PORTLAND, Oregon - The Portland State wrestling team, 0-1 in duals, will participate in the 22nd annual Cliff Keen Invitational on Friday, December 5 through Saturday, December 6 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nev.
As it is every year, the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invite showcases some of the best teams and individuals in the nation and is a precursor of future success for many. Looking at the final team results from the 2002 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, it's safe to say things went as expected. Out of 45 teams participating, Big Ten powers Minnesota, Illinois and Ohio State were the top three teams, followed by Pac 10 power Arizona State, and EWL power West Virginia in the top five.
Minnesota went on to win the Big Ten title and finish second at the NCAA championships last year, Illinois finished ninth at the NCAA's, and Ohio State 15th. Arizona State went on to win the Pac 10 title and finished fifth in the NCAA's, while West Virginia won the EWL championship and finished 17th at the NCAA championships.
For individuals competing in the tournament it gives them a chance to show the wrestling world they have the potential to do something big during the season. Each year there are upsets and surprises along the way. Ranked wrestlers lose to guys from small colleges, and wrestlers who weren't expected to become stars use it as a stepping stone to bigger and better things. That's why the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invite is regarded as the premier early season wrestling tournament.
LOOK BACK AT LAST YEARS INVITE
2002 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational Individual Champions
NCAA Finish in parenthesis
125 - Chris Fleeger, Purdue (All-American, Runner-up to Travis Lee of Cornell)
133 - Ryan Lewis, Minnesota (All-American, Runner-up to Johnny Thompson of OSU)
141 - Dana Holland, Arizona State (2-2 at NCAA tournament)
149 - Eric Larkin, Arizona State (National Champion)
157 - Luke Becker, Minnesota (All-American, 4th place NCAA's)
165 - Matt Lackey, Illinois (National Champion)
174 - Greg Jones, West Virginia (No. 1 seed at NCAA's lost first match, went 3-2)
184 - BJ Padden, Nebraska (Did not qualify for NCAA's)
197 - Anton Talamantes, Ohio State (Went 1-2 in NCAA's)
HWT - Kevin Hoy, Air Force Academy (All-American, NCAA Runner-up to Steve Mocco of Iowa)
QUICK LOOK AT PORTLAND STATE
Probable Starters 133: Freshman Lucas Hambleton (3-3 overall, 0-1 duals)
141: Sophomore Josh Carroll (1-3 overall, 0-1 duals)
149: Junior Eddie Dahlen (5-1 overall, 0-1 duals)
157: Redshirt freshman Kainoa Casco (4-3 overall, 0-1 duals)
165: Freshman Josh Gustafson (1-3 overall, 0-1 duals)
174: Junior Nick Gomeza (1-3 overall, 0-1 duals)
197 Senior Kjell Nykreim
HWT: Junior Eric Mustoe (3-3 overall, 0-1 duals)
THE WEEK THAT WAS
Junior Eddie Dahlen (Vancouver, Wash.) captured his first individual title of his career and the 2003-04 season as the Portland State wrestling team (0-1) competed in its first of three consecutive tournaments before the New Year, the Southern Oregon Tournament hosted by the Raiders in Ashland, Ore.
Dahlen (5-1 overall, 0-1 duals), the only Viking to place at the tournament, won all five of his bouts to claim the first place in the 149 pound weight class. The Viking returnee had two wins by decision, two wins by major decision and one win by fall against opponents from NAIA affiliated Southern Oregon, North Idaho College, a member of the NWAACC, and Division II Central Washington University.
Lucas Hambleton (Canby, Ore.) had three wins by fall but lost his bout with second place finisher Joe Mavens in 3:16 in the 133 weight class.
Kainoa Casco (Lahaina, Hawaii) and Brian Hilbert of Portland grappled in the 157 pound division. Casco had three wins and two loses. Hilbert won by technical fall over Josh Moore (SWOCC) in the first round but fell in his second and third rounds.
Freshman Josh Gustafson (Canby, Ore.) and Devin Mair (Hillsboro, Ore.) joined junior transfer Derrick Bollier (Salem, Ore.) in the 165 weight class at the tournament. Gustafson lost by decision in his first and third bouts after receiving a bye in the second round. Mair was more successful with four wins. Bollier split matches as he defeated Sean Morga (LC-UN), 7-6 and Austin Hunsinger (SOU-UN), 3-2 and lost his second and fourth bouts..
In the heavyweight division (285), Adam Conard (Scappoose, Ore.) went 0-2 as Steve Fittinger (Rainier, Ore.) went 1-3 and Eric Mustoe (Lebanon, Ore.) went 3-2. Mustoe had two wins by decision and one win by technical fall.
VIKINGS 2003-04 SCHEDULE
The Vikings will participate in one more tournament before the new year. On December 18, the Vikings will participate in the Tournament of Champions held in Reno. Portland State will open at home on January 7 versus Army at the Stott Center and will host seven matches this year. The Vikings will start grueling Pac-10 conference action against powerhouse Boise State on the road on January 21. Portland State will conclude conference action on February 18 versus Oregon at home and the Pac-10 Championships are slated for the weekend of February 29-March 1 in Tempe, Arizona. The NCAA National Championships are held in St. Louis on March 18-20.
