The ASU wrestling team (4-5, 2-1 Pac 10) found victory in defeat as they fell to No. 9 Minnesota (10-4, 0-0 Big 10) 26-12 on Friday.

After a disappointing 36-7 rout at the hands of Oklahoma in the team’s previous meet, the Sun Devils came out swinging against Minnesota.

After seven bouts, ASU found itself in contention, as it went blow for blow with the Golden Gophers. The score was knotted at 12 with three bouts to go.

“I think this is the hardest they’ve fought all year,” ASU coach Thom Ortiz said. “It’s about belief, and I believe they’re believing more.”

It would not be enough however, as sophomore Imanibom Etukeren (285 pounds) and freshman David Prado (125 pounds) both lost major decisions.

Etukeren was starting only his fourth dual since coming in for the ineligible Erik Nye, and Prado was in for sophomore Anthony Robles (illness).

A medical forfeit by the Sun Devils at 133 pounds sealed their losing fate.

“Minnesota is good, but even in defeat I think [our team] gave their best effort,” Ortiz said. “It’s the whole fail forward. [Against] Oklahoma we failed harsh; but [after tonight], these guys need to give themselves more credit.”

Despite the loss, the team said that performances in the meet have generated confidence.

“It felt good to know we can hang with a team like that,” freshman Vicente Varela (149 pounds) said. “Seeing that we were able to do that, it just helps everyone out on the team and makes them want to work hard.”

Varela gave ASU an early 6-0 after he won a decision over freshman Joe Grygelko in overtime.

It was a bout he won’t soon forget. Down 4-2 with time against him, Varela received a stalling point coupled with a riding time point at the end of regulation before a takedown of his in the one minute. A sudden death extra period secured the decision (6-4) for ASU.

“I just knew I had to keep pushing the pace because I could feel him gassing out on me,” Varela said. “I felt good; I just had to keep getting the positions and pushing the pace.”

Freshman Jake Meredith secured his second decision of the season in dramatic fashion when he came back from seven points down in the first to steal the victory late.

Meredith clamped down junior Brent Eidenschink for the final two minutes of the bout, holding him down before receiving two stalling points and the deciding riding time point to win the bout 9-8.
Meredith had accumulated 3:21 of riding time against the junior.

“I kind of got down quite a bit,” Meredith said. “I was kind of trapped, and I felt him loosen up a bit and I got him. It was kind of that split second where you can see a way to get out. Some people choose to get out, some don’t.”

Junior Jake Cranford (197) and No. 6-ranked sophomore Chris Drouin (141) also secured decisions on the night for the Sun Devils.
Cranford defeated junior Gordon Bierschenk 5-2, while Drouin beat No. 9-ranked sophomore Mike Thorn 11-7.

There were disappointments, of course. Freshman Kyle DeBerry lost a close and controversial decision 3-2.

ASU has four duals left, all conference meets, before heading to Fullerton, Calif., for the Pac-10 Championships on March 2.

“Our focus now is Cal Poly on Saturday,” Ortiz said. “We’ve got four Pac-10 duals left and that’s all that matters now. I told the guys we want to win every dual, but this is practice. And it was intense.”

Reach the reporter at joshua.spivack@asu.edu.