Lancers Reach New Heights at Cliff Keen
12/2/2016 8:37:00 PM | Wrestling
LAS VEGAS – For the first time in program history, California Baptist University has qualified two wrestlers for the second day of the Cliff Keen Invitational. Nolan Kistler and Nick Fiegener moved on through Friday's first day of the primary NCAA Division I event.
"This is the first time we've had two guys move on after the first day," Coach Lennie Zalesky said. "That's really good with all D-I schools here, and we could have had more. Both Nolan and Nick lost heartbreakers, along with our two other guys."
Zalesky was referring to 197-pounder Jacob Waste and heavyweight Paul Head, who both went 2-2 on Friday. Kistler, a 174-pounder, and Fiegener (184) both went 3-1 on the day to advance to Saturday's consolation round of the Cliff Keen Invite.
All three of Fiegener's wins came by seven points or more, with two bonus-point victories, while Kistler manufactured three wins via decision.
Both will have a chance to become the third or fourth Lancers to place at the prestigious event after reigning D-II heavyweight champion Joe Fagiano took seventh there in 2015. Fiegener and Kistler will both face Utah Valley opponents – Will Sumner and Kimball Bastian, respectively, to start on Saturday.
"This is by far the most prestigious event we compete in all year," Zalesky said. "There can be mixed emotions for the guys, they are excited but nervous to wrestle these guys, who are Division I All-Americans or champions, but I mostly think it's exciting for them."
Fiegener started his day with a 12-0 major decision win over Arizona State's Conner Small, but was then met and defeated by two-time reigning NCAA champion and the top-ranked 184-pounder in Division I, Gabe Dean of Cornell in the second round.
Unable to afford another loss, Fiegener kept his weekend going with two dominant wins over Minnesota's Bobby Stevenson (16-1) and Bucknell's Garrett Hoffman (12-5).
Kistler also cruised through the first round, shutting out Bakersfield's Bryan Battisto (7-0), before running in to one of the top wrestlers in the country – Arizona State's seventh-ranked Zahid Valencia, who earned a 15-7 win. It was close, but Kistler avoided elimination with a 7-5 win over Alex Aguilar of North Idaho and a 7-3 decision over Oregon State's Weston Dobler.
Waste was close to upsetting Oregon State's Corey Griego, the 16th-ranked 184-pounder in D-I, in his final match before he dropped a 5-2 decision. He rebounded from a first-round loss with a 5-2 win against Michigan's Jackson Striggow and 6-2 defeat of American's Jeric Kasunic.
Head knocked off West Virginia's Brandon Ngati, 3-2, in his first match and then defeated Clarion's Evan Daley (7-4) after falling to Wisconsin's Connor Medbery, the second-ranked Division I heavyweight.
Peter Cunningham (149) and Dominic Kincaid (165) both earned valuable experience competing at Cliff Keen, as the Lancers were represented by six individuals in all.
RESULTS
"This is the first time we've had two guys move on after the first day," Coach Lennie Zalesky said. "That's really good with all D-I schools here, and we could have had more. Both Nolan and Nick lost heartbreakers, along with our two other guys."
Zalesky was referring to 197-pounder Jacob Waste and heavyweight Paul Head, who both went 2-2 on Friday. Kistler, a 174-pounder, and Fiegener (184) both went 3-1 on the day to advance to Saturday's consolation round of the Cliff Keen Invite.
All three of Fiegener's wins came by seven points or more, with two bonus-point victories, while Kistler manufactured three wins via decision.
Both will have a chance to become the third or fourth Lancers to place at the prestigious event after reigning D-II heavyweight champion Joe Fagiano took seventh there in 2015. Fiegener and Kistler will both face Utah Valley opponents – Will Sumner and Kimball Bastian, respectively, to start on Saturday.
"This is by far the most prestigious event we compete in all year," Zalesky said. "There can be mixed emotions for the guys, they are excited but nervous to wrestle these guys, who are Division I All-Americans or champions, but I mostly think it's exciting for them."
Fiegener started his day with a 12-0 major decision win over Arizona State's Conner Small, but was then met and defeated by two-time reigning NCAA champion and the top-ranked 184-pounder in Division I, Gabe Dean of Cornell in the second round.
Unable to afford another loss, Fiegener kept his weekend going with two dominant wins over Minnesota's Bobby Stevenson (16-1) and Bucknell's Garrett Hoffman (12-5).
Kistler also cruised through the first round, shutting out Bakersfield's Bryan Battisto (7-0), before running in to one of the top wrestlers in the country – Arizona State's seventh-ranked Zahid Valencia, who earned a 15-7 win. It was close, but Kistler avoided elimination with a 7-5 win over Alex Aguilar of North Idaho and a 7-3 decision over Oregon State's Weston Dobler.
Waste was close to upsetting Oregon State's Corey Griego, the 16th-ranked 184-pounder in D-I, in his final match before he dropped a 5-2 decision. He rebounded from a first-round loss with a 5-2 win against Michigan's Jackson Striggow and 6-2 defeat of American's Jeric Kasunic.
Head knocked off West Virginia's Brandon Ngati, 3-2, in his first match and then defeated Clarion's Evan Daley (7-4) after falling to Wisconsin's Connor Medbery, the second-ranked Division I heavyweight.
Peter Cunningham (149) and Dominic Kincaid (165) both earned valuable experience competing at Cliff Keen, as the Lancers were represented by six individuals in all.
RESULTS
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