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Sturgell leads Raiders to 31-8 win By Don Hunt ASHLAND � Dan Sturgell will leave Southern Oregon University as one of the top wrestlers in school history. The senior from Warrenton notched his 20th victory of the season Saturday night at McNeal Pavilion in helping the Raiders to a surprisingly decisive 31-8 victory over San Francisco State. Now 20-5 this season and 86-46 during his career, Sturgell took another step in becoming only the third wrestler in school history to reach the 100-victory plateau. Sturgell also registered his 25th career pin Saturday when he slammed San Franciso State�s Steven Cooper to the mat in five minutes and 56 seconds, and by finishing in the top six at next month�s NAIA national tournament he would become a three-time All-American. So what�s left for the 184-pounder to accomplish at SOU? A national championship. Sturgell came oh-so-close two years ago, dropping a 4-3 decision to Jeremy Englehart of the University of Mary in the title match. Last season, he finished third, losing to Tyson Thievridge of Northern Montana in the semifinals. All three grapplers will return to the national meet this winter, making for another spirited run for the coveted 184-pound crown. "It�s going to be a matter of who�s on that particular day, but Dan�s having a great year and he�s wrestling with a lot of confidence," SOU coach Mike Ritchey said. "The thing about Dan is, he�s a winner. You always know he�s going to go out there and leave everything on the mat." Sturgell was at his aggressive best Saturday. He surged to a 14-1 lead over Cooper before pinning him with a half-nelson late in the second round. "I had a cradle on him at first but it was on the wrong side," Sturgell said. "So I switched to a half (nelson) and I had it cinched up tight." Sturgell missed most of December after undergoing arthroscopic surgery to remove cartilage from his right knee, and the lost time on the mat may cause him to fall just shy of 100 career victories with the Raiders. But the time off enabled him to recharge his batteries and get ready for the conference and national tournaments that lie ahead. The Raiders also have a couple of big dual matches on the horizon against Division I schools � next Saturday against Portland State and Feb. 14 against U.C. Davis, both at McNeal Pavilion. "The time off helped � it was a good mental break," said Sturgell, who wrestled former Crater High and current University of Oregon standout Doug Lee tough two weeks ago before dropping a 10-8 decision. "I was a little out of shape when I came back, but I�m feeling really good now." Sturgell recorded the only fall Saturday, but the Raiders won seven of the nine matches contested and tacked on a forfeit victory as they improved their dual meet record to 8-3. The victory avenged a 21-19 setback to the Gators last season. "We did a good job of dominating their style," Ritchey said. "They have a little sophomore Mauricio Wrimore high-risk style than us. They like to get you in scrambles and put you in positions you�re not used to being in, but we overcame that real well." Three Raiders squeaked out razor-thin wins. Nolan Harris used a three-point near fall in the closing seconds to stun San Francisco State�s Jarred Walker 3-2 at 125 pounds; Scott Armstrong held off Michael Corsden 10-8 at 157; and heavyweight Devin Cole used a third-period escape to notch a 1-0 victory over Rigo Jimenez. For Cole, it was his team-leading 27th victory of the season against just seven losses. As usual, the senior from Coquille gave up a lot of weight. Cole tipped the scales at 220 pounds during the weigh-in while Jimenez, who is built like an old-growth tree stump, weighed in at 265. "I knew if I didn�t let him catch me that I�d win," said Cole, who was clearly the more aggressive grappler. "I knew when the third period started that I�d get away from him and at least score one point. "He was a tough guy to wrestle." The one bright spot for the Gators was Mauricio Wright, the No. 1-ranked 174-pounder in Division II. Wright improved his record to 11-0 with a 17-2 match termination over Willie Falvey. INDIVIDUAL RESULTS 133 � Jason Chao, SO, dec. Gilbert Melendez, 10-4; 141 � Jeremy Wynia, SO, dec. Donald Lockett, 15-7; 149 � Waylon Miller, SFS, dec. Colin Murphy, 5-2; 157 � Scott Armstrong, SO, dec. Michael Cordsen, 10-8; 165 � John Sills, SO, forfeit. 174 � Mauricio Wright, SFS, termination Willie Falvey, 17-2; 184 � Dan Sturgell, SO, pinned Steven Cooper, 5:56; 197 � Abe Haddon, SO, dec. Asa Randolph, 7-1; 285 � Devin Cole, SO, dec. Rigo Jimenez, 1-0; 125 � Nolan Harris, SO, dec. Jarred Waller, 3-2. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.