Wrestling
11-4-09
The Grand Canyon University wrestling team held its annual Purple/Black Dual tonight at Antelope Gymnasium, and the Purple squad -- highlighted by Stephen Towne, who was badly bloodied but not bowed in his match against workout partner Mike Fucci at 165 pounds -- defeated the Black squad, 33-12.
Towne, a redshirt senior (pictured, Phoenix, AZ/Desert Vista) who attended Menlo College in Atherton, Calif. before transferring to GCU, was the 'Lopes' team leader in wins in 2007-08 with 18. His match against Fucci had to be stopped twice after the two wrestlers accidentally butted heads in the first period, opening a deep gash on Towne's forehead. Towne was bleeding so badly that he actually bled through the tape that was wrapped around his head and had to have it replaced. He toughed it out and managed to defeat Fucci (Sacramento, Calif./Sierra College), who will redshirt this season in part because GCU is so deep in his weight class.
"Mike is extremely solid," GCU head coach R.C. LaHaye said. "He's going to redshirt this year so he can get a full year of training under Victor (Carazo) and Towne. I think he can be an All-American after this redshirt year."
Redshirt sophomore Carazo (Modesto, Calif./Modesto Junior College) was victorious against senior Jack Porter (Phoenix, AZ/Cerritos College) in another featured match.
Towne, Carazo and Fucci all won individual titles at the California Baptist University Open on Oct. 24. Towne captured the 165-pound title with a 3-1 decision over Preston Brown of California Baptist. Carazo and Fucci were co-champions at 174 pounds. Fucci defeated returning All-American Lamar Reed of California Baptist in the Championship Semi-Finals.
The 'Lopes will participate in the Embry Riddle Open on Saturday in Prescott, Ariz.
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