Feb. 3, 2008
Corvallis, Ore. - In a hotly contested dual at Gill Coliseum in Corvallis, Ore., the Cardinal wrestling team suffered its third loss of the year at the hands of the Oregon State Beavers, 24-15. Stanford held the lead for the better part of the dual, but lost four of the final five bouts to allow the defending Pac-10 Champion to come out on top. Stanford falls to 11-3 overall and 4-2 in the Pac-10 with the loss.
Tanner Gardner (32-1) earned the Cardinal a quick five points in the first match, as the sixth-ranked senior overwhelmed the Beavers' Jake Gonzales at 125 pounds. Gardner put Gonzales on his back in each of the first two periods, and finished with a 17-2 technical fall. With his 134th career victory, the two-time All-American moved within four wins of the Stanford career win record.
Cardinal freshman Porfirio Madrigal (8-9) boosted the Stanford lead to 8-0 with his third career dual win at 133 pounds. Madrigal scored a quick takedown to take an early lead on Beaver sophomore Clifton Ivanoff, then built on his advantage in the third period for a 6-1 decision.
Oregon State finally got on the board in the 141-pound bout, as Beaver junior Heinrich Barnes earned an 18-2 technical fall on freshman Max Rosefigura (12-10). Senior Kyle Larson erased the Stanford lead with a 7-1 decision at 149 pounds, ending freshman Lucas Espericueta's (22-8) career-best eight match winning streak.
Senior Josh Zupancic (30-5) answered for Stanford at 157 pounds, posting a 14-5 major decision to secure his second consecutive 30-win season. Zupancic, the nation's tenth-ranked 157-pounder, scored three takedowns in the second period to major his fourth opponent in as many tries.
With Stanford in front 12-8, 2007 Pac-10 placer Keegan Davis cut the Stanford lead to one with a 9-2 decision over Cardinal sophomore Peter Miller (14-11). The Beavers took their first lead of the day at 174 pounds, when freshman Chris Platt blew a close match wide open in the final seconds and bested Stanford's Luke Feist (10-9), 9-3.
In a highly charged match at 184 pounds, sophomore Zack Giesen (21-6) battled Oregon State's Neal Beaudry. In the final seconds of the bout, Giesen put Beaudry on his back to earn a 13-4 major decision, but was called for unsportsmanlike conduct and a team point was subtracted from the Stanford tally.The win was the 50th of the sophomore's career.
The Cardinal maintained a 15-14 lead heading into the 197-pound bout, but 2007 NCAA qualifier Kyle Bressler handed Jake Johnson (22-9) just his second dual loss of the year, 13-5.
The Beavers sealed the win in the heavyweight bout, when Travis Gardner pinned Phillip Doerner (16-16) in the second minute of the match (1:20).
Stanford will continue Pac-10 dual action on Friday, when the squad takes on the Cal Poly Mustangs in San Luis Obispo at 7 p.m. The team returns home on Sunday for its Senior Day dual against the nationally-ranked Cal State Fullerton Titans. Sunday's action begins at 1 p.m. in Burnham Pavilion.
Stanford 15, Oregon State 24
125 - No. 6 Tanner Gardner (S) tech. fall Jake Gonzales (O), 17-2
133 - Porfirio Madrigal (S) dec. Clifton Ivanoff (O), 6-1
141 - Heinrich Barnes (O) tech. fall Max Rosefigura (S), 18-2
149 - Kyle Larson (O) dec. Lucas Espericueta (S), 7-1
157 - No. 10 Josh Zupancic (S) maj. dec. Dan Brascetta (O), 14-5
165 - Keegan Davis (O) dec. Peter Miller (S), 9-2
174 - Chris Platt (O) dec. Luke Feist (S), 9-3
184 - Zack Giesen (S) maj. dec. Neal Beaudry (O), 13-4
197 - Kyle Bressler (O) maj. dec. Jake Johnson (S), 13-5
HWT - Travis Gardner (O) pinned Phillip Doerner (S), 1:20