Fresno State Athletics
Wrestling Goes on the Road
12/12/2002 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Dec. 12, 2002
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ONE FUN WEEKEND
The Bulldogs will travel to Idaho on Thursday to meet up with Boise State. Last year the two teams tied but this year the Broncos are ranked 12th in the nation by Intermat and placed ninth at the Las Vegas Tournament. This year there has been little to no injury and all starters are expected to wrestle. On Saturday, Fresno State takes on Wyomingwhich the Bulldogs beat 24-15 in last year's match.
LAS VEGAS RECAP Fresno State placed 14th at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Tournament, last week. Senior Ben Baca made it to the quarterfinals in the 165 division but was unable to wrestle back to placing rounds. Senior Eddie Gifford (174) and freshman Jatinder Singh (184) wrestled their way to the quarterfinals of the consolation bracket of their respective divisions. Sophomore Marcio Botelho made it to the quarterfinals of the 197 division and the finals of the consolation bracket. Junior Clint Walbeck made it to quarterfinals of the heavyweight divison and the consolation bracket.
BULLDOGS PREPARE FOR A LONG WEEK
Fresno State dropped its first match to the Cal State Fullerton in the Fullerton Duals, 32-14. Sophomore Marcio Botelho was to only Bulldog to pin his opponent, former Bulldog Landon Seefeldt, in the 197-pound bout with just two seconds remaining. The Bulldogs did win two major decisions. Senior Ben Baca picked up the decision in the 165-pound class over Risto Marttinen,13-5. Sophomore heavyweight Clint Walbeck would also earn a major decision over Titan, Edgar Hernandez, 12-4. The Titans had two pins for the evening. Rowdy Lundegreen pinned freshman Jatinder Singhh in the 184-pound bout. Junior Casey Olson was pinned by Juan Mora in the 141-pound bout. In the 174 bout senior Eddie Gifford lost by a 5-4 decision to Chris Carlino. Junior Jimmy Medeiros also lost by a decision, 3-2, to Dustin Vance in the 157 bout.
STRONG SHOWING AT FULLERTON OPEN
Four Fresno State wrestlers won their weight class tournament at the Fullerton Open Saturday. Junior Jim Mederios (157), senior Eddie Gifford (174), freshman Greg Gifford (184) and sophomore Marcio Botelho (197) all placed first for the Bulldogs. Medrios peeled off five victories including one each by way of fall and technical fall to win the 157 pound bracket. In the finals, he outlasted Dustin Vance 3-2 to finish first out of 29 competitors. The Fremont, Calif., native placed fourth in his only other Fullerton Open as a freshman. After a first round bye, Gifford outscored his opponents 69-18 over his next four matches to finish in his first career action in the 174 weight class. Gifford's brother, Greg, won in his competition at the collegiate level. Greg recorded five victories, including a 10-0 shutout of Cal State Bakersfield's Bryan Travers in the quarterfinals. He defeated Golden West's Jesse Jaurez by default in the championship match. Fresno State freshman Anthony Rubalcava bounced back from a second round loss to win the consolation bracket and wind up third at 184. Botelho recorded four impressive victories en route to his tournament title, winning three of his four matches by falls. In the finals, Botelho pinned Cal Poly's David Schenk 40 seconds into the first round to finish first at 197 pound division.
