Nov. 18, 2007

Fullerton, Calif. - Form prevailed and four different schools claimed a pair of individual championships Sunday in the Fullerton Open Wrestling Tournament hosted by Cal State Fullerton.

Eight of the top-seeded wrestlers won their bracket and wrestlers from Fullerton, Cal Poly, Embry-Riddle and Sierra Community College pulled off the double victories. There was no team scoring.

For the Titans, No. 1 seeds Morgan Atkinson at 149 pounds and Ian Murphy at 184 captured titles. Atkinson defended his title while Murphy improved on his third-place finish of a year ago.

Cal Poly got championships from Chad Mendes at 141 and Chase Pami at 157. Embry-Riddle's titles came at 165 and 174 from Hayden Harrison and Calvin Devault, respectively, and Sierra's Norman Richmond at 133 and heavyweight Erik Nye took home championship trophies. The other two titlists were top-seeded Tanner Gardner of Stanford at 125 and Brandon Halsey of Team No Mercy at 197.

Fullerton heavyweight Wade Sauer, ranked No. 3 in the nation, did not compete because he is in Eugene, Oregon, to compete Monday night in the NWCA All-Star Classic. Other Titan place winners were Teddy Astorga, second at 141; Bryan Tice, third at 165; Ryan Budd, third at 174; John Drake, second at 197; Matt Methling, fourth at 197; and Kurt Klimek, third at heavyweight.

Championship finals:

125 - Tanner Gardner (Stan) dec. Brandon Zoetaway (CSU Bak), 6-4

133 - Norman Richmond (Sierra) dec. Flip Novachkov (Cal Poly), 11-7

141 - Chad Mendes (Cal Poly) dec. Teddy Astorga (CSF), 7-3

149 - Morgan Atkinson (CSF) dec. Eric Maldonado (Cal Poly), 12-9

157 - Chase Pami (Cal Poly) dec. Josh Zupanic (Stan), 5-2

165 - Hayden Harrison (E-R) dec. Daniel Atondo (CSU Bak), 8-6

174 - Calvin Devaut (E-R) pinned Jason Points (CSU Bak), 0:24

184 - Ian Murphy (CSFF) dec. Riley Orozco (CSU Bak), 7-6

197 - Brandon Halsey (unatt) pinned John Drake (CSF), 0:30

Hvy - Erik Nye (Sierra) dec. Jesse Ruiz (Menlo) 6-2

Complete Brackets in PDF Format