Wrestling | 2/12/2016 12:08:00 AM
ATHERTON, Calif.--- Wrestling in their final dual of the 2015-16 regular season, the SF State Gators defeated the Menlo College Oaks by a 22-14 this evening in Atherton, Calif. With the win, the Gators finished the season with a 6-7 overall dual record.
Menlo, who is ranked 10
th in the nation in NAIA, started the night with a 4-2 win at 197 by Kenny Steers over the Gators'
Calvin Nicholls. SF State took a 4-3 lead as
Sam Alnassiri won by a 11-3 major decision at 285 over the Oaks' Brady Rivera. The Oaks retook the lead (8-4) as Troy Lakin, who is third in the nation in NAIA, defeated SF State's
Brandon Vu by a 22-7 technical fall.
Fern Giron tied the match at 8-8 for the visitors as he defeated the Oaks' Joel Palabrica by a 12-3 major decision at 133. The Gators took the lead for good as
Joshua Weinberg had an 8-7 victory over Steele Escobedo (sixth in the nation) at 141 to give the hosts an 11-8 lead.
Dylan Furtado gave the Gators a 15-8 lead with an 8-0 major decision over Menlo's Jeff Uyesaka at 149.
Tavis Ino recorded a 15-0 technical fall decision over the Oaks' James Luscombe at 157 to increase their lead to 20-8.
Menlo won the next two matches at 165 and 174. Joseph Jauregui defeated the Gators'
Tyson Kuahine by a 5-2 decision at 165 and at 174 Justin Lozano won by a 3-1 decision over
Mike Marshall to cut the Gators lead to 20-14. Lozano is currently ranked third in the nation in NAIA.
The Gators'
Gabe Fuentes won by a 10-8 overtime decision over Menlo's Nathan Rodriguez to make the final 22-14 for SF State.
SF State will now have two weeks to prepare for the 2015-16 NCAA Division II Super Region IV Championships that will be held on Feb. 26-27 in Gunnison, Colo., at the Paul Wright Gymnasium on the campus of Western State Colorado. The top four placers at the regional will qualify for the NCAA Division II National Wrestling Championships Mar. 11-12 at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
The Gators will look to qualify for the Nationals for the 53
rd straight year. To earn All-American status, a wrestler has to finish in the top eight in their respective weight class at Nationals. SF State head coach
Lars Jensen has coached 120 national qualifiers and 62 All-Americans during his 33 years coaching at his alma mater.
SF STATE 22 , NO. 10 MENLO 14 SFSU-MC197 Kenny Steers (Menlo) won by 4-2 dec. over
Calvin Nicholls (SF State) 0-3
285
Sam Alnassiri (SF State) won by 11-3 MD over Brady Rivers (Menlo) 4-3
125 No. 3 Troy Lakin (Menlo) won by 22-7 TF over
Brandon Vu (SF State) 4-8
133
Fern Giron (SF State) won by 12-3 MD over Joel Palabrica (Menlo) 8-8
141
Joshua Weinberg (SF State) won by 8-7 dec. over No. 6 Steele Escobedo (Menlo) 11-8
149
Dylan Furtado (SF State) won by 8-0 MD over Jeff Uyesaka (Menlo) 15-8
157
Tavis Ino (SF State) won by 15-0 TF over James Luscombe (Menlo) 20-8
165 Joseph Jauregui (Menlo) won by 5-2 dec. over
Tyson Kuahine (SF State) 20-11
174 No. 3 Justin Lozano (Menlo) won by 3-1 dec. over
Mike Marshall (SF State) 20-14
184
Gabe Fuentes (SF State) won by 10-8 OT dec. over Nathan Rodriguez (Menlo) 22-14
No.= ranked nationally in NAIA
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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.
