SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco State wrestling team captured eight of 10 bouts on Friday en route to a 30-9 triumph over Cal Baptist in a non-conference dual meet inside the Main Gymnasium.
The Gators (4-8) received a pin by Naveed Bagheri in the 141-pound weight class, a victory by major decision from Isaiah Jimenez at 165 and a win by technical fall courtesy of Gene Choi at 174 to highlight the day's action and help avenge an earlier loss to the NAIA Lancers (10-9), who had their seven-match winning streak abruptly halted.
After dropping a close call in the heavyweight division, SF State rattled off three straight wins, beginning with Pierre Bondoc's 5-2 decision over Jimmy Martinez at 125. The Gator senior trailed 2-1 at the end of the first period, but notched a reversal in the second stanza to shift the momentum. Bondoc then received a penalty point and riding time in the third frame to ice the victory.
Brian Tharp soon followed with a 6-3 triumph over Landon Saldana at 133, posting an escape near the end of the first period to break a 2-2 deadlock, before cementing the bout in the third with a crucial takedown.
Bagheri, meanwhile, made quick work out of Ethan Hall at 141, logging his fifth win of the year by fall with 2:23 elapsed in the first period to give the Purple and Gold a 12-3 advantage it would not surrender.
CBU crept closer with a pin of its own in the ensuing matchup at 149, however; the Gators quickly responded with five consecutive victories to win going away. Josh Nolan returned to the lineup for the first time since Jan. 16, posting an 8-5 decision over Chris Santana at 157, while Isaiah Jimenez (165) and Choi (174) followed with their aforementioned conquests.
Jimenez jumped out to a big 6-0 first-period lead thanks to a pair of 2-point near falls and a takedown en route to a 17-5 pasting of Bronson Gerl, while Choi was dominant as well in his encounter with Kenneth Tribble, earning a trio of 3-point near falls and a couple of 2-point near falls to highlight a 19-4 demolition.
With the dual now safely in hand, SF State accounted for the final tally on the team scoreboard after Zach Jimenez dispatched Bryce Wilson by a 7-2 count at 184, while Karam Basra ended a lengthy dry spell with a 12-7 decision over Anthony Meza at 197.
The Gators return to the mat on Saturday when they play host to the 35th Annual California Collegiate Invitational, which is slated to get underway at approximately 9 a.m.
SF State 30, Cal Baptist 9
157 – Josh Nolan (SF State) dec. Chris Santana, 8-5
174 – Gene Choi (SF State) tech. fall Kenneth Tribble, 19-4 (6:47)
