Feb. 22, 1998
TEMPE, Ariz.-- The fifth-ranked Asu wrestling team closed out the regular season with a commanding 28-8 victory over Pac-10 rival Fresno State Sunday at the University Activity Center.
Eight Sun Devils recorded individual wins, paced by senior Aaron Simpson (177 pounds) with a pin at 2:48 and freshman Quinn Foster's 14-1 major decision at 134.
The Bulldogs got on the board first when second-ranked Stephen Abas pinned sophomore Michael Kawamura in the second period of the 118-pound class. However, ASU answered by winning the next seven in a row to pull ahead 25-5. Fresno State was deducted one team point when unsportsmanlike conduct was assessed to its bench during the 126-pound match.
At 190, Donny Rider decisioned ASU senior Jake Harman 6-2 giving the Bulldogs their remaining points on the day.
Prior to the start of the match, eight Sun Devil seniors were honored in their final home competition. They included: Danny Felix (118-126), Shawn Ford (126), Tracy Brown (142), Matt Suter (158), Simpson (177), Harman (190), Joe Micela (hwt.) and Adam Friedman (150).
ASU returns to action Feb. 28-March 1 when it travel to the Pac-10 Championships in Fullerton, Calif. Arizona State will defend its team championship while three Sun Devils -- Suter, Casey Strand (167) and Simpson -- will defend their individual conference titles.
No. 5 Arizona State 28, Fresno State 8 118: Stephen Abas (FSU) pinned Michael Kawamura (ASU), 4:38 126: Shawn Ford (ASU) dec. Stan Greene (FSU), 6-5 134: Quinn Foster (ASU) maj. dec. Ryan McInerney (FSU), 14-1 142: Tracy Brown (ASU) dec. Alredo Frausto (FSU), 10-7 150: Steve Blackford (ASU) dec. Tim Cornish (FSU), 6-1 158: Matt Suter (ASU) dec. Matt Demers (FSU), 4-1 167: Casey Strand (ASU) dec. Markese Nelson (FSU), 5-3 177: Aaron Simpson (ASU) pinned Michael Mellor (FSU), 2:48 190: Donny Rider (FSU) dec. Jake Harman (ASU), 6-2 hwt: Joe Micela (ASU) dec. David Wheeler (FSU), 11-4