Feb. 1, 2008
Eugene, Ore. - In his Oregon homecoming, sophomore Zack Giesen picked up his 20th win of the year and helped the Cardinal to a 24-15 win over the Oregon Ducks at McArthur Court in Eugene, Ore. Giesen's win at 184 pounds ended an even exchange of bouts, and sophomore Jake Johnson stepped in the clinch Stanford's 11th win of the year. The Cardinal improves to 11-2 overall and 4-1 in the Pac-10.
Stanford's 11 wins are the second most in program history, and the most in more than three decades. The Cardinal must win its remaining four duals to match the program record (15) set in 1974-75.
The dual was close early on, with the teams trading the first seven bouts. Stanford's upper weights strung together three consecutive wins, however, to lead the team to victory.
Senior Tanner Gardner (31-1) started the evening off strong at 125 pounds, putting Oregon's Joey Lucas on his back in 1:37 to earn his career-best 16th pin of the year. The Berryton, Kans. native, who has 31 wins on the year, is just two pins short of the program's single-season pin record, and five wins short of the program's career win record.
The Ducks saw their first points of the night when Ryan Dunn slipped past Stanford freshman Porfirio Madrigal (7-9), 9-8, in the 133-pound bout.
At 141 pounds, Stanford's Max Rosefigura (12-9) scored a key reversal with 30 seconds remaining in the match and edged Oregon's Cody Moulton, 6-4. The win was the fourth dual victory of the year for the Cardinal freshman, and put Stanford further in front, 9-3.
At 149 pounds, 2007 Pac-10 placer Jeremy McLaughlin pinned Stanford freshman Blair Matsuura (3-10) in 2:02 and brought the dual into a tie, 9-9.
Stanford continued the early exchange of bouts with a win at 157 pounds, as 10th-ranked Josh Zupancic (29-5) dominated the Ducks' Kyle Bounds for a major decision. Zupancic recorded three takedowns in the third period, finished with a 14-3 win and gave Stanford a four-point lead heading into the intermission.
At 165 pounds, the Ducks battled back within one. Zack Frazier came from behind and scored a takedown with two seconds left in the bout to edge Stanford's Peter Miller (14-10), 8-7.
In the 174-pound bout, Stanford's Luke Feist (10-8) started a crucial three-bout run for the Cardinal. The Stanford junior rode out Oregon's Ron Lee in the second period to earn what proved to be a decisive riding time point. Feist, who fell to Lee in an exhibition match at the All-Star Classic earlier this year, edged the Oregon wrestler, 3-2, to pick up his 10th win of the season.
Giesen (20-6) finally ended the even exchange of bouts, earning a crucial technical fall over the Ducks' Marcus Myers, 18-2. Giesen's rout secured his second consecutive 20-win season, put Stanford up 21-12 and gave Johnson a chance to clinch the Cardinal win in the 197-pound bout.
Johnson (22-8), who has won 10 of his last 11 matches, came through for Stanford. The 197-pounder scored a crucial third period reversal on Oregon's Shaun Dee and sealed the Cardinal's 11th win of the year with a 4-0 decision.
At heavyweight, Oregon freshman Charlie Alexander finished the night with a 5-2 decision over Stanford's Phillip Doerner (16-15).
The Cardinal will be back on the mats again Sunday at 1 p.m. to close out its Oregon road trip. The team takes on defending Pac-10 Champion Oregon State at Gill Coliseum in Corvallis, Ore.
Stanford 24, Oregon 15
125 - No. 6 Tanner Gardner (S) pinned Joey Lucas (O), 1:37
133 - Ryan Dunn (O) dec. Porfirio Madrigal (S), 9-8
141 - Max Rosefigura (S) dec. Cody Moulton (O), 6-4
149 - Jeremy McLaughlin (O) pinned Blair Matsuura (S), 2:02
157 - No. 10 Josh Zupancic (S) maj. dec. Kyle Bounds (O), 14-3
165 - Zack Frazier (O) dec. Peter Miller (S), 8-7
174 - Luke Feist (S) dec. Ron Lee (O), 3-2
184 - Zack Giesen (S) tech. fall Marcus Myers (O), 18-2
197 - Jake Johnson (S) dec. Shaun Dee (O), 4-0
HWT - Charlie Alexander (O) dec. Phillip Doerner (S), 5-2