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    High-drama offense was norm in Fullerton Open finals

    While the finals of college wrestling tournaments often yield defensive, chess-match-type bouts, high-drama offense was the norm in the championship round at this year's Fullerton Open. Perhaps it was because that no riding time was being kept, perhaps it was because there's less at stake in early-season competitions or perhaps it was that the event was being held on a Sunday instead of the usual Saturday and people just wanted to get home. Whatever the reason, the points were fast and furious -- from the opening whistle through the last. With finals matches being held on two mats, it was often difficult for fans at the mostly-full Titan Gym to keep up. The wrestlers themselves didn't make it easier by lighting up the scoreboard.

    In terms of the move with the greatest amplitude, the winner might be unattached Brandon Halsey, who launched John Drake of Cal State Fullerton with a socks-drying headlock and scored the fall in 30 seconds of the 197-pound final. However, his pin wasn't the fastest of the tourney -- or the finals. That honor went to 174-pound Calvin DeVault of Embry-Riddle who got his hand raised after just 24 seconds of action against Cal-Bakersfield's Daniel Atondo.

    Despite moving up two weight classes for this season, 2006 All-American Chad Mendes of Cal Poly did not look small at 141 and appeared quite capable of power moves at the new weight. In the middle of a wild scramble in the opening period, Mendes showed shades of (two-time NCAA champ) Johnny Thompson by bulling Cal State Fullerton's Teddy Astorga over for five points with a "snake." However Mendes tweaked his ankle later in the period and had to hold on for a 7-3 win, giving up a stalling point from the bottom position late in the third.

    Two-time All-American Tanner Gardner of Stanford may appear to be one of the more measured-type champions in the tourney -- winning 3-1 in the semis and 6-4 in the finals. However, his shots seem to inspire opponents to attempt unorthodox, funky counters, which result in both athletes rolling around in fascinating, drawn-out battles for control. Gardner was completely comfortable in these positions and would come out on top of most of the time. He never trailed on the scoreboard.

    At 149, defending California Open champ Morgan Atkinson looked to be cruising to an easy victory over Cal Poly's Eric Maldonado, building an 8-3 lead in the second period. But Maldonado came storming back to tie the bout 8-8 and then made Atkinson settle for a 12-9 win on his home mat.

    After the match, Atkinson stressed the importance of simply winning for his fans. "It's definitely important to win at home. This is my last year -- my friends and family are here. We're really the only team in Southern California so the only tournament they get to see me is this one."

    Likewise, fellow Cal State Fullerton wrestler Ian Murphy had difficulty in the finals against Riley Orozco of Bakersfield in the 184 lb. final. With the match tied at 4, Murphy scored a takedown in the final period, only to see Orozco escape and give Murphy the 1-point victory.

    Murphy admitted being frustrated in the bout by Orozco's height.

    "He's a long guy," said the Titan senior. "He could keep me away pretty good. I had trouble getting to his legs and when I did get to his legs, I couldn't finish as easily as I could with a short guy … Now I know what I need to work on and get some tall guys as workout partners in the room. Work on finishing."

    Not all late surges were in vain, however, as a determined, never-say-die attitude saw 133-pound Norman Richmond of Sierra overcome a 7-6 deficit late in the third period with a wild five-point move to defeat Cal-Poly's Filip Novachkov 11-7.

    The upset of the finals came at 157 pounds, where Cal Poly's Chase Pami scored a single-leg takedown in the very last second of sudden-victory overtime to defeat Stanford All-American Josh Zupanic 4-2. Pami had snatched the single with about ten seconds left and Zupanic tried hard to fight it off. However, the Cal-Poly sophomore dived for the far leg and gained control at the edge of the mat just before time expired.

    Videos

    125-Pound Finals:



    141-Pound Finals:

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