ATHERTON, Calif. — The San Francisco State wrestling team saw its first action of the 2022-23 season and looked strong in its debut at the Menlo Open. The Gators sent 17 grapplers to the tournament. Of those 17, six had top-four finishes. Fifteen Gators won at least one bout and 11 recorded a pair of wins or more.

Joshua Norikiyo Fuentes led the charge with his second-place finish at 149 lb. Additionally, Zach Wright placed third at 125 lb. and battled through a head laceration that required stitches. Laith Gilmore (197 lb.), Tony Margiotta (133 lb.), Marco Ruffinelli (157 lb.), and Conrado Trevino-Oceguera (165 lb.) all placed fourth in their respective weight classes.

125: Zach Wright (4-1), third place

• Champ. Round 1 - Zach Wright (San Francisco State) 4-1 won by fall over Sohail Siddiqi (Menlo) 0-2 (Fall 0:45)
• Quarterfinal - Zach Wright (San Francisco State) 4-1 won by major decision over Suhas Chundi (Stanford) 2-2 (MD 16-3)
• Semifinal - Richard Sandoval (Cal State Bakersfield) 3-1 won by fall over Zach Wright (San Francisco State) 4-1 (Fall 1:59)
• Cons. Semi - Zach Wright (San Francisco State) 4-1 won by decision over Eddie Flores (Cal State Bakersfield) 3-2 (Dec 6-5)
• 3rd Place Match - Zach Wright (San Francisco State) 4-1 won by decision over Dom Mendez (Cal Poly) 3-2 (Dec 14-10)

133: Tony Margiotta (4-2), fourth place

• Champ. Round 1 - Tony Margiotta (San Francisco State) 4-2 won by decision over Wyatt Richter (Stanford) 2-2 (Dec 10-3)
• Champ. Round 2 - Tony Margiotta (San Francisco State) 4-2 won by decision over Liam Nelson (Sierra College) 1-2 (Dec 7-0)
• Quarterfinal - Tony Margiotta (San Francisco State) 4-2 won by decision over Romeo McNeal (Cal State Bakersfield) 3-2 (Dec 6-3)
• Semifinal - Jovan Garcia (Menlo College) 3-1 won by decision over Tony Margiotta (San Francisco State) 4-2 (Dec 4-2)
• Cons. Semi - Tony Margiotta (San Francisco State) 4-2 won by injury default over Stefano McKinney (San Francisco State) 3-2 (Inj. 0:00)
• 3rd Place Match - Johnny Lopez (Cal Poly) 4-1 won by fall over Tony Margiotta (San Francisco State) 4-2 (Fall 0:42)

133: Stefano McKinney (3-2)

• Champ. Round 1 - Stefano McKinney (San Francisco State) 3-2 received a bye
• Champ. Round 2 - Stefano McKinney (San Francisco State) 3-2 won by fall over Salahdin Farukh (Sierra College) 1-2 (Fall 3:54)
• Quarterfinal - Jackson Disario (Stanford) 5-0 won by decision over Stefano McKinney (San Francisco State) 3-2 (Dec 2-0)
• Cons. Round 4 - Stefano McKinney (San Francisco State) 3-2 won by fall over Liam Nelson (Sierra College) 1-2 (Fall 2:53)
• Cons. Round 5 - Stefano McKinney (San Francisco State) 3-2 won by decision over Michael Torres (Menlo) 3-2 (Dec 3-1)
• Cons. Semi - Tony Margiotta (San Francisco State) 4-2 won by injury default over Stefano McKinney (San Francisco State) 3-2 (Inj. 0:00)

141: Basil Othman (2-2)

• Champ. Round 1 - Basil Othman (San Francisco State) 2-2 won by decision over Mike Pechina (Menlo Wrestling Club) 0-2 (Dec 6-0)
• Champ. Round 2 - Jacob Peralta (Cal State Bakersfield) 2-2 won by decision over Basil Othman (San Francisco State) 2-2 (Dec 4-3)
• Cons. Round 2 - Basil Othman (San Francisco State) 2-2 received a bye
• Cons. Round 3 - Basil Othman (San Francisco State) 2-2 won by decision over Logan Avina-Barajas (Menlo) 0-2 (Dec 5-0)
• Cons. Round 4 - Sean Yamasaki (San Francisco State) 2-2 won by decision over Basil Othman (San Francisco State) 2-2 (Dec 8-7)

