Wrestling | 1/5/2016 3:40:00 PM
SAN FRANCISCO-- The SF State Gator wrestling team will return to the mat this Sunday afternoon as they host a pair of non-conference duals against Cal State Bakersfield and No. 18 Stanford. SF State will entertain the Roadrunners at 1pm and then face Stanford at 3pm at The Swamp at The Don Nasser Family Plaza.
The Gators are coming off a strong showing at the Menlo College Invitational, which they captured for the third straight year this past Saturday in Atherton. SF State had six placers including two title holders in
Fern Giron (133) and
Sam Alnassiri (285). The Gators had two second place finishers in Josh Weinberg (141) and
Tyson Kuahine (165) and two grapplers that finished in third in
Jordan Gurrola (133) and
Mike Marshall (174).
For his efforts this past Saturday, Giron was named the D2wrestle.com Super Region IV Wrestler of the Week. Giron improved to 6-3 for the season and has one win by major decision and one by technical fall.
This was the third tournament this season that the Gators have had wrestlers place in their respective weight class. To open up the season in November, Kuahine placed first at the 48
th Annual SF State University Community College/College Open. Then at the Roadrunner Open in Fresno two weeks later, three Gators placed in
Johnny Costa (5
th-184), Alnassiri (5
th, 285) and
Tavis Ino (6
th-165).
For his efforts in the Roadrunner Open, Costa was named the RMAC Wrestler of the Week for his efforts.
SF State is 1-2 in dual meets this season with a 29-8 loss to Cal Poly on November 7 at home. The Gators then lost 32-6 to then No. 21 Old Dominion on November 21 in Gilroy. They picked up their first win on December 12 at home against then NAIA No. 11 Simpson, 26-18.
Three Gators now have at least 10 wins on the season in Marshall (11-5), Gurrola (10-5) and Alnassiri (10-5). Alnassiri leads the team with his four wins by fall with Marshall and Gurrola right behind him with three each.
The Gators will first host Cal State Bakersfield on Sunday at 1pm. The Roadrunners come into their dual this Friday at home against Cal Poly with a 4-2 record including a 1-0 record in the Pac 12. They are coming off a 22
nd place finish at the Midlands on December 29-30 in Evanston, Ill., which they had two placers in Adam Fierro (6
th-165) and Reuben Franklin (5
th-197).
Bryce Hammond (11-3) and Rueben Franklin (20-5) each are ranked in the top 10 in the nation in their respective weight classes according to the
Intermat rankings that were released today. Hammond is 7
th at 174 while Franklin is 9
th at 197.
Cal State Bakersfield defeated the Gators last season in Bakersfield, 20-12, with SF State claiming victories at four weight classes including three by returners (
Alex Abono, Alnassiri and Costa).
SF State will then entertain Stanford at 3pm on Sunday. The Cardinal are currently 2-2 overall and 1-1 in the Pac 12. They are coming off a strong 9
th place finish at the Southern Scuffle this past weekend in Chattanooga, Tenn. The Cardinal had four placers including Joey McKenna's (11-1) second place finish at 141. McKenna is currently second in the nation.
Three other Cardinal wrestlers are also in the top 20 in the nation in their respective weight classes in Jim Wilson (13-165) and Connor Schram (125) and Keaton Subjeck (174) who are each 20
th. Wilson is 12-4 while Schram is 11-3 and Subjeck is 11-5.
The Cardinal will host Cal Baptist this Saturday at 2pm prior to facing the Gators on Sunday. After they wrestle at SF State, Stanford will face Menlo at 6pm on Sunday evening in Atherton. The Gators lost 35-7 at Stanford as
Jerry DeLaRosa and Abono each picked up wins for SF State.
After Sunday's two matches, the Gators will return to the mat in Kearney, Neb., as they will participate in the UNK Midwest Duals at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds. SF State will have four important duals against NCAA Division II Super Region IV opponents in Adams State, Central Oklahoma, Fort Hays State and Colorado State-Pueblo beginning at 9am CST on Saturday, January 16.
Live Video of the Gator Duals -----
Gator Athletics has a proud tradition of competitive success within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The department offers 12 intercollegiate sports programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Women's Track & Field, Women's Volleyball and Men's Wrestling.
Gator Athletics places great emphasis on academic performance as well as athletic achievement. The program offers student athletes the opportunity to reach their educational goals, as well pursue meaningful athletic accomplishments. For more information, visit SF State Athletics' website, Twitter and Facebook pages.
