SAN FRANCISCO – Buoyed by victories in its first four bouts, the San Francisco State wrestling team closed the books on its 2010-11 home schedule Thursday with an uplifting 24-9 decision over Menlo College in a non-conference dual meet inside the Main Gymnasium.
The Gators jumped out to a 15-0 lead and never looked back, raising their record to 5-8 on the season, while the NAIA-affiliated Oaks slip to 1-9-1 overall.
Isaiah Jimenez got things rolling for SF State with a 9-4 triumph over Carlos Soto as the evening's festivities commenced with the 165-pound weight class. Jimenez registered four takedowns, including three in the first period, while adding a point for riding time to give the Purple and Gold a 3-0 advantage on the team scoreboard.
The Gators quickly stretched the margin to 9-0, courtesy of Gene Choi's pin of Greg Alvarez at 174. Clinging to a 4-2 lead entering the second period, Choi quickly took control of the bout with a reversal and a 2-point near fall, before dispatching his Oaks adversary at the 4:34 mark.
At 184, Zach Jimenez yielded a mere second-period escape in a 6-1 conquest over Hanna Malak, while Karam Basra posted his second straight dual-meet win with a hard-fought 7-5 decision over Ali Bannout in the ensuing match at 197. Things looked good for Basra after recording a takedown and 3-point near fall in the first period. However, Bannout's furious rally knotted the score at 5-5 in the third period, before Basra posted an escape and riding time to eke out the win.
SF State appeared to be in cruise control at this juncture, but the Oaks' captured the next three bouts at heavyweight, 125 and 133. In addition, the Gators were penalized one team point for unsportsmanlike conduct and, suddenly, Menlo was back in contention at 14-9.
However, any hopes of an Oaks comeback were soon dashed as SF State responded with three wins of its own in the remaining trio of bouts.
At 141, Naveed Bagheri broke open a tight 3-2 encounter against Christian Martinez, recording a pair of 2-point near falls in the third period as well as riding time to pull away for an 8-2 triumph. Thursday's win was Bagheri's second of the season against the Menlo grappler as the Gator junior also came away with a 4-2 decision at the NWCA All-Star Classic on Nov. 21.
Meanwhile, Matt Thomas found himself in a high-scoring affair against Justin Atkinson at 149, notching three takedowns and two reversals in the third period en route to a 17-8 victory by major decision.
Shortly thereafter, Joshua Nolan emerged triumphant in his final regular-season home meet for the Purple and Gold with a 8-1 decision over Mike Lopez at 157 to account for the meet's final outcome.
Bondoc battled Jason Moorhouse, the NAIA's No. 1 wrestler at 125, but came out on the short end of a 3-1 score, while Tharp was edged by Eric Garcia, 6-4, at 133.
SF State closes out its 2010-11 regular-season slate on Sunday, Feb. 13, when it travels south to tackle Division I opponent Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, starting at 2 p.m.
SF State 24, Menlo 9
174 – Gene Choi (SF State) pinned Greg Alvarez, 4:34
149 – Matt Thomas (SF State) major dec. Justin Atkinson, 17-8
157 – Josh Nolan (SF State) dec. Mike Lopez, 8-1
