Feb. 16, 2003
Stanford, Calif. - Stanford (3-12, 1-6 Pac-10) was edged tonight by Fresno State 16-15 tonight at Burnham Pavilion as the Cardinal closed out the 2002-03 regular season. Stanford jumped out to a 9-0 lead before the Bulldogs rallied up to 15-13 heading into heavyweight match. Fresno State's Clint Walbeck wrapped up the meet with a 5-2 win to give Fresno State its 11th straight dual win.
Junior Nathan Peterson (Georgetown, IN/Floyd Central) began the meet at 125 as he downed Sal Gonzlaes 9-3. Peterson scored the first points with a takedown with 1:07 left in the first period before Gonzales got an escape to cut the lead to 2-1. Peterson started on top during the second and built up riding time before getting Gonzales' back on the mat for a three point nearfall and a 5-1 lead. Peterson scored an escape and a takedown in the third but Gonzales notched a reversal in the final moments to prevent the major decision.
Sophomore Brad Metzler (Omaha., NE/Westside) followed Peterson with a 4-0 win at 133 pounds over Joe Stewart. Metzler notched the only points in the second period with an escape ten seconds in and scored a takedown 35 seconds later to build up riding time and earn the shutout victory.
At 141 pounds, junior Brendon Fox (Higginsville, MO/Higginsville) tacked on the third straight win for the Cardinal. Fresno State's Garrett Spooner scored the first points with a takedown with just over one minute left in the first period, but six seconds later Fox recorded the escape to cut Spooner's lead to 2-1. Fox started the second period on top and rode Spooner for the full two minutes. In the third period, Fox started down but quickly scored the escape and a takedown and held Spooner for the remaining 1:40 for the 5-2 win.
Sophomore Matt Gentry (Grants Pass, OR/North Valley) posted his 27th win of the season at 157 pounds by notching a 7-4 decision. Gentry opened the bout with a takedown with 59 seconds to go and held him for the remainder of the first period. In the second period, Fresno State's Jim Medeiros scored an escape after 30 seconds to cut Gentry's lead to 2-1. In the third period, Gentry got an escape after seven seconds and with 35 seconds left posted his second takedown, but Medeiros kept the match exciting by scoring a takedown with nine seconds to go. Gentry pulled out an escape and with riding time earned the 7-4 decision.
Senior Harold Penson (Richmond Heights, OH/Richmond Heights) posted an 11-7 win at 174 pounds in the final home dual of his Stanford career. Penson threw Fresno State's Sean Sheets to the ground in ten seconds for the takedown and three-point nearfall. Penson maintained control but threw Sheets to the mat a second time in the first period for a two-point nearfall. Sheets fought back and notched an escape before getting a takedown and a two-point nearfall. In the second period, Penson built his riding time to over a minute and in the third Penson posted a takedown before Sheets scored an escape, but with riding time Penson notched the 11-7 decision and put Stanford up 15-6 with the final three bouts to go.
The Cardinal dropped the last three bouts as Fresno State earned the win 16-15 win. The Cardinal will be heading to the Pac-10 Championships on March 2-3 in Boise, Idaho, where the starters will be looking for bids to the NCAA Championships on March 20-22 in Kansas City, Missouri.
Fresno State 16, Stanford 15
(started at 125)
125 - Nathan Peterson (S) dec. Sal Gonzales (F), 9-3.
133 - Brad Metzler (S) dec. Joe Stewart (F), 4-0.
141 - Brendon Fox (S) dec. Garrett Spooner (F) 5-2.
149 - Casey Olson (F) dec. Scott Polley (S), 5-3.
157 - Matt Gentry (S) dec. Jim Medeiros (F), 7-4.
165 - Ben Baca (F) dec. Garrett Johnston (S), 7-4.
174 - Harold Penson (S) dec. Sean Sheets (F), 11-7.
184 - Greg Gifford (F) dec. John Garfinkel (S) 8-2.
197 - Marcio Botelho (F) maj. dec. Larry Ozowara (S), 14-5.
285 - Clint Walbeck (F) dec. Shawn Ritzenthaler (S), 5-2.