141: Sean Yamasaki (2-2)

• Champ. Round 1 - Sean Yamasaki (San Francisco State) 2-2 received a bye
• Champ. Round 2 - Sean Yamasaki (San Francisco State) 2-2 won by major decision over Jacob Navarro (Unattached) 0-2 (MD 14-3)
• Quarterfinal - Jason Miranda (Stanford) 5-1 won by decision over Sean Yamasaki (San Francisco State) 2-2 (Dec 8-2)
• Cons. Round 4 - Sean Yamasaki (San Francisco State) 2-2 won by decision over Basil Othman (San Francisco State) 2-2 (Dec 8-7)
• Cons. Round 5 - Luis Ramos (CSU Bakersfield) 4-2 won by decision over Sean Yamasaki (San Francisco State) 2-2 (Dec 6-2)

149: Joshua Fuentes Norikiyo (3-1), second place

• Champ. Round 1 - Joshua Fuentes Norikiyo (San Francisco State) 3-1 won by injury default (Skyline College) 0-2 (Inj. 0:00)
• Quarterfinal - Joshua Fuentes Norikiyo (San Francisco State) 3-1 won by fall over Elijah Cleaver (Stanford) 1-2 (Fall 6:59)
• Semifinal - Joshua Fuentes Norikiyo (San Francisco State) 3-1 won by tech fall over Nick Camacho (Menlo) 2-2 (TF-1.5 6:55 (15-0))
• 1st Place Match - Jaden Abas (Stanford) 4-0 won by decision over Joshua Fuentes Norikiyo (San Francisco State) 3-1 (Dec 8-2)

157: Marco Ruffinelli (5-2), fourth place

• Champ. Round 1 - Daniel Cardenas (Stanford) 5-0 won by tech fall over Marco Ruffinelli (San Francisco State) 5-2 (TF-1.5 2:54 (16-1))
• Cons. Round 1 - Marco Ruffinelli (San Francisco State) 5-2 received a bye
• Cons. Round 2 - Marco Ruffinelli (San Francisco State) 5-2 won by tech fall over Royal Tabalo (Menlo Wrestling Club) 0-2 (TF-1.5 1:51 (18-0))
• Cons. Round 3 - Marco Ruffinelli (San Francisco State) 5-2 won by major decision over Anthony Williams (Stanford) 2-2 (MD 12-4)
• Cons. Round 4 - Marco Ruffinelli (San Francisco State) 5-2 won by injury default over Richard Gurule (Menlo) 1-2 (Inj. 0:00)
• Cons. Round 5 - Marco Ruffinelli (San Francisco State) 5-2 won by injury default over Seth Borba (Menlo) 3-2 (Inj. 0:00)
• Cons. Semi - Marco Ruffinelli (San Francisco State) 5-2 won by tech fall over Abraham Del Toro (Menlo) 2-2 (TF-1.5 6:12 (17-2))
• 3rd Place Match - Kydyn Lima (Unattached) 6-1 won by forfeit over Marco Ruffinelli (San Francisco State) 5-2 (For.)

157: Kyle Botelho (1-2)

• Champ. Round 1 - Kyle Botelho (San Francisco State) 1-2 won by fall over Jake Grover (Sierra College) 0-2 (Fall 5:17)
• Champ. Round 2 - Charlie Darracott (Stanford) 3-1 won by decision over Kyle Botelho (San Francisco State) 1-2 (Dec 4-1)
• Cons. Round 2 - Josh Tolentino (San Francisco State) 1-2 won by injury default over Kyle Botelho (San Francisco State) 1-2 (Inj. 5:30)

157: Josh Tolentino (1-2)

