California Baptist University
Ohio State
Lancers Set Attendance Record Versus Ohio State
11/16/2018 9:40:00 PM | Wrestling
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – In its second meet of the NCAA Division I era, California Baptist University hosted one of the best wrestling teams in the country, second-ranked Ohio State, and set an attendance record in the process.
It was the Lancers' first-ever event in the two-year-old CBU Events Center and 3,252 came out to witness it in person on Friday night. The Buckeyes pulled out the 42-0 win, but CBU received several gutsy individual performances and close calls.
CBU opens the season 1-1 in dual action, while Ohio State improves to 2-0. The Lancers are back in action Saturday, as they travel to the Roadrunner Open at CSU Bakersfield.
"We knew they were going to be tough, I was hoping to win a match or two but we were real close in a couple of matches there," Coach Lennie Zalesky said. "Those guys are all really good, they're just really tough and had really good transitions. It's just another level, hopefully we learn from this and it inspires us."
The Lancers' previous attendance record came on Nov. 1, 2014 when 2,620 fans came out for the first installment of Take It Outside, a dual versus Stanford, on CBU's front lawn.
Friday was certainly another first-class wrestling event that drew high praise from both coaches.
"The CBU staff did an incredible job with this, the mats looked great," Zalesky said. "Coach [Tom Ryan] of Ohio State said this is one of the nicest venues he's wrestled in. That's something coming from Ohio State – they have wrestled all over the country."
Despite the loss, the Lancers received impressive performances and highlight moments from Antonio Saldate, Daxton Gordon, Bryce Buckley, Garrett Strang and Frank Wyshinski. Â
Saldate gave the home fans something to cheer for in the 125-pound bout when he hit a takedown in the third period of his match with Brakan Mead. It was a little too late, though, as Mead held on for the 8-4 win.
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Antonio Saldate has the first highlight of the dual for CBU, with this two-point takedown of Ohio State's Brakan Mead in the third period. Mead gets the 8-4 decision win to give the Buckeyes a 3-0 lead in the dual.#LanceUp pic.twitter.com/PEKQTN6g1p
— CBU WRESTLING (@cbuwrestling) November 17, 2018
Gordon came out aggressive against Micah Jordan, the second-ranked 157 pounder in the country, in the 149-pound match. Gordon took a lead with a quick takedown before dropping the 13-6 decision.
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Buckley actually had the closest call of the day for the Lancers, as he lost a 2-1 decision to Elijah Cleary. Buckley took a 1-0 lead with an escape in the second period, but Cleary got an escape as well in the third period and then won with a riding-time point.Daxton Gordon starts out strong with this takedown of Ohio State's second-ranked Micah Jordan in the 149-pound bout.#LanceUp pic.twitter.com/8zkbxplRIr
— CBU WRESTLING (@cbuwrestling) November 17, 2018
Bryce Buckley comes up with a big escape point late in the second period for a 1-0 lead on Ohio State's Elijah Cleary. He will need to kill some riding time in the third period.#LanceUp pic.twitter.com/ffv5Ut1xJJ
— CBU WRESTLING (@cbuwrestling) November 17, 2018
Strang notched another takedown for CBU in the matchup at 184 with Ethan Smith, who eventually pulled out the 12-4 major.
It might not have counted for points in the bout, but there certainly were some style points on this drop from Garrett Strang. #LanceUp pic.twitter.com/HflMPSdePg
— CBU WRESTLING (@cbuwrestling) November 17, 2018
"It's a real quick step into D-I, the only real way you get a feel for something like this is to get out there," Zalesky said. "There is a lot to take from this, and we can use it as a positive."
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Players Mentioned
