Nov. 30, 2007
Las Vegas, Nev. - Stanford wrestlers won 13 matches on the first day of the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Collegiate Wrestling Invitational in Las Vegas, Nev. today and two wrestlers remain in contention to place at the competitive tournament. Seniors Josh Zupancic and Tanner Gardner will continue action at the tournament tomorrow beginning at 9 a.m.
Gardner won all three of his matches, pinning his first two opponents before beating his first ranked opponent of the season. The fourth-ranked 125-pounder, who remains undefeated with a 15-0 record this year, topped Columbia's 14th-ranked Brandon Kinney, 8-4, to advance to tomorrow's championship semifinals. Gardner will meet No. 16 Rollie Peterkin of Penn tomorrow morning, looking to earn a spot in the championship bout.
At 157 pounds, Zupancic won his first two bouts before falling to Pittsburgh's sixth-ranked Matt Kocher in the championship quarterfinals. Stanford's Akron, Ohio native, who is ranked eighth nationally, will wrestle Missouri's No. 12 Mike Chandler tomorrow in the consolation bracket, needing just one win to place at the event for the second straight year.
As a team, Stanford finished the day in 20th place with 27.5 points.
Action begins at 9 a.m. tomorrow with consolation third round matches. Gardner's semifinal match is scheduled for approximately 10 a.m. with the championship bouts set for 5 p.m.
Stanford Results
Las Vegas Invitational (Day One)
November 30, 2007
125 pounds
Tanner Gardner (3-0): pinned Eddie Lopez (Western State), 1:15; pinned Sean Roman-Marin (CS Fullerton), 2:04; dec. No. 14 Brandon Kinney (Columbia), 8-4.
141 pounds
Matt Kim (0-2): lost by tech. fall to Kellen Russell (Michigan), 16-0; lost to Richard Lohr (Northern Colorado), 5-3 (OT).
149 pounds
Lucas Espericueta (2-2): lost to No. 20 Kyle Larson (Oregon State), 5-1; dec. Camille DuPont (Western State), 4-2; dec. Cody Chipperfield (Wyoming), 9-4; fall to Jeremy Doyle (CS Bakersfield), 5:03.
157 pounds
Josh Zupancic (2-1): dec. Derik Sickels (Columbia), 5-3; dec. Jason Johnstone (Ohio State), 12-8; lost to No. 6 Matt Kocher (Pittsburgh), 4-3.
165 pounds
Peter Miller (1-2): dec. Eric Coxbill (Wyoming), 3-2; fall to No. 8 Nick Marable (Missouri), 0:29; lost to Chris Jones (Missouri Valley), 8-2.
174 pounds
Luke Feist (1-2): lost to No. 2 Matt Stolpinski (Navy), 6-2; dec. Kevin Owen (North Carolina), 5-3; lost to Scott Giffin (Penn), 6-1.
184 pounds
Zack Giesen (1-2): lost maj. dec. to Dave Sullivan (Pittsburgh), 8-0; maj. dec. Erik Schuth (Ohio), 11-0; fall to Colt Reece (Wyoming), 3:55.
197 pounds
Jake Johnson (1-2): dec. Ryan Allen (Boise State), 5-3; fall to No. 8 Dallas Herbst (Wisconsin), 1:26; lost to No. 14 Jason Trulson (Arizona State), 7-2.
Heavyweight
Phillip Doerner (2-2): lost to Leuon Mock (Brown), 5-2; win by default Bryan Stansburg (Colorado School of Mines); dec. Tim Ofield (North Idaho), 6-3; lost to Nick Smith (Boise State), 11-4.