SAN FRANCISCO – Top-seeded Naveed Bagheri (141) and Josh Nolan (157) each advanced to the championship finals in their respective weight classes to lead the San Francisco State wrestling team on Saturday during the first two sessions of the 2011 NCAA Division II Super Regional 4/Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships inside the SF State Main Gymnasium.

 

In addition, five Gators remain alive in the consolation bracket, including Pierre Bondoc (125), Matt Thomas (149), Isaiah Jimenez(165), Gene Choi (174) and Zach Jimenez (184), as the top four finishers in each division advance to the NCAA Division II Championships, March 11-12, in Kearney, Neb. 

 

In the team standings, SF State currently sits in fourth place with 71 points, trailing only Nebraska-Kearney (104), two-time defending regional champion Western State (101.5) and Grand Canyon (96.5), while Fort Hays State (50.5) rounds out the top five.

 

Bagheri, who moved up to 141 this season after winning two regional titles at 133, secured a spot inthe finals with an 11-1 victory by major decision over the No. 8 seed Saul Guerrero of Colorado State-Pueblo, before notching a first-period pin of Grand Canyon's fourth-seeded Kyle Wilson at the 1:07 mark. With his performance the Gator junior, who clinched a berth in the national meet for the third consecutive year, will square off against the No. 2 seed Dalton Jensen of Nebraska-Kearney in the championship finals on Sunday.

 

Nolan, meanwhile, punched his ticket to the NCAA meet for the third time in his career after opening with a tough 6-4 decision over New Mexico Highlands' eighth-seeded Trey Saxon, followed by a 3-1 nail-biter in the semifinals against No. 4 seed Jamie Sheets of Colorado Mines. The SF State senior, who qualified for the NCAA championships in 2008 and 2010 at 149 pounds, is set to battle Western State's second-seeded Justin Morris in Sunday's title bout.

 

Elsewhere, Zach Jimenez recorded a pair of victories in the main draw at 184, recording a third-period pin against Jordan Debus of Chadron State at the 6:35 mark in the first round, before edging Fort Hays State's No. 4 seed Tyler Gonzales in the quarterfinals. However, the Gator sophomore had his advance derailed by top-seeded Charlie Pipher of Western State, who came away with a pin in the waning seconds of the second period.   As a result, Jimenez will grapple Debus once again in his first consolation bout on Sunday for the right to advance to the third-place match.    

Likewise, Choi also began the day with two wins in the main bracket at 174, posting a 13-2 victory by major decision over Adams State's Mark Mabry, followed by an 11-5 double overtime triumph over fifth-seeded Zak Slotten of Mesa State. The SF State senior was denied a shot at the crown, however, as Grand Canyon's No. 1 seed Victor Carazo registered an 8-0 shutout in the semifinals. Consequently, Choi will now face Brandon Sheldon of Colorado Mines in his opening backdraw match on Sunday.

 

In other consolation action slated for Sunday, Bondoc will tackle Mesa State's Daniel Romero at 125; Thomas will square off against Jesse Snider of Colorado Mines at 149, while Isaiah Jimenez will lock horns with CSM's Jordan Larsen at 165.

 

The consolation bracket is set to resume tomorrow at 12 noon, followed by championship matches at 5 p.m.

 

Won by decision over [5] Jerry Huff (ASC), 5-3 2OT

Lost by decision to [1] Kyle O'Brien (WSC), 6-2

 

Lost by fall to [2] Aldon Isenberg (FHSU), 2:30

Consolation: Lost by decision to Tyler Nelson (MSC), 6-3

 

Won by major decision over [8] Saul Guerrero (CSUP), 11-1

Won by fall over [4] Kyle Wilson (GCU), 1:07

 

Lost by fall to [4] Kenny Jordan (ASC), 4:54

Consolation: Won by decision over Jacob Snider (CSUP), 7-5

 

Won by decision over [8] Trey Saxon (NMH), 6-4

Won decision over [4] Jamie Sheets (CSM), 3-1

 

Lost by decision to [7] Justin Grant (CSUP), 7-5 2OT

Consolation: Won by major decision over Travis Saxon (NMH), 14-3

Won by major decision over Mark Mabry (ASC), 11-2

Won by decision over [5] Zak Slotten (MSC), 11-5 2OT

Lost by major decision to [1] Victor Carazo (GCU), 8-0

 

Won by fall over Jordan Debus (CSC), 6:35

Won by decision over [4] Tyler Gonzales (FHSU), 3-2

Lost by fall to [1] Charlie Pipher (WSC), 4:53

 

Lost by fall to [1] Donovan MacMahill (WSC), 3:38

Consolation: Won by fall over [8] Levi Jutila (CSUP), 3:44

 

Lost by fall to [2] Ben Hohensee (UNK), 5:52

Consolation: Lost by decision to [6] Robert Tucker (CSM), 7-3

Brackets thru Sessions 1 and 2