Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
National Duals
No. 24 Fresno State Upsets No. 14 Northern Iowa
1/19/2002 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Jan. 19, 2002
FRESNO, Calif. - The 24th-ranked Bulldogs stayed alive at the National Duals with a 20-17 upset over No. 14 Northern Iowa in the fist round of consolations today at 10 a.m.
The Bulldogs squeaked past the Panthers on account of big wins from senior Stephen Abas and junior Ben Baca. Fresno State and Northern Iowa both won five matches, but it was Abas and Baca who scored bonus points to make the difference.
Back in traditional form, No. 1-ranked Abas won by technical fall over Tyler Hubbard in the 125 division. After pinning nine of his 12 early season opponents, Abas beat his last three opponents only by regular decision. The two-time national champion has racked up 16 wins and no losses.
Sophomore and regular non-starter Ben Martinez upset Northern Iowa's 16th-ranked Mark Manchio 6-4 in the 133 division, giving the Bulldogs a 5-0 lead. Martinez's win marks the first time this season an unranked Fresno State wrestler has beat a ranked opponent.
No. 8 Dylan Long put the Panthers on the board with a 9-0 major decision victory over Fresno State's Ralph Lopez in the 141 division. Long's win cut Fresno State's lead down to four points, but the Bulldogs never back down.
The 'Dogs won the next two matches to gain their biggest lead at17-4. Sophomore Jim Medeiros beat Jeff Harrison 9-3 in the 149 division. Fresh of a major decision loss against Pennsylvania, Baca pinned Northern Iowa's Drew Kelly in 4 minutes and 46 seconds in the 157 division.
Fresno State dropped the next four out of five matches, but never lost grip of the meet. The Bulldogs' final win came from junior Eddie Gifford who jumped two divisions to fill a hole in the lineup. Gifford upset No. 8 Kyle Hansen with a 7-4 decision in the 184 division.
Fresno State will wrestle No. 3 Oklahoma State at 2 p.m. today. Log on to www.gobulldogs.com for complete results.
Team Results
Fresno State 20
Northern Iowa 17
Individual Results
125- No. 1 Stephen Abas (FS) tech. fall Tyler Hubbard (NI) 7:00 (5-0 FS)
133- Ben Martinez (FS) dec. No. 16 Mark Manchio (NI) 6-4 (8-0 FS)
141- No. 8 Dylan Long (NI) major dec. Ralph Lopez (FS) 9-0 (8-4)
149- Jim Medeiros (FS) dec. Jeff Harrison 9-3 (11-4 FS)
157- Ben Baca (FS) fall Drew Kelly (NI) 4:46 (17-4)
165- No. 20 Nate Lawrenz (NI) major dec. Brian Spalliero (FS) 12-3 (17-8 FS)
174- Eric Hauan (NI) dec. Britt Mooney (FS) 8-1 (17-11 FS)
184- Eddie Gifford (FS) dec. No. 8 Kyle Hansen (NI) 7-4 (20-11 FS)
197- No. 14 Jason Payne (NI) dec. Marcio Botelho (FS) 10-4 (20-14 FS)
Hwt- Sean Stender (NI) dec. Grant Harrington (FS) 6-4 ot (20-17 FS)
