GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — San Francisco State wrestler Mason Boutain is headed to the NCAA Division II National Championships after punching his ticket with a third-place finish at 157 lb. in the NCAA Division II Super Regionals VI. Of the 11 teams competing, the Gators finished tied for ninth. No. 3 Nebraska-Kearney was named the Super Regional Champion.

SF State missed the 2020-21 season due to cancelation as a result of the pandemic. In 2019-20, the Gators sent regional champ Justin Pichedwatana at 174 lb. to the national championships, which were also canceled due to the pandemic a day before competition was set to start. Outside of the 2016-17 season, the Golden Gators have now sent a wrestler to Nationals every year they've competed since 1964-65.

In that 2019-20 season, Boutain was ranked No. 5 in the nation at 149 pounds and an All-RMAC First Team selection, but fell just short of earning a ticket to nationals with a fourth-place finish. This season, Boutain, in his sixth season with the program and again competing at 157 lb., would not be denied a trip to the national stage. Boutain scored a tech fall and a fall to advance to the semifinal bout, where he was edged 6-5 in the semi versus Colorado Mesa's Ryan Wheeler. Boutain bounced back in the consolation semis with a 9-4 victory over Anthony Scantlin of Fort Hayes State. He faced No. 3 Nebraska Kearney's Jacob Wasser for the second time after pinning Wasser in the quarterfinals. The second go-around was much closer but Boutain edged his opponent 3-1 in overtime. After a scoreless first period, Wasser chose bottom and scored on an escape. Boutain did the same to tie it in the third period, then won with a takedown in overtime.

Joshua Fuentes Norikiyo finds himself in a similar position as Boutain two seasons ago. Ranked No. 5 in the nation for most of the season at 141 lb. Fuentes Norikiyo earned a bye, then won 8-1 over Fort Hays State's Cole Zebley. Fuentes Norikiyo suffered a 7-4 loss to Chadron State's Ethan Leake in the semifinals, then bounced back with a consolation semifinal win over Simon Fraser's Randy McDonald, 5-1. However, Fuentes Norkiyo came up just short of punching a ticket to nationals in the third-place bout in a 4-3 loss to No. 21 Colorado Mines' Grayston Diblasi. Diblasi scored a first-period takedown but Fuentes Norikiyo countered with a reversal. However, Fuentes Norikiyo was twice called for stalling, awarding a crucial point to Diblasi. Fuentes Norikiyo tied the bout with a second-period escape but Diblasi scored a point with riding time to edge Fuentes Norikiyo and punch his ticket.

Josh Tolentino finished in sixth place at 149 lb. He scored a fall in the sixth minute over Simon Fraser's Jacob Alexander-Torres but fell by tech fall to No. 2 Sam Turner of UNK. He picked up a decision but dropped two more decisions to place sixth.

Stefano McKinney (133 lb.) earned a win in the championship round one and Aaron Galef (165 lb.) picked up a major decision in his consolation round bout.
 

Individual Results

125 - Tony Margiotta (11-10)
Champ. Round 1 - Parker McBride (CSU Pueblo) 3-2 won by decision over Tony Margiotta (SF State) 11-10 (Dec 3-0)
Cons. Round 1 - Tony Margiotta (SF State) 11-10 received a bye.
Cons. Round 2 - Christian Lopez (No. 21 Colorado Mines) 14-12 won by major decision over Tony Margiotta (SF State) 11-10 (MD 14-6)

133 - Stefano McKinney (10-11)
Champ. Round 1 - Stefano McKinney (SF State) 10-11 won by decision over Tom VanValkenburg (Fort Hays State) 11-16 (Dec 7-5)
Quarterfinal - Riley Prough (Simon Fraser) 16-8 won by fall over Stefano McKinney (SF State) 10-11 (Fall 2:45)
Cons. Round 2 - Tyler Krause (No. 21 Colorado Mines) 10-8 won by decision over Stefano McKinney (SF State) 10-11 (Dec 8-6)

141 - No. 5 Joshua Fuentes Norikiyo (19-8), 4th Place
Champ. Round 1 - No. 5 Joshua Fuentes Norikiyo (SF State) 19-8 received a bye.
Quarterfinal - No. 5 Joshua Fuentes Norikiyo (SF State) 19-8 won by decision over Cole Zebley (Fort Hays State) 14-19 (Dec 8-1)
Semifinal - Ethan Leake (Chadron State) 13-8 won by decision over No. 5 Joshua Fuentes Norikiyo (SF State) 19-8 (Dec 7-4)
Cons. Semi - No. 5 Joshua Fuentes Norikiyo (SF State) 19-8 won by decision over Randy McDonald (Simon Fraser) 18-14 (Dec 5-1)
3rd Place Match - Grayston Diblasi (No. 21 Colorado Mines) 24-5 won by decision over No. 5 Joshua Fuentes Norikiyo (SF State) 19-8 (Dec 4-3)