• Champ. Round 1 - Dawson Sihavong (Stanford) 3-2 won by decision over Josh Tolentino (San Francisco State) 1-2 (Dec 8-3)
• Cons. Round 1 - Josh Tolentino (San Francisco State) 1-2 received a bye
• Cons. Round 2 - Josh Tolentino (San Francisco State) 1-2 won by injury default over Kyle Botelho (San Francisco State) 1-2 (Inj. 5:30)
• Cons. Round 3 - Ethan Boyd (Sacramento City College) 16-7 won by injury default over Josh Tolentino (San Francisco State) 1-2 (Inj. 0:00)

165: Aaron Galef (1-2)

• Champ. Round 1 - Aaron Galef (San Francisco State) 1-2 received a bye () (Bye)
• Champ. Round 2 - Rysan Leong (Menlo College) 2-2 won by decision over Aaron Galef (San Francisco State) 1-2 (Dec 6-4)
• Cons. Round 2 - Aaron Galef (San Francisco State) 1-2 received a bye () (Bye)
• Cons. Round 3 - Aaron Galef (San Francisco State) 1-2 won by fall over Jaden Sanchez (CSU Bakersfield) 0-2 (Fall 2:26)
• Cons. Round 4 - Connor Cormier (Menlo Wrestling Club) 2-2 won by decision over Aaron Galef (San Francisco State) 1-2 (Dec 7-2)

165: Boltyn Taam (2-2)

• Champ. Round 1 - Boltyn Taam (San Francisco State) 2-2 received a bye
• Champ. Round 2 - Boltyn Taam (San Francisco State) 2-2 won by decision over Isaiah Castro (Sierra College) 0-2 (Dec 8-1)
• Quarterfinal - Boltyn Taam (San Francisco State) 2-2 won by injury default over Ezekiel Lara (Skyline College) 1-2 (Inj. 0:00)
• Semifinal - Shane Griffith (Stanford) 4-0 won by fall over Boltyn Taam (San Francisco State) 2-2 (Fall 2:21)
• Cons. Semi - Cash Stewart (Cal Poly) 5-1 won by decision over Boltyn Taam (San Francisco State) 2-2 (Dec 7-4)

165: Conrado Trevino-Oceguera (4-2), fourth place

• Champ. Round 1 - Conrado Trevino-Oceguera (San Francisco State) 4-2 received a bye
• Champ. Round 2 - Hunter Garvin (Stanford) 3-1 won by fall over Conrado Trevino-Oceguera (San Francisco State) 4-2 (Fall 4:07)
• Cons. Round 2 - Conrado Trevino-Oceguera (San Francisco State) 4-2 received a bye
• Cons. Round 3 - Conrado Trevino-Oceguera (San Francisco State) 4-2 won by major decision over Elijah Arnold (Sacramento City College) 0-2 (MD 13-1)
• Cons. Round 4 - Conrado Trevino-Oceguera (San Francisco State) 4-2 won by injury default over Ezekiel Lara (Skyline College) 1-2 (Inj. 0:00)
• Cons. Round 5 - Conrado Trevino-Oceguera (San Francisco State) 4-2 won by decision over Connor Cormier (Menlo Wrestling Club) 2-2 (Dec 11-4)
• Cons. Semi - Conrado Trevino-Oceguera (San Francisco State) 4-2 won by decision over Rysan Leong (Menlo) 2-2 (Dec 3-2)
• 3rd Place Match - Cash Stewart (Cal Poly) 5-1 won by decision over Conrado Trevino-Oceguera (San Francisco State) 4-2 (Dec 7-1)

174: Gage Mettler (1-2)

• Champ. Round 1 - Gage Mettler (San Francisco State) 1-2 received a bye
• Quarterfinal - Gage Mettler (San Francisco State) 1-2 won by decision over Braden Smelser (Cal State Bakersfield) 0-2 (Dec 5-2)
• Semifinal - Maximus Zamora (Menlo) 3-1 won by decision over Gage Mettler (San Francisco State) 1-2 (Dec 4-0)
• Cons. Semi - Kweli Hernandez (Unattached) 3-2 won by forfeit over Gage Mettler (San Francisco State) 1-2 (For.)

