Jan. 3, 2009
PHOENIX - The Arizona State University wrestling team won nine of 10 bouts and scored bonus points in seven of those bouts to easily hand host Grand Canyon a 41-6 defeat in dual conducted inside Antelope Gym on the GCU campus in Phoenix. The Sun Devils, wrestling as the visiting team on an in-state opponents mats for the fist time since 1993, improved to 4-2 overall on the year while the host ‘Lopes slipped to 0-6.
The last time the Sun Devils were the guests of another Arizona institution was on December 17, 1993, when ASU traveled to Phoenix College and handed its hosts a 40-0 blanking. The victory today improves the Sun Devils to 2-0-0 all-time in the series with the ‘Lopes and gives ASU an all-time record of 60-9-0 against teams from the state of Arizona. The win at GCU also marked the 40th in a row over an Arizona school and the 18th in a row on the road.
The dual opened at 157 pounds where Michael Swigart scored a 12-1 major decision to stake the visitors to an early 4-0 lead. At 165 pounds, Kyle DeBerry secured a major decision victory of his own as he downed Jack Porter, 11-0. Leading 8-0 in the team race, Eric Starks took a 7-0 decision at 174, putting ASU on top, 11-0.
At 184 pounds, Jake Meredith recorded an early takedown and worked for back points before flipping his opponent, Adam Barnett, onto his back for the win by fall in 1:44. Jake Cranford, who recently moved up in weight to 197, picked-up the Sun Devils’ third major decision win of the day, taking care of Brian Cooper, 10-2.
Leading 21-0 in the team standings, the Sun Devils put the team victory out of reach as the ‘Lopes gave forfeit victories to Imanibom Etukeren at heavyweight and No. 8 Anthony Robles at 125. Those two wins, both worth six teams points, pushed the visitor’s advantage to 33-0.
Clinging to a shut-out victory in the team race, ASU was tested at 133 pounds where Angel Alegre and former Sun Devil Alex Contreras battled. Contreras scored a two-point reversal in the second period before Alegre escaped and then added his second escape to the start the third to tie the score at 2-2. In the overtime period, both men looked for the win when Contreras shot in. Alegre sprawled and eventually gained control to move behind for the takedown and a 4-2 victory. No. 5 Chris Drouin followed that ASU victory with a technical fall win of his own, downing his opponent, 16-1, in 5:24.
With one bout remaining, ASU was looking for its second shut out of the year, but a scramble on the mat put Josh Calteux into a tough position where he was caught for the pin fall at 2:19, giving GCU’s Bryan Scambler the win and bringing the final team score to 41-6.
ASU will wrestled again on Sunday evening when Pac-10 rival CS Bakersfield (3-3, 2-0 Pac-10) invades Wells Fargo Arena for a 6 p.m. dual.
Arizona State (4-2) defeats Grand Canyon (0-6), 41-6
Saturday, January 3, 2009 - at Antelope Gym - Phoenix
157 - Michael Swigart (AS) major Daniel Rubio, 12-1
165 - Kyle DeBerry (AS) major Jack Porter, 11-0
174 - Eric Starks (AS) decision Daniel Garay, 7-0
184 - Jake Meredith (AS) pinned Adam Barnett, 1:44
197 - Jake Cranford (AS) major Brian Cooper, 10-2
285 - Imanibom Etukeren (AS) wins by forfeit
125 - #8 Anthony Robles (AS) wins by forfeit
133 - Angel Alegre (AS) decision Alex Contreras, 4-2 sv
141 - #5 Chris Drouin (AS) tech fall Austen Moore, 16-1 (5:24)
149 - Bryan Scambler (GC) pinned Josh Calteux, 2:19