Perfect day by six Sun Devils helps ASU wrestling remain undefeated

TEMPE, Ariz. - The Arizona State University wrestling team opened the new year in winning fashion Sunday afternoon as it swept all three of its match-ups as host of the 2008 Sun Devil Duals inside Wells Fargo Arena. On a day that honored the program's alumni, including the 20th anniversary of ASU's 1988 NCAA Championship, the Sun Devils scored victories over Army (22-13), Grand Canyon (42-10) and No. 23 Penn (21-17) to improve to 8-0 overall (2-0 Pac-10) on the year.

With their 21-17 upset of No. 23 Penn, the Sun Devils moved to 8-0 on the year, marking just the fourth time in program history that a Sun Devil team has opened the year with an 8-0 or better record. The start is the best since the 1988-89 team opened the year 8-0 before tying and losing its next two duals.

The day opened with the Sun Devils and Black Knights (5-4) meeting on the mats for the first time with ASU scoring the 22-13 victory. No. 10 Patrick Pitsch opened the dual with a pin at 5:35 to put ASU on top, 6-0. After Army won at 174, the Sun Devils would win the next two bouts, decisions by both Jake Cranford (184) and Jason Trulson (197), to push the lead to 12-3. After a loss at heavyweight, No. 19 Anthony Robles (125) scored an impressive 15-4 major decision before Todd Schavrien (133) won a 4-2 decision with a takedown 18 seconds into overtime for a 19-6 ASU team lead. After two losses, the dual ended with Alex Pavlenko scoring a 7-1 decision at 157 for the final team points and a 22-13 team victory.

Up next was a battle of Arizona schools as ASU faced first-year NCAA Division II program Grand Canyon (Phoenix). The Sun Devils, who are now 54-9-0 all-time against teams from Arizona, picked up all seven of its victories by forfeit for the 42-10 victory. Winners for the Sun Devils included Pitsch (165), Cranford (184), Trulson (197), Kenny Lester (285), Schavrien (133), Orlando Jimenez (141) and Jerrad Trulson (149).

After honoring the alumni in attendance, including the 1988 team, the Sun Devils took on the Quakers as former members of that championship team faced one another with Thom Ortiz guiding his ASU squad and Zeke Jones leading the Penn side. The Sun Devils fell behind early with decision losses at both 165 and 174, trailing 6-0. The tides turned at 184 as No. 18 Brent Chriswell earned a hard-fought, 2-1, upset decision over No. 13 Lior Zamir to not only cut the deficit to 6-3, but also spark the ASU bench.

Jason Trulson tied the team score in the next bout as he won the 197-pound match with a 5-2 decision. The Sun Devils continued their momentum at heavyweight as Lester caught his opponent in a move, put him on his back and scored the pin fall at 1:49 for a 12-6 team lead. Despite an acrobatic loss at 125 pounds, the Sun Devils kept the momentum going with Schavrien scoring a 6-1 decision at 133 before Chris Drouin, who had a 3-1 lead, won by injury default at 141 when his opponent could not continue. Leading, 21-10, ASU lost the last two bouts of the day, but it was not enough for the Quakers as ASU won, 21-17.

On the day, six Sun Devils went undefeated, led by 3-0 showings from both Schavrien (133) and Trulson (197). Also going undefeated were Jimenez (1-0), Cranford (2-0), Chriswell (1-0) and Lester (2-0.

ASU hits the road for a trio of Pac-10 duals next weekend, all three of which take place in California. The weekend opens with a 7 p.m. (PST) dual at Cal Poly (San Luis Obispo) Friday night before heading to Bakersfield, Calif., for a 5 p.m. dual with the Roadrunners of CS Bakersfield on Saturday. The road trip concludes Sunday with a 2 p.m. dual against CS Fullerton in Fullerton.