184: Jairo Rivera Vazquez (0-2)

• Champ. Round 1 - Jack Darrah (Stanford) 3-1 won by major decision over Jairo Rivera Vazquez (San Francisco State) 0-2 (MD 14-2)
• Cons. Round 1 - Noah Collazo (Menlo College) 1-2 won by fall over Jairo Rivera Vazquez (San Francisco State) 0-2 (Fall 0:35)

197: Jack Clarke (0-2)

• Champ. Round 1 - Hunter Gonzalez (Unattached) 3-1 won by fall over Jack Clarke (San Francisco State) 0-2 (Fall 0:55)
• Cons. Round 1 - Eric Mittlestead (Cal State Bakersfield) 1-2 won by tech fall over Jack Clarke (San Francisco State) 0-2 (TF-1.5 3:28 (18-2))

197: Laith Gilmore (4-2), fourth place

• Champ. Round 1 - Laith Gilmore (San Francisco State) 4-2 won by fall over Rigoberto Yepez (Unattached) 0-2 (Fall 1:22)
• Quarterfinal - Afton Silvis (Menlo) 4-1 won by decision over Laith Gilmore (San Francisco State) 4-2 (Dec 3-2)
• Cons. Round 2 - Laith Gilmore (San Francisco State) 4-2 won by decision over Gabriel Hindman (Sierra College) 1-2 (Dec 6-0)
• Cons. Round 3 - Laith Gilmore (San Francisco State) 4-2 won by decision over Cameron Bauman (Menlo) 2-2 (Dec 9-5)
• Cons. Semi - Laith Gilmore (San Francisco State) 4-2 won in tie breaker - 1 over Hunter James (Menlo) 2-2 (TB-1 3-1)
• 3rd Place Match - Afton Silvis (Menlo) 4-1 won by injury default over Laith Gilmore (San Francisco State) 4-2 (Inj. 0:00)

HWT: Emilio Franco Sandoval (3-2)

• Champ. Round 1 - Peter Ming (Unattached) 3-2 won in sudden victory - 1 over Emilio Franco Sandoval (San Francisco State) 3-2 (SV-1 6-4)
• Cons. Round 1 - Emilio Franco Sandoval (San Francisco State) 3-2 won by decision over Paul Sharp (Cal State Bakersfield) 0-2 (Dec 6-0)
• Cons. Round 2 - Emilio Franco Sandoval (San Francisco State) 3-2 won by decision over Jayden Dobsen (Unattached) 1-2 (Dec 4-0)
• Cons. Round 3 - Emilio Franco Sandoval (San Francisco State) 3-2 won by fall over Reed Brandon (Skyline College) 2-2 (Fall 1:09)
• Cons. Semi - Peter Ming (Unattached) 3-2 won by major decision over Emilio Franco Sandoval (San Francisco State) 3-2 (MD 8-0)

Quotables

"What a great start to the season! The guys really wrestled with grit and fight today, which is a testament to the kind of work we've been putting in the past eight months," said Head Coach Jason Welch. "It's also great to see a lot of freshmen coming into our lineup for the first time. I'm very excited to keep this rolling and to have this first tournament under our belt."
 

Up Next

On Saturday, November 12, the Gators will host Colorado Mesa at 9:30 a.m. Colorado Mesa will also face Menlo prior at 8 a.m.

On Friday, November 18, the Gators host New Mexico Highlands at 4:30 p.m. At the midway point of the dual meet, SF State will hold a shoe retirement ceremony for legendary San Francisco State Wrestling Coach Lars Jensen. Afterwards, SF State will host the Lars Jensen Legacy Dinner honoring Coach's memory beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for the dinner are $50 each.

Stats for all three matches will be available at trackwrestling.com and the matches will be broadcast on the RMAC Network. Tickets are available for all 2022 matches, as well as for the Lars Jensen Legacy Dinner, at sfstategators.com/tickets.