Sun Devil wrestling pins loss on visiting Embry-Riddle, 35-9
TEMPE, Ariz. - With pin fall victories to open and close the dual, the Arizona State University wrestling team captured eight of 10 weight classes to down visiting Embry-Riddle, 35-9, Sunday afternoon for the annual battle of Arizona inside Wells Fargo Arena. The victory improved the Sun Devils to 5-0 overall on the season while the Eagles, ranked No. 5 in NAIA, slipped to 0-2.
The Sun Devils came out and took charge from the start as senior and 14th-ranked Jason Trulson opened the dual with a pin of Justin Masotti at 3:32 after building an early 10-0 lead. With a 6-0 team lead, the Sun Devils turned to Imanibom Etukeren, who was wrestling his first collegiate dual bout and opened a stretch of six bouts in a row with a redshirt freshman representing ASU. Etukeren scored a takedown in the first period and held a 2-1 lead after two before using an escape, a stall point and riding time for a 5-1 victory.
Jumping into the lightweights, No. 19 Anthony Robles made his anticipated home debut at 125 pounds and staked himself to a 12-1 lead after one period. The rookie continued his charge in the second with a reverse for two points before a three-point near fall at the buzzer gave him a 17-1 technical fall over Ryan Luu. Classmate Todd Schavrien then made his home debut at 133 pounds and, despite a 9-2 lead through two, had to hold on for a close 11-8 decision over NAIA-No. 8 Franky Villaescusa to put ASU ahead, 17-0.
Two more rookies scored victories in their home debuts with Chris Drouin defeating Tyler Chang, 9-7, at 141 pounds before Jerrad Trulson scored the second victory of the day for his family with a 6-4 decision over NAIA-No. 4 Trace Billet at 149 pounds. Leading 23-0, the Eagles got their first win of the day as NAIA-No. 6 Eli Arismendez defeated Jalonn Wilkins in his collegiate debut, 4-1, at 157 pounds.
The 165-pound bout was the marquee match-up of the day as No. 3 Patrick Pitsch took on NAIA-No. 1 Hayden Harrison with both putting on a show. The senior Sun Devil built a 4-2 lead through the first period before and escape in the second made it 5-2. After Harrison escaped to open the third and both men scrambled for points, Pitsch took Harrison down with 1:12 remaining in the bout before turning the Eagle to his back and earning the pin at 6:24. Following a forfeit loss at 174, the Sun Devils closed the day with another fall, this time with Jake Cranford sticking NAIA-No. 6 Travous DeGroat in 4:44.
Next up for the Sun Devils will be their annual trip to Las Vegas for the Cliff Keen/Las Vegas Invitational inside the Las Vegas Convention Center on Friday and Saturday. Several of the top teams in the nation will be on hand to compete in one of the top invitationl tournaments held each year.
Arizona State defeats [#5-NAIA] Embry-Riddle, 35-9
November 25, 2007 • Wells Fargo Arena • Tempe, Ariz.
Dual opened at 197 pounds • Official was Charlie Jones • Attendance was 288
197 - #14 Jason Trulson (AS) pinned Justin Masotti (ER), 3:32
285 - Imanibom Etukeren (AS) dec. Chris Brogan (ER), 5-1
125 - #19 Anthony Robles (AS) tech fall Ryan Luu (ER), 17-1
133 - Todd Schavrien (AS) dec. [#8] Franky Villaescusa (ER), 11-8
141 - Chris Drouin (AS) dec. Tyler Chang (ER), 9-7
149 - Jerrad Trulson (AS) dec. [#4] Trace Billet (ER), 6-4
157 - [#6] Eli Arismendez (ER) dec. Jalonn Wilkins (AS), 4-1
165 - #3 Patrick Pitsch (AS) pinned [#1] Hayden Harrison (ER), 6:24
174 - [#4] Calvin DeVault (ER) won by forfeit
184 - Jake Cranford (AS) pinned [#6] Travous DeGroat (ER), 4:44
[##] indicates NAIA national rankings