2008 Sun Devil Duals
January 6 • Wells Fargo Arena • Tempe, Ariz.
All duals opened at 165 pounds
Arizona State vs. Army
165 - #10 Patrick Pitsch (AS) pinned John Drew, 5:35
174 - Dean Gaier (Army) decision Rick Renzi, 5-3
184 - Jake Cranford (AS) decision Scott Ferguson, 7-5
197 - Jason Trulson (AS) decision Richard Starks, 8-2
285 - Nathan Thobaben (Army) decision Quinton Pruett, 3-0
125 - #19 Anthony Robles (AS) major #16 Frenando Martinez, 15-4
133 - Todd Schavrien (AS) decision Whitt Dunning, 4-2 sv
141 - #17 Matt Kyler (Army) decision Chris Drouin, 4-1
149 - Casey Thome (Army) major Jerrod Trulson, 9-1
157 - Alex Pavlenko (AS) decision Chris Grill, 7-1
Arizona State defeats Army, 22-13

#23 Penn vs. Grand Canyon
165 - Zack Shanaman (UP) won by forfeit
174 - Jeff Zannetti (UP) decision Jack Porter, 11-5
184 - #13 Lior Zamir (UP) won by forfeit
197 - Thomas Shovlin (UP) won by forfeit
285 - Trey McLean (UP) pinned Jed Jobe, 4:41
125 - #18 Rollie Peterkin (UP) pinned Tony Covert, 0:30
133 - Bryan Ortenzio (UP) won by forfeit
141 - Zack Kemmerer (UP) won by forfeit
149 - #15 Cesar Grajales (UP) won by forfeit
157 - Tommy Timothy (UP) decision Stephen Towne, 5-3
#23 Penn defeats Grand Canyon, 54-0

Arizona State vs. Grand Canyon
165 - #10 Patrick Pitsch (AS) won by forfeit
174 - Jack Porter (GC) major Cory Nelson, 12-4
184 - Jake Cranford (AS) won by forfeit
197 - Jason Trulson (AS) won by forfeit
285 - Kenny Lester (AS) won by forfeit
125 - Tony Covert (GC) decision Tyler Bowles, 6-3
133 - Todd Schavrien (AS) won by forfeit
141 - Orlando Jimenez (AS) won by forfeit
149 - Jerrad Trulson (AS) won by forfeit
157 - Stephen Towne (GC) decision Presont Pruett, 7-2
Arizona State defeats Grand Canyon, 42-10

#23 Penn vs. Army
165 - Zack Shanaman (UP) major John Drew, 13-3
174 - Scott Giffin (UP) decision Dean Gaier, 8-6
184 - Scott Ferguson (Army) pinned #13 Lior Zamir, 5:49
197 - Thomas Shovlin (UP) decision Richard Starks, 3-2
285 - Trey McLean (UP) decision Nathan Thobaben, 11-4
125 - #8 Rollie Peterkin (UP) decision #16 Fernando Martinez, 8-2
133 - Bryan Ortenzio (UP) decision Whitt Dunning, 2-0
141 - #17 Matt Kyler (Army) decision Zack Kemmerer, 7-0
149 - #15 Cesar Grajales (UP) decision Casey Thome, 3-1
157 - Rob Hitschler (UP) decision Chris Grill, 6-5
#23 Penn defeats Army, 25-9

Arizona State vs. #23 Penn
165 - Zack Shanaman (UP) decision #10 Patrick Pitsch, 6-2
174 - Scott Giffin (UP) decision Rick Renzi, 3-1
184 - #18 Brent Chriswell (AS) decision #13 Lior Zamir, 2-1
197 - Jason Trulson (AS) decision Thomas Shovlin, 5-2
285 - Kenny Lester (AS) pinned Trey McLean, 1:49
125 - #8 Rollie Peterkin (UP) major #19 Anthony Robles, 13-3
133 - Todd Schavrien (AS) decision Bryan Ortenzio, 6-1
141 - Chris Drouin (AS) won by injury default over Zack Kemmerer, 3:00
149 - #15 Cesar Grajales (UP) major Jerrad Trulson, 16-5
157 - Rob Hitschler (UP) decision Alex Pavlenko, 3-2
Arizona State defeats #23 Penn, 21-17

Army vs. Grand Canyon
165 - John Drew (Army) won by forfeit
174 - Dean Gaier (Army) pinned Jack Porter, 3:34
184 - Scott Ferguson (Army) won by forfeit
197 - Richard Starks (Army) won by forfeit
285 - Nathan Thobaben (Army) won by forfeit
125 - #16 Fernando Martinez (Army) tech fall Tony Covert, 17-1
133 - Whitt Dunning (Army) won by forfeit
141 - #17 Matt Kyler (Army) won by forfeit
149 - Casey Thome (Army) won by forfeit
157 - Stephen Towne (GC) decision Chris Grill, 7-4
Army defeats Grand Canyon, 53-3