Wrestling falls to visiting Oklahoma State
No. 3 Anthony Robles remained undefeated on the season with another impressive win to open 2011, but his victory was all the No. 24 Arizona State University Sun Devils could collect as No. 2 Oklahoma State captured a 40-4 dual win Sunday night inside Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe. The loss drops ASU to 3-2 on the year while OSU moved to 4-0 overall.
The dual opened at 184 pounds with Jake Meredith pushing No. 11 Chris Perry the entire match, before falling, 5-4 on a late escape by Perry. The Cowboys won the next two matches as well, first with an 11-0 major decision at 197 for No. 5 Clayton Foster over ASU’s Luke Macchiaroli before Blake Rosholt upset No. 20 Levi Cooper, 4-3, at heavyweight. Cooper trailed, 2-0, after one and then reversed Rosholt to start the second, trailing 3-2 heading into the third. In the final stanza, Cooper continued to look for the takedown, but was unsuccessful and dropped his first match as a ranked competitor.
The Sun Devils, trailing 10-0 in the team race, got onto the board at 125 pounds as No. 3 Anthony Robles continued his outstanding senior season with an 11-0 major decision over No. 7 Jon Morrison. Robles, who is now 15-0 on the season, led 3-0 after one on a takedown and a penalty point for stall warnings on Morrison. Robles then scored a takedown in the second for a 5-0 lead heading into the third. After selection down, Robles eventually earned the two-point reverse and added three near-fall points and the riding time point to win once again.
Despite the crowd of 1,019 being energized by Robles’ win, the Sun Devils were unable to claim another victory the rest of the way, but were close to upsetting ranked foes along the way. David Prado (4:39) and Kalin Goodsite (3:11) each suffered a loss by fall to No. 1 Jordan Oliver at 133 and Luke Silver at 141, respectively, putting OSU ahead, 22-4. After that, injuries forced ASU to forfeit the matches at 149 and 157, adding 12 more points to the Cowboy lead, moving the score to 34-4.
At 165 pounds, Te Edwards dropped a close 6-5 decision to No. 14 Dallas Bailey in a match that was full of action. Edwards scored the early takedown before each wrestler reversed the other and nearly pinned one another for a 4-2 Edwards lead through one. In the second, Bailey escaped and scored a takedown for the only points, while Edwards was close to a pair of defensive pins as the two scrambled around the mat. In the third, Edwards escaped to make it a 5-4 match, but couldn’t finish a shot and fell, 6-5, as Bailey added one point for riding time.
The final match of the night also was full of action as both Eric Starks and No. 16 Mike Benefiel continually tried offensive moves and turns before the Cowboy came out on top, 6-3. Benefiel led, 2-1, through the first period and make it 5-2 through two after a takedown and an escape were recorded. In the third, Starks nearly had a reversal, but only got the escape to make it 5-3 before Benefiel added the riding time point.
The Sun Devils will return to dual action this week as they travel to Hampton, Va., to compete in the 31st Virginia Duals on Friday and Saturday. ASU, who is seeded fifth in the 16-team, double-elimination tournament, will open at 9 a.m. ET on Friday with Chattanooga and will wrestle again at 1 p.m. ET against either fourth-seeded No. 23 Kent State or Rider (winners meet and losers meet).
#2 Oklahoma State def. #24 Arizona State, 40-4
Sunday, January 2, 2011 • Wells Fargo Arena (Tempe)
184 - #11 Chris Perry (OS) dec. Jake Meredith, 5-4
197 - #5 Clayton Foster (OS) major Luke Macchiaroli, 16-3
285 - Blake Rosholt (OS) dec. #20 Levi Cooper, 4-3
125 - #3 Anthony Robles (AS) major #7 Jon Morrison, 11-0
133 - #1 Jordan Oliver (OS) pinned David Prado, 4:39
141 - Luke Silver (OS) pinned Kalin Goodsite, 3:11
149 - #8 Jamal Parks (OS) won by forfeit
157 - #16 Albert White (OS) won by forfeit
165 - #14 Dallas Bailey (OS) dec. Te Edwards, 6-5
174 - #16 Mike Benefiel (OS) dec. Eric Starks, 6-3
Attendance: 1,019 • Official: Mike Hagerty