ATHERTON, Calif. – The 19^th-ranked San Francisco State wrestling team closed out its 2009-10 dual-meet schedule on an upbeat note Thursday night with a 22-15 triumph over host Menlo College at Haynes-Prim Pavilion.  With the victory, the Gators finish 5-9 overall, while the Oaks slip to 3-13 on the season.

SF State raced to a 22-3 lead after taking five of the first six bouts.  Gene Choi (Torrance, Calif., North Torrance HS, Cerritos College) got things rolling with a 6-2 decision in the 174-pound weight class, while Zach Jimenez (Chualar, Calif., Palma HS) followed with his third major decision of the season after dispatching Sean Weeks, 13-4, at 184.

Shortly thereafter, Vince Bordi (Manteca, Calif., Manteca HS), ranked eighth at 197 in the latest NCAA Division II poll, duplicated the feat with a 16-6 triumph over Hanna Malak for his 19^th win of the year, setting a single-season high for the Gator senior in the process.  Then No. 8 Steve Franklin (Middletown, Calif., Middletown HS, Santa Rosa JC) won by forfeit at heavyweight to extend the visitors' advantage to 17-0.

Menlo finally dented the scoreboard with a 6-5 victory at 125 after Jason Moorehouse earned a point for riding time against Pierre Bondoc. However, third-ranked Naveed Bagheri (Los Gatos, Calif., Los Gatos HS, West Valley College) gave SF State five additional points with his team-leading eighth technical fall of the year at 133, disposing of Drake Medeiros with 13 seconds elapsed in the third period for his 20^th win of the season in 22 starts to stretch the Gators' margin to 22-3.

The Oaks took the final four matches of the night at 141, 149, 157 and 165 to provide the final outcome at 22-15. SF State hung tough, however, dropping three of those four bouts by a combined five points. 

The Gators will now have two weeks to prepare for the NCAA Division II Super Regional 4/Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships, scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 27, in Alamosa, Colo., on the campus of Adams State College.

SF State 22, Menlo College 15

At Atherton, Calif.

174 – Gene Choi (SF State) dec. Mike Cavanaugh (M), 6-2
184 – Zach Jimenez (SF State) maj. dec. Sean Weeks, 13-4
197 – Vince Bordi (SF State) maj. dec. Hanna Malak (M), 16-6
285 – #8 Steve Franklin (SF State) won by forfeit

125 – Jason Moorehouse (M) dec. Pierre Bondoc (SF State), 6-5

133 – #3 Naveed Bagheri (SF State) tech. fall  Drake Medeiros (M), 5:47
141 – Christian Martinez (M) dec.  #4 Ben Lockett (SF State), 2-0
149 – Cody Gibson (M) dec. Aaron Wilson (SF State), 9-4