149 - Josh Tolentino (20-8), 6th Place
Champ. Round 1 - Josh Tolentino (SF State) 20-8 won by fall over Jacob Alexander-Torres (Simon Fraser) 3-6 (Fall 6:09)
Quarterfinal - No. 2 Sam Turner (No. 3 Nebraska-Kearney) 16-4 won by tech fall over Josh Tolentino (SF State) 20-8 (TF-1.5 6:42 (17-2))
Cons. Round 2 - Josh Tolentino (SF State) 20-8 received a bye.
Cons. Round 3 - Josh Tolentino (SF State) 20-8 won by decision over Gavin Melendez (CSU Pueblo) 2-2 (Dec 9-7)
Cons. Semi - Jason Hanenberg (Western Colorado) 23-5 won by decision over Josh Tolentino (SF State) 20-8 (Dec 8-2)
5th Place Match - Cason Lindsey (Fort Hays State) 21-17 won by decision over Josh Tolentino (SF State) 20-8 (Dec 4-2)

157 - Mason Boutain (16-6), 3rd Place
Champ. Round 1 - Mason Boutain (SF State) 16-6 won by tech fall over Justin Davis (CSU Pueblo) 1-2 (TF-1.5 6:08 (21-3))
Quarterfinal - Mason Boutain (SF State) 16-6 won by fall over Jacob Wasser (No. 3 Nebraska-Kearney) 8-8 (Fall 6:45)
Semifinal - Ryan Wheeler (Colorado Mesa) 18-7 won by decision over Mason Boutain (SF State) 16-6 (Dec 6-5)
Cons. Semi - Mason Boutain (SF State) 16-6 won by decision over Anthony Scantlin (Fort Hays State) 19-19 (Dec 9-4)
3rd Place Match - Mason Boutain (SF State) 16-6 won in sudden victory - 1 over Jacob Wasser (No. 3 Nebraska-Kearney) 8-8 (SV-1 3-1)

165 - Aaron Galef (3-7)
Champ. Round 1 - No. 1 Matt Malcom (No. 3 Nebraska-Kearney) 26-2 won by tech fall over Aaron Galef (SF State) 3-7 (TF-1.5 3:11 (15-0))
Cons. Round 1 - Aaron Galef (SF State) 3-7 received a bye.
Cons. Round 2 - Aaron Galef (SF State) 3-7 won by major decision over Andres Grano (New Mexico Highlands) 3-17 (MD 10-2)
Cons. Round 3 - Ruben Garcia (CSU Pueblo) 4-1 won by decision over Aaron Galef (SF State) 3-7 (Dec 7-3)

174 - Tyee Ducharme (0-2)
Champ. Round 1 - Tyee Ducharme (SF State) 0-2 received a bye.
Quarterfinal - Seth Latham (Colorado Mesa) 19-7 won by fall over Tyee Ducharme (SF State) 0-2 (Fall 2:52)
Cons. Round 2 - Aidan Johnson (Fort Hays State) 7-14 won by decision over Tyee Ducharme (SF State) 0-2 (Dec 9-5)

184 - Hamzah Alsaudi (12-14)
Champ. Round 1 - Logan Nelson (Simon Fraser) 9-2 won by fall over Hamzah Alsaudi (SF State) 12-14 (Fall 6:41)
Cons. Round 1 - Hamzah Alsaudi (SF State) 12-14 received a bye.
Cons. Round 2 - Cole Gray (Western Colorado) 16-14 won by fall over Hamzah Alsaudi (SF State) 12-14 (Fall 3:46)

197 - Callum Bisping (1-5)
Champ. Round 1 - No. 6 Donnie Negus (Colorado Mesa) 23-4 won by fall over Callum Bisping (SF State) 1-5 (Fall 2:06)
Cons. Round 1 - Callum Bisping (SF State) 1-5 received a bye.
Cons. Round 2 - Rick Feroce (Simon Fraser) 5-11 won by decision over Callum Bisping (SF State) 1-5 (Dec 14-8)
 

Quotables

Head Coach Jason Welch:

"I'm so excited for Mason Boutain. He made a big leap of faith to stick with SF State and come back for his extra year of eligibility to finish some unresolved business, and he got it done. Congrats to him on his first bid to nationals! I can't wait for next weekend in St Louis."

"Also big kudos to Joshua Fuentes Norikiyo, who was one exchange away from getting to Nationals, and to Josh Tolentino – who bumped up a weight class and stepped up for us at 149 – for getting on the podium. Both Joshes are juniors and will look to build on this for next year!"
 

Up Next

Boutain will pack his bags for St. Louis. The NCAA Division II National Championships, hosted by Saint Louis University, begin Friday, March 11 at Chaifetz Arena. Tickets are on sale now.