Feb. 6, 2009
TEMPE - Despite building an early lead on a forfeit victory and a win by fall, the Arizona State University wrestling team could not hold on down the stretch as the host Cardinal of Stanford came from behind to defeat the Sun Devils, 20-19, Friday night in Stanford, Calif. The loss dropped ASU to 5-6 overall and 3-2 in the Pac-10 while the Cardinal improved to 7-12-1 and 2-4 in the league.
ASU jumped out to an early 6-0 lead as the dual opened with Imanibom Etukeren winning the opening dual at heavyweight with a win by forfeit. The Sun Devils’ lead grew to 12-0 after No. 12 Anthony Robles returned to the line up and pinned his foe in 2:20. SU won its first match of the night at 133 as Porfirio Madrigal took a 5-1 decision over David Pardo, who moved up in weight for the first time this year.
Leading 12-3, the Sun Devils added four more points as No. 6 Chris Drouin scored a 12-4 major decision at 141 to improve to 22-5 on the year and 10-1 in dual competitions with nine wins earning bonus points for the team. The Cardinal mounted a comeback with wins at the next three bouts, cutting the lead from 16-3 to 16-14 with three matches to go. At 149, Vicente Varela dropped a tough 4-3 decision in the first round of tie breakers before Lucas Espericueta handed ASU’s Te Edwards a 20-3 technical fall loss at 157. Kyle DeBerry then fell, 10-5, to Nick Amuchastegui, at 165.
At 174, Eric Starks scored a victory for the Sun Devils as he downed Victor Haug, 10-4, to bring the ASU lead to 19-14. SU cut that lead to 19-17 after the 184 match saw Jake Meredith drop a 5-0 decision. With the dual on the line, Luke Feist scored a 5-0 decision over ASU’s Jake Cranford to give SU its first and only lead of the night, resulting in the 20-19 win.
The Sun Devils will look to close out their only conference road trip of the season on a high note Sunday when they travel to Corvallis, Ore., to meet the Beavers of Oregon State in a noon PT dual.
Stanford (7-12-1, 2-4 Pac-10) defeats Arizona State (5-6, 3-2 Pac-10), 20-19
Friday, 6, 2009 - at Stanford, Calif.
285 - Imanibom Etukeren (AS) won by forfeit
125 - #12 Anthony Robles (AS) pinned Austin Quarles, 2:20
133 - Porfirio Madrigal (S) dec. David Prado, 5-1
141 - #6 Chris Drouin (AS) major Cameron Teitelman, 12-4
149 - Tyler Parker (S) dec. Vicente Varela, 4-3 tb1
157 - Lucas Espericueta (S) tech Te Edwards, 20-3
165 - Nick Amuchastegui (S) dec. Kyle DeBerry, 10-5
174 - Eric Starks (AS) dec. Victor Haug, 10-4
184 - Jake Johnson (S) dec. Jake Meredith, 5-0
197 - Luke Feist (S) dec. Jake Cranford, 5-0