Saturday, February 10
Riverside, Calif.
12:00 PM
California Baptist University
38
vs
11
Simon Fraser
Photo by: Leanda du Bruyn
Pin to Win
2/10/2018 2:35:00 PM | Wrestling
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — No. 9-ranked California Baptist University put a stamp on the dual season with gusto Saturday afternoon, downing No. 8-ranked Simon Fraser 38-11.
Four Lancers had pins in the win to give the Lancers a 7-6 dual record for the 2017-18 season. The Clan end the year 3-4 as both teams head into the NCAA Division II postseason next.
"It feels good that the team won like it did," said Coach Lennie Zalesky. "Those three pins in a row were great. I thought the guys really stepped it up for us from last night. It's good to close out like that."
No. 3-ranked Nick Fiegener got the dual going with a dominating 17-0 technical fall at 184. Just two seconds into the bout, he took down his opponent and grabbed two four-point nearfalls, along with a two-point nearfall just before the buzzer rang, to hold a commanding 12-0 lead after the first.
Momentum carried into the second as Fiegener chose top and grabbed another four-point nearfall to end the matchup early. He had built up three minutes and 14 seconds of riding time for the 17-0 victory.
Simon Fraser took the next two bouts, but not without valiant efforts from Garrett Strang – going up against the second-ranked 197-pounder in Division II – and Zach Schrader at heavyweight, but Alex Nunez put CBU back on track with its first pin of the day.
Nunez started with a takedown, but the Clan's Oscar Bulaqui managed to escape. The next time Nunez took him down, however, was a different story as Nunez pinned Bulaqui's shoulders to the mat with just five seconds left in the first to put the Lancers back in front 11-6 in the team score.
Adam Velasquez kept momentum in the Lancers' favor with an 18-6 major decision at 133. He had six takedowns and two nearfalls – one for two points and another for four – en route to the victory.
SFU's fifth-ranked 141-pounder took the next bout, but it was the last the Clan would get.
Daxton Gordon picked up his 12th-straight victory – which ranks ninth all-time in the CBU record book – with a fall in 3:27. It was all Gordon from the beginning after he took down Taber Spray less than 10 seconds into the matchup.
Spray kept things going into the second period, but Gordon took him down again and the ref called the match seven seconds later.
It sparked a string of three-straight pins for CBU, with Peter Cunningham and Slater Johnson following Gordon's lead.
"Once you get a little bit of momentum, it works for one team and doesn't for the other," said Zalesky.
In his final home competition, Cunningham went out on a high note, pinning Joseph Palmieri in 2:41 at 157. Similar to his fellow Lancers, Cunningham didn't waste time and grabbed a takedown in two seconds.
"The energy the fans here, cheering you on," said Cunningham. "It really gets you going. It's hard to lose with that motivation."
Palmieri kept things interesting with an escape and takedown of his own, but Cunningham quickly reversed it and finished things off in 2:41 for the pin. It marks his 18th career pin, putting him tied for sixth all-time in the CBU record book.
"Before the match, I was just thinking about how this was my last chance to be able to wrestle in front of my home crowd," said Cunningham. "I just wanted to go out, have fun and wrestle my style. It worked out nicely, it was a good match."
Johnson grabbed the fastest fall of the night, pinning his opponent in just 52 seconds at 165. He took down Tanner Spray at the 2:17 mark and less than 10 seconds later had him pinned.
"It felt great," said Johnson. "My coaches are always telling me to go for bonus points and that's what we want to execute. 'Pin to win' is what we always say."
Nolan Kistler – who ranks second in Division II at 174 pounds – rounded things off for the Lancers with a dominating 16-0 technical fall. He had a takedown and four-point nearfall in the opening period to go in front 6-0.
SFU's Logan Nelson thought he might get a point when he chose top to start the second, but Kistler had other plans and grabbed a reversal and tacked on another four-point nearfall. He then chose bottom to start the third and posted an escape and takedown to end the bout early after building up 2:12 of riding time.
The Lancers turn their focus to defending their NCAA Division II Super Region IV Championship, heading to Las Vegas, New Mexico, Feb. 23-24.
"This win gives us confidence," said Johnson. "SFU is in our super region and one of the teams we didn't see at the RMACs, always good to get a win over those guys."
