Another injury in the heavyweight division during the latter match against the Lancers resulted in a forfeit and that proved to be the difference as the Gators slipped to 2-8 in dual meets this season.
Despite its shortcomings, SF State captured five bouts vs. CBU, building a 6-0 bulge after victories by Isaiah Jimenez and Gene Choi. In the 165-pound weight class, Jimenez defeated Bronson Gerl by a 6-3 count, while Choi emerged with a 6-2 triumph over C.J. Knowland at 174. Jimenez (17-10) recorded two takedowns and an escape to highlight his win, while Choi (11-16) benefited from three penalty points in the third period to key his decision.
The Lancers soon regrouped to take a 13-6 lead, posting victories at 184 and 197, followed by the aforementioned forfeit at heavyweight. Trevor Franklin, substituting for the hobbling Anthony Gonzalez, suffered an undisclosed injury himself earlier against Grand Canyon, and was unable to compete in the CBU clash.
SF State flashed its mettle, however, taking three of the next four matches to pull within 16-15. Pierre Bondoc, ranked eighth in the latest NCAA Division II poll at 125, dispatched Jimmy Martinez, No. 2 Naveed Bagheri posted a 9-6 decision over Ethan Hall at 141, while No. 7 Matt Thomas was a 3-0 winner over Dylan Cataline at 149.
Bondoc (14-13) trailed 3-2 in his bout, but scored a reversal with 53 seconds in the third period and received a penalty point and riding time to cap his rally. Conversely, Bagheri (19-5) crafted a 9-3 lead in the third period on the strength of an escape and takedown en route to his victory, while Thomas (16-8) tallied an escape while earning a penalty point and riding time to complete the shutout.
Alas, the Gators momentum was derailed in the final match as Chris Martinez prevailed by a 12-6 count over Nick Escalera at 157 to secure the victory for the Lancers.
Earlier in its only regularly scheduled match with a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opponent this season, SF State jumped out to a 3-0 advantage against Grand Canyon, courtesy of Isaiah Jimenez's 7-1 decision over Mike Fucci in three overtimes in the 165-pound weight class. With the score deadlocked at 1-1, Jimenez recorded an escape, a takedown and a 3-point near fall in the final 16 seconds of the third extra period.
The lead quickly evaporated, however, as the 'Lopes captured the next six bouts to build a comfortable 25-3 cushion they would not relinquish. The Purple and Gold experienced four defeats by major decision during that stretch and yielded Franklin's injury default in the heavyweight class.
The Gators got back into the win column at 141 where Bagheri registered a 10-7 count over Kyle Wilson. The SF State junior led 7-5 late in the third period when Wilson posted an escape and a takedown to tie the score. However, Bagheri scored a reversal just before the buzzer sounded and earned a point off riding time to seal the hard-fought victory.
The Gators tallied its final points of the dual when Thomas outlasted Austen Moore, 3-1, at 149. The SF State junior recorded all the points he needed with a takedown at the 1:58 mark of the first period before receiving a penalty point in the third.
The Gators return to the on Sunday, Jan. 30, when they travel down the peninsula for a non-conference tilt at Division I Stanford. Match time is set for 2 p.m.
No. 13 Grand Canyon 28, No. 8 SF State 9
165 – Isaiah Jimenez (SF State) dec. Mike Fucci, 7-1 (3OT)
174 – #4 Victor Carazo (GCU) major dec. Gene Choi, 12-4
184 – #7 Ryan Becerra (GCU) major dec. Zach Jimenez, 9-1
197 – Eli Arizmendez (GCU) major dec. Karam Basra, 9-1
285 – Peter Anguiano (GCU) defeated Trevor Franklin, injury default
125 – Madison Gambrell (GCU) major dec. #8 Pierre Bondoc, 15-4
133 – #2 Todd Wilcox (GCU) dec. Isaiah Hurtado, 7-2
141 – #2 Naveed Bagheri (SF State) dec. Kyle Wilson, 10-7
149 – #7 Matt Thomas (SF State) dec. Austen Moore, 3-1
157 – Ted Bristol (GCU) dec. Nick Escalera, 5-0
Cal Baptist 19, No. 8 SF State 15
165 – Isaiah Jimenez (SF State) dec. Bronson Gerl, 6-3
174 – Gene Choi (SF State) dec. C.J. Knowland,, 6-2
184 – Caleb Gerl (CBU) major dec. Zach Jimenez, 12-4
197 – Anthony Meza (CBU) dec. Karam Basra, 6-1
285 – Alex Evers (CBU) received forfeit
125 – #8 Pierre Bondoc (SF State) dec. Jimmy Martinez, 6-3
133 – Landon Saldana (CBU) dec. Brian Tharp, 5-1
141 – #2 Naveed Bagheri (SF State) dec. Ethan Hall, 9-6
149 – #7 Matt Thomas (SF State) dec. Dylan Cataline, 3-0
157 – Chris Santana (CBU) dec. Nick Escalera, 12-6
Play-By-Play vs. Grand Canyon
Play-By-Play vs. Cal Baptist 