Robles advances to quarterfinals at NCAA


Updated Brackets (pdf)

Anthony Robles continued his outstanding junior season with two dominating wins and all four other members of the Arizona State University wrestling team remain in contention for All-America honors as the first day of action at the 2010 NCAA Wrestling Championships came to a close inside the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb., on Friday night. Only one Sun Devil has been eliminated from the competition while the team has scored 13.5 points and stands in 16th place overall. No. 1 Iowa leads the team standings with 34.5 points.

Robles showed why he is regarded as one of the top wrestlers in the nation at 125 pounds as he easily won both of his championship round matches with both taking less than 3:15 to win. The fourth-seeded Robles, who was an All-American last year by finishing fourth, opened with Ross Gitomer (Virginia) and went to work right away with a takedown and four, three-point near falls to build a 14-0 lead in the first period. Then, with two seconds remaining, Robles stuck Gitomer for the fall in 2:58 to advance.

In the second round, Robles again struck early as he took down Tony Gravely (Appalachian State) and turned him several times to again take a 14-0 lead in the first period and then chose down to start the second stanza. Robles then reversed Gravely 15 seconds into the second period to bring the score to 16-0 and win by technical fall. Robles’ wins now sets up a meeting with fifth-seeded Andrew Long (Iowa State) in the quarterfinals, a rematch of Robles’ 12-10 win in Tempe on February 7 that saw the Sun Devil come from behind in the third period when trailing 7-3 to win.

Nye also won his opening round match and did so in close fashion as the Sun Devil big man defeated Eddie Bordas (Rider), 3-2, in the tie-breaker period to advance. Nye then faced top-seeded David Zabriskie (Iowa State) in the second round, but fell to the Cyclone, 4-2, to drop to the consolation rounds. Nye will now take on Pac-10 rival No. 11 Mitch Monteiro (CS Bakersfield). Earlier this season, Nye lost to Bordas in Las Vegas and also lost to Zabriskie and will once again face a familiar foe as he has already defeated Monteiro in a dual in Bakersfield, Calif.

Three other Sun Devils opened their days with a loss, but rebounded in the consolation rounds with wins to remain alive in the competition. Ben Ashmore, who competed at 133 pounds, first took on No. 7 Mike Grey (Cornell) and lost the first-round match, 9-4, before eliminating Courtlandt Choate (Brown), 5-2. Ashmore will next face David Marble (Bucknell) in the consolation second round.

Returning 141-pound All-American Chris Drouin met up with the last man to defeat him in the NCAA tournament as he faced No. 8 Alex Krom (Maryland) and suffered a 5-0 loss in the first round. Drouin, who placed sixth last year, rebounded to defeat Jordan Lipp (American) by a 6-3 score and will now face No. 3 Michael Thorn (Minnesota) in another elimination match on Friday.

At 157 pounds, Te Edwards nearly won his first match of the day, but fell in a close 8-7 decision to Jake Kerr (Iowa) to fall into the consolation rounds. In the lower bracket, Edwards came out on fire and took down Vincent Salminen (North Dakota State) early in the match before turning him for two near-fall points and a 4-0 lead. Edwards adjusted his position and locked his foe in a cradle before pinning him at 2:57 to advance where he will now face Thomas Scotton (North Carolina) on Friday morning.

To become All-Americans, wrestlers must place in the Top 8 at the NCAA Championships. For Robles, a win in the quarterfinals on Friday would lock-up his second All-America honor in a row. For Ashmore, Drouin, Edwards and Nye, the road will be much tougher as they each must win their next four matches in a row to earn the national distinction. Their quests for All-America honors continues on Friday morning with Robles in the quarterfinals and the remaining four Sun Devils in the consolation rounds.

2010 NCAA Wrestling Championships
Qwest Center • Omaha, Neb. • Day One ASU Results
#x - tournament seeding
125 • #4 Anthony Robles (2-0)
1st Round: Robles pinned Ross Gitomer (Virginia), 2:58
2nd Round: Robles tech fall Tony Gravely (Appalachian State), 16-0
Quarterfinal: Robles vs. #5 Andrew Long (Iowa State)

133 • Ben Ashmore (1-1)
1st Round: #7 Mike Grey (Cornell) dec. Ashmore, 9-4
Conso 1st: Ashmore dec. Cortlandt Choate (Brown), 5-2
Conso 2nd: Ashmore vs. David Marble (Bucknell)

141 • Chris Drouin (1-1)
1st Round: #8 Alex Krom (Maryland) dec. Drouin, 5-0
Conso 1st: Drouin dec. Jordan Lipp (American), 6-3
Conso 2nd: Drouin vs. #3 Michael Thorn (Minnesota)

157 • Te Edwards (1-1)
1st Round: Jake Kerr (Iowa) dec. Edwards, 8-7
Conso 1st: Edwards pinned Vincent Salminen (North Dakota State), 2:57
Conso 2nd: Edwards vs. Thomas Scotton (North Carolina)

285 • Erik Nye (1-1)
1st Round: Nye dec. Eddie Bordas (Rider), 3-2 tb1
2nd Round: #1 David Zabriskie (Iowa State) dec. Nye, 4-2
Conso 2nd: Nye vs. #11 Mitch Monteiro (CS Bakersfield)

Team Scoring - Through Day One
1. #1 Iowa - 34.5
2. #4 Oklahoma State - 26.0
3. #2 Iowa State - 24.0
16. Arizona State - 13.5