Feb. 2, 2003
TEMPE, Ariz. - The No. 6 Arizona State wrestling team rebounded from a loss to Oregon State Friday evening with 21-20 victory over host Oregon Sunday in Eugene, Ore. After falling into an early 10-0 hole, the Sun Devils (10-6, 3-1 Pac-10) utilized five wins in a row, including a pin by No. 1 Eric Larkin (Sr., Tucson, Ariz.), to take the lead and win the dual.
The dual opened at 125 with Jeremy Mendoza (Fr., Temecula, Calif.) getting pinned at 1:11 in his first match back from an injury. The six-point loss was followed by Jason Harless upsetting No. 9 Mike Simpson (So., Anaheim, Calif.) with a 12-3 major decision to give the Ducks a 10-0 lead. No. 5 Dana Holland (Sr., Glendale Heights, Ill.) turned the tides with his 4-3 decision win at 141, his 11th victory in a row. The momentum continued to mount as Larkin stepped in a scored the pin to cut the UO lead to 10-9.
At 157, Mike Smith (Fr., Gilbert, Ariz.) held off Chet McBee for a 3-1 victory and ASU's first lead of the dual. No. 8 Nick Frost (Jr., Tucson, Ariz.) won his 165 match, 6-2, with No. 8 Curtis Owen (Sr., Coeur D'Alene, Idaho), rebounding from his upset loss Friday, winning a 10-4 decision at 174 over No. 7 Shane Webster for an 18-10 lead.
The Ducks halted the Sun Devils' winning ways with a 13-2 major decision victory over Ron Renzi (Jr., Burke, Va.) at 184. Ryan Bader (Fr., Verdi, Nev.) clinched the dual for ASU with his 4-0 decision win at 197. The Sun Devils forfeited the heavyweight bout, making the score 21-20.
ASU returns home for its final dual of the year at Wells Fargo Arena at 2 p.m. Feb. 9 when Cal State Bakersfield visits Tempe. Prior to the ASU-CSB dual, the six Sun Devil seniors will be honored while members of the alumni will be presented to the fans after the fifth match of the day.