Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State Wrestling Opens Home Season On Saturday
12/6/2005 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Dec. 5, 2005
Fresno, Calif. -
WELCOMING WYOMING
Frenso State wrestling begins their regular season this week, as the team holds their first dual match on Saturday. The Bulldogs will take on the Cowboys of Wyoming, one of the five teams in the Western Regional along with Fresno State. The Bulldogs took the win over the Cowboys last season 35-11 behind pinfalls from departed senior Clint Walbeck and returning 149-pounder Dan Cadwallader. The Bulldogs will look to repeat that success in the North Gym this year. The match begins at 2 p.m. on December 10, and tickets are available either at the gate, through the Fresno State website at www.gobulldogs.com or by calling (559) 278-DOGS.
VIVA LAS VEGAS
The Bulldogs continued competition in tournaments last week, participating in the 52-team Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. The Bulldogs finished 38th despite only wrestling in seven of the ten weight classes. Leading the way was Oklahoma transfer Charles Jones. Jones, who had yet to wrestle for the Bulldogs, was 2-2 in the tournament, and advanced to the quarterfinals before losing a close 4-1 decision to Illinois' Alex Tirapelle, the No. 1 ranked 157-pounder in the country. Also reaching the round of 16 was junior Greg Gifford, who was 3-2 after advancing through the wrestlebacks. Five other wrestlers participated for the Bulldogs in the tournmant over the weekend, which was won by Michigan.
FALLS IN FULLERTON
Fresno State had a successful showing in their first collegiate competition of the year at the Fullerton Open, hosted by Cal State Fullerton this past week. The open format tournament included over 300 wrestlers, and the Bulldogs had 10 wrestlers place in the tournament, which does not have team scoring. The top finisher for Fresno State was newcomer Cody Parker. Parker, a heavyweight transfer from Oregon, made good in his first competition as a Bulldog, making the finals in the heavyweight division and posting a 6-1 record on the day. Other top Fresno State finishers included Wade Sauer, who also went 6-1 in the heavyweight division, finishing third with his only loss coming to Parker earlier in the draw, and Greg Gifford and Garrett Spooner, who both posted 6-2 records on the way to top five finishes. Gifford was particularly impressive, demolishing the wrestlebacks, making four pins and a technical fall. Other wrestlers that placed included Dan Cadwallader, Darrell Goodpaster, Sean Sheets, and three wrestlers at 125 pounds, Sean Carlson, Corey Borges and Paul Ruiz.
