Feb. 5, 2010
TEMPE - Arizona State University tried to dig out of an early deficit and kept the score close by winning half of the 10 matches on the night, but its comeback fell short as the Sun Devil wrestlers dropped a 20-18 decision to No. 16 Cal Poly at Pac-10 dual held inside Mott Gym in San Luis Obispo, Calif., Friday night. The loss, the Sun Devils’ second in a row after winning four in a row, dropped the ASU to 8-6-0 overall and 3-2-0 in the Pac-10 while the host Mustangs improved to 7-3-0 overall and 4-1-0 in the conference.
The dual opened at 197 pounds and the Sun Devils tailing 5-0 in the team standings as Michael Hawkins lost a 23-7 technical fall to CPU’s Ryan Smith. The Sun Devils cut into the deficit at heavyweight as No. 14 Erik Nye won a close 1-0 decision over Jim Powers to make it 5-3 before ASU took the team lead at 9-5 as No. 3 Anthony Robles won by forfeit at 125 pounds.
ASU’s lead was not held too long, however, as its wrestlers lost the next two matches, starting with Ben Ashmore putting up a fight before dropping a 7-2 decision to No. 5 Boris Novachkov, bringing the team score to 9-7 ASU. The Mustangs reclaimed the lead at 141 pounds as No. 7 Filip Novachkov scored a 16-1 technical fall over No. 18 Chris Drouin to give CPU a 13-9 lead.
Vicente Varela halted the Mustangs’ momentum at 149 pounds as he scored a 9-4 victory over Nick Fisher to draw the Sun Devils to within one point (13-12), but No. 11 Chase Pami scored an 18-6 major decision over Te Edwards at 157 to give the hosts four more points and a 17-12 lead.
The Sun Devils once again struck back, this time at 165 pounds with Kyle DeBerry winning a 6-4 decision over Steven Vasquez to bring ASU to within two (17-15), but once again, CPU won the next weight class as Ryan DesRoches won an 8-2 decision over Eric Starks at 174 pounds, pushing the advantage to five points (20-15). Despite the deficit, the Sun Devils could still win the dual with a pin at 184 pounds or tie with a technical fall. In the final match, Jake Meredith tried to get the team victory, but could only manage an 8-6 decision win for three team points and the hosts winning the team dual, 20-15.
ASU will look to halt its two-dual losing streak at home Sunday as it plays host to visiting No. 2 Iowa State at noon inside Wells Fargo Arena.
#16 Cal Poly (7-3-0, 4-1-0 Pac-10) dec. Arizona State (8-6-0, 3-2-0 Pac-10), 20-18
Mott Gym • San Luis Obispo, Calif.
197 - Ryan Smith (CP) tech fall Michael Hawkins, 23-7
285 - #14 Erik Nye (AS) dec. Jim Powers, 1-0
125 - #3 Anthony Robles (AS) won by forfeit
133 - #5 Boris Novachkov (CP) dec. Ben Ashmore, 7-2
141 - #7 Filip Novachkov (CP) tech fall #18 Chris Drouin, 16-1
149 - Vicente Varela (AS) dec. Nick Fisher, 9-4
157 - #11 Chase Pami (CP) major Te Edwards, 18-6
165 - Kyle DeBerry (AS) dec. Steven Vasquez, 6-4
174 - Ryan DesRoches (CP) dec. Eric Starks, 8-2
184 - Jake Meredith (AS) dec. Kellan Bragg, 8-6