MERIDIAN, Idaho – In what might turn out to be the most exciting dual of the 2006-07 season, Boise State edged Cal State Bakersfield in each teams' Pac-10 opener by a 21-18 score Thursday night at Centennial High School in Meridian, Idaho.
The match featured two upsets as far as the current Pac-10 rankings are concerned, and both went in favor of the Roadrunners. Brandon Zoetewey turned in a 6-2 win over No. 6 Cory Fish at 125 pounds which will almost undoubtedly move the sophomore into the rankings next week. At 165 pounds, Daniel Atondo, ranked No. 5 in the Pac-10, pinned No. 3 Luke Smith for the other upset.
“This was a very exciting dual that came down to the last match,” CSUB Assistant Head Coach Mike Mendoza said shortly after the match. “We were winning, then losing, then winning, then losing, and it came down to the last match before it was decided. (Senior heavyweight Eric) Parker ended up losing on riding time, and that was the difference. It really was that close.”
Zoetewey got things going in the right direction to open the night at 125. Despite trailing 2-0 after the first period, Zoetewey chose down to start the second period and earned a reversal to tie the score at 2-2 after two periods. In the third, Zoetewey earned a takedown and a pair of back points to win 6-2.
But Boise State took the lead 4-3 after the 133-pound match. The Broncos' Levi Jones, ranked No. 4 in the Pac-10, looked every bit as good as his ranking in a 12-2 win over Roadrunner freshman John Cardenas.
Bakersfield followed with two straight wins, all in impressive fashion to take a commanding 12-4 lead in the dual. Pac-10 No. 4 Matt Schumm decisioned Jeff Newby by a 10-5 margin before Bakersfield's No. 2 Brandon Doyle pinned Tommy Owens of Boise State in 4:47 to increase the lead to 12-4 in favor of the Roadrunners.
After Boise State's No. 3-ranked Tyler Sherfey won a 12-4 major decision over Bakersfield's No. 6 Daniel Alejandro at 157, the Roadrunners earned what must be called the biggest upset of the night.
Despite both wrestlers being ranked, Atondo's win at 165 was the most impressive of the night. The Roadrunner, ranked No. 5 in the Pac-10, will surely move up in the rankings after pinning No. 3 Luke Smith of Boise State.
Smith led early with a takedown and was up 4-1 after an escape and another takedown. But it was all Atondo from then on. The Bakersfield junior earned a reversal and a near fall to lead 5-4 after one period, and after choosing down and escaping to start the second period, he earned a takedown and a pin 4:09 into the match to give Bakersfield what appeared to be a nearly insurmountable 18-8 lead with four matches to go.
But Boise State was clearly not done, and won all four matches to earn the 21-18 win.
No. 4 Nate Lee knocked off Garth Wara 20-7 to narrow the team score 18-12 before No. 4 Mike Casperson earned a narrow 7-5 win over Brandon Ceremello on a takedown with 52 seconds remaining in the match to make it 18-15 Roadrunners.
No. 6 Matt Casperson picked up a 13-8 decision over Ernesto Ancona to tie the score at 18-18 and set up a thrilling heavyweight match between No. 3 Andy Patrick of Boise State and Bakersfield's Parker, ranked No. 4 in the Pac-10.
Parker and Patrick exchanged takedowns and escapes in the first period for a 3-3 tie after three minutes of action. Parker chose down to start the second period and earned an escape before a takedown with three second remaining in the period for a 6-3 lead. But Patrick opened the third period with an escape and a takedown to tie the score at 6-6 with 1:48 remaining in the match.
Parker picked up an escape before Patrick took down the Roadrunner again, but Parker escaped with 27 seconds to go in the match. But Patrick had picked up enough riding time to earn the extra point and a 9-8 decision over Parker, giving Boise State the 21-18 win.
The Roadrunners' next competition comes on Dec. 20 at the Reno Tournament of Champions.
BOISE STATE 21, CAL STATE BAKERSFIELD 18
125-Brandon Zoetewey (CSUB) dec. Cory Fish (BSU), 6-2
133-Levi Jones (BSU) maj. dec. John Cardenas (CSUB), 12-2
141-Matt Schumm (CSUB) dec. John Newby (BSU), 10-5
149-Brandon Doyle (CSUB) pinned Tommy Owen (BSU), 4:47
157-Tyler Sherfey (BSU) maj. dec. Daniel Alejandro (CSUB), 12-4
165-Daniel Atondo (CSUB) pinned Luke Smith (BSU), 4:09
174-Nate Lee (BSU) maj. dec. Garth Wara (CSUB), 20-7
184-Mike Casperson (BSU) dec. Brandon Ceremello (CSUB), 7-5
197-Matt Casperson (BSU) dec. Ernesto Ancona (CSUB), 13-8
285-Andy Patrick (BSU) dec. Eric Parker (CSUB), 9-8
