Nov. 13, 2011
Results - Look near the top on 11/13/11
TEMPE – The Arizona State University wrestling team opened up the 2011-12 home campaign on Sunday, grabbing two victories from feisty in-state rivals Grand Canyon University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at Wells Fargo Arena.
The crowd of nearly a thousand onlookers got quite a show as the team dualed against the two programs simultaneously on separate mats as part of the first annual State of Arizona Wrestling Festival. The Sun Devils overcame a slow start and defeated the Eagles of ERAU, 31-10, on one mat while fending off a pesky GCU team to win that contest, 27-16.
Grand Canyon, ranked #5 in the current NCAA Division II polls, came out swinging as they took a 10-9 lead through six matches. Kyle McCrite’s decision over ASU’s Dalton Miller at 125 pounds gave the ‘Lopes that early lead as an experienced GCU squad had their way with the ASU youth, with three of the four Sun Devil redshirt freshmen falling in their duals to that point.
But it was another pair of redshirt freshman that put the Sun Devils back into control as Phoenix native Shane McGough pinned GCU’s Lino Estrada just 1:02 into the 133 bout before Nathan Hoffer added a pin of his own at 3:46 in the 141 dual as he dismantled Ricky Ryan and put ASU on top 21-10.
The back-to-back pins were short-lived, though, as Austen Moore came right back for the ‘Lopes in the 149 matchup with a pin of his own over Kyle McIntosh at 6:03 to bring Grand Canyon within 21-16 heading into the final dual of the day.
There, senior Kyle DeBerry sealed the deal for the Sun Devils as he jumped out to a 9-2 lead through two periods before GCU’s Teddy Bristol was forced to retire due to injury, giving ASU the victory in the dual.
Against the Eagles, things again started slow as the two squads found themselves wrapped up at 10 apiece through six matches before the heavyweights asserted their dominance over the NAIA squad from Prescott, Ariz.
Eric Starks started the run with an 8-1 decision over Jose Cruz at 174 pounds freshmen before redshirt freshmen Bobby Bowman and Tommy Burriel ripped off back-to-back pins at 184 and 197 pounds. Junior Michael Hawkins sealed the deal in the heavyweight division with a pin over Dennis Foster at the 2:38 mark to wrap up the match.
With the Embry-Riddle victory – which occurred just prior to the conclusion of the GCU matchup – Arizona State improved to 36-14-0 in its first dual of the season and also bumped up its already impressive record against in-state programs to 66-9-0 with both of Sunday’s victories. The Sun Devils have now won 46 consecutive duals against schools from the Copper State.
ASU will be back in action in two weekends at the Journeyman/ASICS Northeast Duals in Troy, N.Y., but not before the university hosts the prestigious NWCA All-Star Wrestling Classic next Monday, Nov. 21, at Wells Fargo Arena at 7:30 p.m MST.
Thoughts from head coach Shawn Charles after the match and results are below:
STATE OF ARIZONA WRESTLING FESTIVAL
Finals Results
vs. Embry-Riddle (Final Score: 31-10)
125 John Garza, ERA, dec. David Prado, ARST, 3-2 (0-3)
133 Kalin Goodsite, ARST, maj. dec. Mason Saldana, ERA, 8-0 (4-3)
141 Nathan Hoffer, ARST, dec. Joshua Chang, ERA, 7-5 (7-3)
149 Matthew Hamilton, ERA, dec. Kyle McIntosh, ARST, 8-6 (7-6)
157 Kyle DeBerry, ARST, dec. David Snook, ERA, 5-3 (10-6)
165 Luke Riley, ERA, maj. dec. Hans Rasmusson, ARST, 15-3 (10-10)
174 Eric Starks, ARST, dec. Jose Cruz, III, ERA, 8-1 (13-10)
184 Bobby Bowman, ARST, pinned Jonathan Castellow, ERA, 0:54 (19-10)
197 Tommy Burriel, ARST, pinned Shawn Michalek, ERA, 3:19 (25-10)
285 Michael Hawkins, ARST, pinned Dennis Foster, ERA, 2:38 (31-10)
vs. Grand Canyon (Final Score: 27-16)
165 Hans Rasmusson, ARST, dec. Bobby Ward, GRCA, 10-8 (3-0)
174 Eric Starks, ARST, dec. Justin Martin, GRCA, 8-4 (6-0)
184 Brett Sanchez, GRCA, dec. Bobby Bowman, ARST, 7-5 (6-3)
197 Celic Bell, GRCA, maj. dec. Tommy Burriel, ARST, 13-5 (6-7)
285 #8 Levi Cooper, ARST, dec. Jordan Johnson, GRCA, 3-2 (9-7)
125 Kyle Mccrite, GRCA, dec. Dalton Miller, ARST, 9-3 (9-10)
133 Shane McGough, ARST, pinned Lino Estrada, GRCA, 1:02 (15-10)
141 Nathan Hoffer, ARST, pinned Ricky Ryan, GRCA, 3:46 (21-10)
149 Austen Moore, GRCA, pinned Kyle McIntosh, ARST, 6:03 (21-16)
157 Kyle DeBerry, ARST, won by injury default over Teddy Bristol, GRCA, (27-16)