Fresno State Athletics
Wrestling Prepares for NCAA West Regionals
2/24/2003 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Feb. 24, 2003
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LONG BREAK AHEAD
The Bulldogs will have to wait two weeks before they see any mat action. Their regular season is over and the West Regionals are the next stop March 8 in Charleston,Ill.
TOP DOGS
Senior Eddie Gifford and sophmore Marcio Botelho are ranked 12th and 20th respectively by InterMat Wrestling. Botelho won Sunday's match against Iowa's Woodey Milord but lost the mach against Northern Iowa's Sean Stender. Botelho has an overall dual record of 31-6 and a dual record of 15-2. Gifford has missed the last five matches in order to rest a knee injury and get healthy for the West Regionals.
BULLDOGS WINNING STREAK SNAPPED
The Bulldogs were swept up in their first match of the day against the No. 18 Iowa State Cyclones, 34-8. The second match of the day also proved to be fatal for the 'dogs, who lost , 35-3, against No. 13 Northern Iowa. With five ranked wrestlers the Cyclones swept up two pins and two technical fall victories. Fresno State managed a win in the 157 division. Junior Jim Medeiros won by decision, 7-3, with three takedowns over Nathan Meyer. No. 20 Marcio Botelho worked hard for a technical fall over Woodley Milord. Botelho scored nine takedowns in the match. The loss snapped the Bulldogs' 10-match winning streak. Jim Medeiros would be the only Bulldog to win a match against Northern Iowa. Medeiros scored a 7-2 decision win over Chris Bitetto. The Panthers managed one pin, one technical fall and two major decision wins.
GRAPPLERS PIN DOWN TWO WINS IN A DAY
The 16-15 win against Stanford was the Bulldogs' 10th in a row. The dual began at 125 pounds, and the Bulldogs lost by decisions in the first three matches. Fresno State finally broke through at 149, where Casey Olson, won a 5-3 decision over Scott Polley. With the score 12-3, the Bulldogs began their comeback behind Ben Baca at 165. With three matches left, Fresno State needed victories. Greg Gifford helped the cause with an 8-2 decision over John Garfinkel. That was followed up by a clutch major decision win by Marcio Botelho. Botelho's win made the score 15-13, leaving it up to Walbeck. And the sophomore came through, handling Shawn Ritzenhaler 5-2 to clinch the win for the Bulldogs. Fresno State wasted no time taking the first three matches in their win over No. 10 Arizona State 25-16. Starting the dual at 125 sophomore Sal Gonzales scored seven takedowns in his 16-8 victory over Sun Devil Adam Chivara. Four of Gonzalez seven takedowns were scored in the third period. At the 141 division junior Casey Olson scored the first takedown against No. 9 Dana Holland. Olson then scored a near fall in the second period and managed to escape three of Holland's takedowns in the third period. Fresno State forfeited the 149 division. Senior Ben Baca at 165 kept the Bulldogs afloat with his decision win over No. 16 Nick Frost. Baca scored one takedown and a reversal in the 7-5 victory. In the 184 division freshman Greg Gifford pinned Sun Devil Ron Renzi with 1:56 left in the first period. The Bulldogs put up one more win with No. 20 Marcio Botelho scored a decision win over Ryan Bader, 9-2.
