Perfect day by six Sun Devils helps ASU wrestling remain undefeated

January 06, 2008

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.<separator></separator>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.<separator></separator>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 <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/pitsch_patrick00.html"… Pitsch</a> 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 <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/cranford_jake00.html">… Cranford</a> (184) and <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/trulson_jason00.html">… Trulson</a> (197), to push the lead to 12-3. After a loss at heavyweight, No. 19 <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/robles_anthony00.html"… Robles</a> (125) scored an impressive 15-4 major decision before <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/schavrien_todd00.html"… Schavrien</a> (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 <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/pavlenko_alex00.html">… Pavlenko</a> scoring a 7-1 decision at 157 for the final team points and a 22-13 team victory.<separator></separator>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), <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/lester_kenny00.html">K… Lester</a> (285), Schavrien (133), <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/jimenez_orlando00.html… Jimenez</a> (141) and <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/trulson_jerrad00.html"… Trulson</a> (149).<separator></separator>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 <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/ortiz_thom00.html">Thom Ortiz</a> 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 <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/chriswell_brent00.html… Chriswell</a> 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.<separator></separator><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/trulson_jason00.html">… Trulson</a> 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 <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/drouin_chris00.html">C… Drouin</a>, 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.<separator></separator>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.<separator></separator>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.<separator></separator>2008 Sun Devil Duals January 6 • Wells Fargo Arena • Tempe, Ariz. All duals opened at 165 pounds Arizona State vs. Army 165 - #10 <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/pitsch_patrick00.html"… Pitsch</a> (AS) pinned John Drew, 5:35 174 - Dean Gaier (Army) decision <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/renzi_rick00.html">Rick Renzi</a>, 5-3 184 - <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/cranford_jake00.html">… Cranford</a> (AS) decision Scott Ferguson, 7-5 197 - <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/trulson_jason00.html">… Trulson</a> (AS) decision Richard Starks, 8-2 285 - Nathan Thobaben (Army) decision <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/pruett_quinton00.html"… Pruett</a>, 3-0 125 - #19 <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/robles_anthony00.html"… Robles</a> (AS) major #16 Frenando Martinez, 15-4 133 - <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/schavrien_todd00.html"… Schavrien</a> (AS) decision Whitt Dunning, 4-2 sv 141 - #17 Matt Kyler (Army) decision <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/drouin_chris00.html">C… Drouin</a>, 4-1 149 - Casey Thome (Army) major <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/trulson_jerrod00.html"… Trulson</a>, 9-1 157 - <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/pavlenko_alex00.html">… Pavlenko</a> (AS) decision Chris Grill, 7-1 Arizona State defeats Army, 22-13 <separator></separator>#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 <separator></separator>Arizona State vs. Grand Canyon 165 - #10 <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/pitsch_patrick00.html"… Pitsch</a> (AS) won by forfeit 174 - Jack Porter (GC) major <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/nelson_cory00.html">Co… Nelson</a>, 12-4 184 - <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/cranford_jake00.html">… Cranford</a> (AS) won by forfeit 197 - <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/trulson_jason00.html">… Trulson</a> (AS) won by forfeit 285 - <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/lester_kenny00.html">K… Lester</a> (AS) won by forfeit 125 - Tony Covert (GC) decision <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/bowles_tyler00.html">T… Bowles</a>, 6-3 133 - <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/schavrien_todd00.html"… Schavrien</a> (AS) won by forfeit 141 - <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/jimenez_orlando00.html… Jimenez</a> (AS) won by forfeit 149 - <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/trulson_jerrad00.html"… Trulson</a> (AS) won by forfeit 157 - Stephen Towne (GC) decision Presont Pruett, 7-2 Arizona State defeats Grand Canyon, 42-10<separator></separator>#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<separator></separator>Arizona State vs. #23 Penn 165 - Zack Shanaman (UP) decision #10 <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/pitsch_patrick00.html"… Pitsch</a>, 6-2 174 - Scott Giffin (UP) decision <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/renzi_rick00.html">Rick Renzi</a>, 3-1 184 - #18 <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/chriswell_brent00.html… Chriswell</a> (AS) decision #13 Lior Zamir, 2-1 197 - <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/trulson_jason00.html">… Trulson</a> (AS) decision Thomas Shovlin, 5-2 285 - <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/lester_kenny00.html">K… Lester</a> (AS) pinned Trey McLean, 1:49 125 - #8 Rollie Peterkin (UP) major #19 <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/robles_anthony00.html"… Robles</a>, 13-3 133 - <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/schavrien_todd00.html"… Schavrien</a> (AS) decision Bryan Ortenzio, 6-1 141 - <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/drouin_chris00.html">C… Drouin</a> (AS) won by injury default over Zack Kemmerer, 3:00 149 - #15 Cesar Grajales (UP) major <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/trulson_jerrad00.html"… Trulson</a>, 16-5 157 - Rob Hitschler (UP) decision <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/pavlenko_alex00.html">… Pavlenko</a>, 3-2 Arizona State defeats #23 Penn, 21-17 <separator></separator>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<separator></separator>