CBU looks to build on last year, where it qualified seven Lancers and took third as a team at the NCAA Division II Championship, March 9-10 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Complete Results
Four Lancers had pins in the win to give the Lancers a 7-6 dual record for the 2017-18 season. The Clan end the year 3-4 as both teams head into the NCAA Division II postseason next.
"It feels good that the team won like it did," said Coach Lennie Zalesky. "Those three pins in a row were great. I thought the guys really stepped it up for us from last night. It's good to close out like that."
No. 3-ranked Nick Fiegener got the dual going with a dominating 17-0 technical fall at 184. Just two seconds into the bout, he took down his opponent and grabbed two four-point nearfalls, along with a two-point nearfall just before the buzzer rang, to hold a commanding 12-0 lead after the first.
Momentum carried into the second as Fiegener chose top and grabbed another four-point nearfall to end the matchup early. He had built up three minutes and 14 seconds of riding time for the 17-0 victory.
Simon Fraser took the next two bouts, but not without valiant efforts from Garrett Strang – going up against the second-ranked 197-pounder in Division II – and Zach Schrader at heavyweight, but Alex Nunez put CBU back on track with its first pin of the day.
Nunez started with a takedown, but the Clan's Oscar Bulaqui managed to escape. The next time Nunez took him down, however, was a different story as Nunez pinned Bulaqui's shoulders to the mat with just five seconds left in the first to put the Lancers back in front 11-6 in the team score.
Adam Velasquez kept momentum in the Lancers' favor with an 18-6 major decision at 133. He had six takedowns and two nearfalls – one for two points and another for four – en route to the victory.
SFU's fifth-ranked 141-pounder took the next bout, but it was the last the Clan would get.
Daxton Gordon picked up his 12th-straight victory – which ranks ninth all-time in the CBU record book – with a fall in 3:27. It was all Gordon from the beginning after he took down Taber Spray less than 10 seconds into the matchup.
Spray kept things going into the second period, but Gordon took him down again and the ref called the match seven seconds later.
It sparked a string of three-straight pins for CBU, with Peter Cunningham and Slater Johnson following Gordon's lead.
"Once you get a little bit of momentum, it works for one team and doesn't for the other," said Zalesky.
In his final home competition, Cunningham went out on a high note, pinning Joseph Palmieri in 2:41 at 157. Similar to his fellow Lancers, Cunningham didn't waste time and grabbed a takedown in two seconds.
"The energy the fans here, cheering you on," said Cunningham. "It really gets you going. It's hard to lose with that motivation."
Palmieri kept things interesting with an escape and takedown of his own, but Cunningham quickly reversed it and finished things off in 2:41 for the pin. It marks his 18th career pin, putting him tied for sixth all-time in the CBU record book.
"Before the match, I was just thinking about how this was my last chance to be able to wrestle in front of my home crowd," said Cunningham. "I just wanted to go out, have fun and wrestle my style. It worked out nicely, it was a good match."
Johnson grabbed the fastest fall of the night, pinning his opponent in just 52 seconds at 165. He took down Tanner Spray at the 2:17 mark and less than 10 seconds later had him pinned.
"It felt great," said Johnson. "My coaches are always telling me to go for bonus points and that's what we want to execute. 'Pin to win' is what we always say."
Nolan Kistler – who ranks second in Division II at 174 pounds – rounded things off for the Lancers with a dominating 16-0 technical fall. He had a takedown and four-point nearfall in the opening period to go in front 6-0.
SFU's Logan Nelson thought he might get a point when he chose top to start the second, but Kistler had other plans and grabbed a reversal and tacked on another four-point nearfall. He then chose bottom to start the third and posted an escape and takedown to end the bout early after building up 2:12 of riding time.
The Lancers turn their focus to defending their NCAA Division II Super Region IV Championship, heading to Las Vegas, New Mexico, Feb. 23-24.
"This win gives us confidence," said Johnson. "SFU is in our super region and one of the teams we didn't see at the RMACs, always good to get a win over those guys."
CBU looks to build on last year, where it qualified seven Lancers and took third as a team at the NCAA Division II Championship, March 9-10 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Complete Results
Players Mentioned
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/ Wrestling157/165
/ Wrestling/ Wrestling
125
/ Wrestling285
/ Wrestling174
/ Wrestling133
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