Calteux scores win by tech fall to lead first round of wrestle-offs

The Arizona State University wrestling team held its first round of wrestle-offs Thursday afternoon at the Riches Wrestling Complex with six bouts contested to determine who would advance to the Maroon vs. Gold Wrestle-Offs on Saturday morning starting at 10 a.m. Josh Calteux led the way for the six winners as he scored a 17-1 technical fall victory on the strength of reversals and back points to punch his ticket to Saturday.

The day opened with Nick Williams scoring a convincing 7-0 decision over Jeff Cappellini at 197 pounds before a pair of 133 bouts were contested. In the first bout, Steve Contino took an early lead on Angel Alegre, but Alegre fought back and took the lead for good on a third-period reversal to win, 5-4. Alegre's win earned him a bout on Saturday against Tyler Bowles, who scored a 7-0 decision over Alan Howard.

The 157-pound division concluded the day with three bouts in a row to open a mini-tournament for the weight class. First up, Jerrad Trulson picked up a 9-3 decision over Lucas Mariacher before Michael Swigart defeated Te Edwards with a takedown in the first overtime session for a 7-5 win. The final bout of the day saw Calteux score the tech fall victory over Preston Pruett.

With those six bouts in the books and a few injuries in practice this week, the Saturday portion of the wrestle-offs has been altered slightly. David Prado and Anthony Robles, the pre-season No. 8 wrestler in the nation, will open the day at 125 pounds with the winner earning the starting job for the Sun Devils. That bout will be followed by an exhibition match between Ben Ashmore and Jason Carrillo, also at 125. The Thursday winners at 133 will then meet in the final of the mini tournament with the victor between Alegre and Bowles earning the right to face Orlando Jimenez later in the week (Jimenez is being held out of Saturday's bouts with an illness).

Chris Drouin, the second Sun Devil that earned a preseason national ranking at No. 7, will meet Travis Forester at 141 pounds before Tony Ruiz and Vicente Varela meet at 149 pounds. Similar to the 133 scenario, Calteux and Trulson will meet at 157 with the winner taking on Swigart later in the week. Sal Musto and Kyle DeBerry will face one another at 165 before Jake Cranford and Jake MeredithEric Starks and Emilio Veramontes has been cancelled. meet at 184 pounds. Because of an injury, the bout at 174 between

Williams, the winner at 197 on Thursday, will meet Thor Moen for the starting position before the day's final exhibition bout, this time featuring heavyweights Michael Hawkins and Anthony Morales. The final bout of the day will also come in the heavyweight division as Erik Nye and Imanibom Etukeren square off.

Fans are reminded that a free technique clinic will be offered at the Riches Wrestling Complex starting at 9 a.m. (registration is at 8:30 a.m.) and will run until the start of the wrestle-offs. When the maroon and gold face one another that day, former Sun Devil All-Americans and up-and-coming UFC fighters Ryan `Darth' Bader and C.B. `The Doberman' Dollaway will coach the respective sides as the Sun Devils prepare for the start of their 47th varsity season.

Following the wrestle-offs on Saturday, there will be a Wrestling Alumni Tailgate prior to the football team's game against Oregon inside Sun Devil Stadium. The tailgate will begin at 5 p.m. and will end at kick-off of the game. The tailgate will be located in the North Reserve parking lot (spaces 1075-1077), which is about 100-feet south of the intersection of Rio Salado Parkway and Packard Drive. Those interested in also attending the game following the tailgate should contact the wrestling office and head coach Thom Ortiz for tickets (cost is $30). Maps to the tailgate will be made available at the Riches Wrestling Complex during the wrestle-offs on Saturday.

The Sun Devils will open their 2008-09 campaign on Saturday, November 8, when ASU takes on Pac-10 foe UC Davis at 7 p.m. inside Mesa High School.

2008 Sun Devil Wrestle-Offs
Thursday, October 23
197 - Nick Williams decision Jeff Cappellini, 7-0
133 - Angel Alegre decision Steve Contino, 5-4
133 - Tyler Bowles decision Alan Howard, 7-0
157 - Jerrad Trulson decision Lucas Mariacher, 9-3
157 - Michael Swigart decision Te Edwards. 7-5 sv1
157 - Josh Calteux tech fall Preston Pruett, 17-1

Saturday, October 25
125 - David Prado vs. Anthony Robles
125 - Ben Ashmore vs. Jason Carrillo (exhibition)
133 - Tyler Bowles vs. Angel Alegre (winner faces Orlando Jimenez next week)
141 - Chris Drouin vs. Travis Forester
149 - Tony Ruiz vs. Vicente Varela
157 - Josh Calteux vs. Jerrad Trulson (winner faces Michael Swigart next week)
165 - Sal Musto vs. Kyle DeBerry
174 - Eric Starks vs. Emilio Veramontes (will not be contested due to injury)
184 - Jake Cranford vs. Jake Meredith
197 - Nick Williams vs. Thor Moen
285 - Michael Hawkins vs. Anthony Morales (exhibition)
285 - Erik Nye vs. Imanibom Etukeren
** First name listed will be on Team Bader with second name on Team Dollaway