revenge over Kyle Bressler (Oregon State), who defeated him in the final of the Pac-10 Championships, in a 3-2 decision. His career ended, however, with a 5-0 loss to No. 7 Hudson Taylor (Maryland).
The final Sun Devil to compete was No. 9 Brent Chriswell, who fell to No. 3 Tyrel Todd (Michigan) in a fall at 4:37 to fall from the tournament.
The Sun Devils will now head into the off-season where they will train for international competitions like University Nationals and Olympic Team Trials.
2008 NCAA Wrestling Championships
Scottrade Center St. Louis, Mo. Day 2 Results ONLY
125 - Anthony Robles (3-2, Did Not Place)
Conso Fourth - Robles defeats #11 David Tomasette (Hofstra), injury default
Conso Fifth - Robles decision Mike Rodriguez (Cornell), 11-8
Conso Sixth - #4 Tanner Gardner (Stanford) decision Robles, 5-3 sv1
141 - Chris Drouin (2-2, Did Not Place)
Conso Fourth - Drouin decision #7 Kyle Ruschell (Wisconsin), 7-5
Conso Fifth - Drouin decision Jacob Kriegbaum (Air Force), 3-1
Conso Sixth - #5 Manuel Rivera (Minnesota) major Drouin, 12-1
165 - Patrick Pitsch (3-2, Did Not Place)
Conso Fourth - Pitsch decision Chris Brown (Old Dominion), 5-3
Conso Fifth - Pitsch decision Dave Rella (Penn State), 9-2
Conso Sixth - #8 Moza Fay (Northern Iowa) major Pitsch, 10-2
184 - #9 Brent Chriswell (1-2, Did Not Place)
Conso Fourth - #3 Tyrel Todd (Michigan) pinned Chriswell, 4:37
197 - Jason Trulson (3-2, Did Not Place)
Conso Fourth - Trulson decision #9 Patrick Bond (Illinois), 7-2
Conso Fifth - Trulson decision Kyle Bressler (Oregon State), 3-2
Conso Sixth - #7 Hudson Taylor (Maryland) decision Trulson, 5-0
Final Team Standings
1. Iowa - 102.0
2. Ohio State - 71.0
3. Iowa State - 68.0
4. Penn State - 63
5. Central Michigan - 61.5
28. Arizona State - 15.5