Dec. 17, 2010

Photo Gallery

STANFORD, Calif. - The Stanford wrestling team won five bouts Friday night as it defeated the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, 20-17, at Burnham Pavilion. The Cardinal improves to 3-5 on the season, while the Mocs drop to 4-6 overall.

The dual started at 165 pounds where senior Lucas Espericueta put the Cardinal on top 3-0. Espericueta used three takedowns, two escapes and a final point for riding time to defeat Chattanooga's Brandon Wright, 9-6. With the win, Espericueta improves to 7-4 on the season.

Next, at 174 pounds, fourth-ranked Nick Amuchastegui registered his first fall of the year over Levi Clemons in 1:27. Amuchastegui increased the Cardinal lead to 9-0 as he remains undefeated on the season at 8-0.

The Mocs scored their first points at 184 pounds as Jason McCroskey recorded a 2-0 decision over sophomore Spence Patrick to cut the dual score to 9-3. McCroskey scored his points with an escape and riding time. Chattanooga's Niko Brown cut the Cardinal lead to 9-7 as he picked up a 15-3 major decision over Stanford freshman Dan Scherer at 197 pounds.

Chattanooga took the lead as Robert Prigmore posted an 11-0 major decision over Stanford freshman Alan Yen, wrestling at heavyweight for the first time this season. However, Stanford regained the lead, 12-11, as sophomore Ryan Mango registered a 15-8 decision over Prescott Garner at 125 pounds. Mango, ranked 10th nationally, tallied five takedowns and a reversal on his way to his 11th win of the season.

Stanford increased its lead to 16-11 as senior Justin Paulsen, wrestling for the first time this season, posted a 13-5 major decision over Chattanooga's Joe DeAngelo at 133 pounds. The Mocs then cut the lead to 16-14 as seventh-ranked Cody Cleveland registered a 9-2 decision over redshirt freshman Jordan Gray at 141 pounds. Gray recorded a reversal in the final minute to avoid the major decision.

Redshirt sophomore Timmy Boone added to the Cardinal lead as he earned his third major decision victory of the season, 11-3 over Dean Pavlou at 149 pounds. Sophomore Mike Kent dropped the final bout of the night at 157 pounds, a 7-4 decision to Josh Condon, but it wasn't enough as Stanford won the dual 20-17.

The Cardinal will hit the road for the Reno Tournament of Champions, held Sunday, Dec. 19 in Reno, Nev. Stanford will wrap up the month of December at the Midlands Championships in Evanston, Ill., Dec. 29-30.

Stanford 20, Chattanooga 17
165: Lucas Espericueta (S) dec. Brandon Wright (C), 9-6
174: No. 4 Nick Amuchastegui (S) fall Levi Clemons (C), 1:27
184: Jason McCroskey (C) dec. Spence Patrick (S), 2-0
197: Niko Brown (C) maj. dec. Dan Scherer (S), 15-3
HWT: Robert Prigmore (C) maj. dec. Alan Yen (S), 11-0
125: No. 10 Ryan Mango (S) dec. Prescott Garner (C), 15-8
133: Justin Paulsen (S) maj. dec. Joe DeAngelo (C), 13-5
141: No. 7 Cody Cleveland (C) dec. Jordan Gray (S), 9-2
149: Timmy Boone (S) maj. dec. Dean Pavlou (C), 11-3
157: Josh Condon (C) dec. Mike Kent (S), 7-4