SAN FRANCISCO - The San Francisco State wrestling team resumed its busy January schedule on Thursday, dropping a 32-9 decision to Division I Cal Poly in a non-conference dual meet at the Main Gymnasium. With the loss, the Gators slip to 1-6 on the season, while the Mustangs raise their record to 5-2 overall.
SF State tallied the first six points of the match when sophomore
Naveed Bagheri (Los Gatos, Calif., Los Gatos HS, West Valley College) received at forfeit in the 133-pound weight class.
However, Cal Poly quickly set the tone for the rest of the evening with four consecutive victories by technical fall at 141, 149, 157 and 165, building an insurmountable 20-6 lead and never looking back.
Things were much closer in the remaining bouts as junior transfer
Gene Choi (Torrance, Calif., North Torrance HS, Cerritos College) came up short against the Mustangs’ Steven Vasquez by a 4-1 count at 174, while freshman
Zach Jimenez (Chualar, Calif., Palma HS) experienced a similar fate, dropping a 5-2 decision to Kelan Bragg at 184. Jimenez pulled to within 3-2 in the third period after earning an escape and a penalty point; however, Bragg was able to seal the win with a takedown in the closing seconds
Vince Bordi (Manteca, Calif., Manteca HS) was also engaged in a tight battle with Ryan Smith at 197 before ultimately succumbing, 10-7. The Gator senior found himself in a 7-7 stalemate early in the third period before his Mustang adversary registered a takedown and riding time point to escape with the win.
Shortly thereafter, senior
Steve Franklin (Middletown, Calif., Middletown HS, Santa Rosa JC) halted Cal Poly’s string of seven straight wins with a thrilling 5-3 sudden victory in the heavyweight division. Trailing 3-1 in the third period, Franklin recorded an escape and earned a point off of riding time to force overtime. Then in the extra session, the Middletown native ended the suspense with an early takedown to cement his team-leading 15
th victory of the year.
Leading 29-9, the Mustangs tacked on an additional three points with a win at 125 to give the match its final score.
SF State will have the next eight days off before traveling to Phoenix, Ariz., for the Grand Canyon Duals on Saturday, Jan. 23. The Gators are scheduled to wrestle three teams, Colorado School of Mines (9 a.m.), Embry-Riddle (11 a.m.) and host Grand Canyon University (1 p.m.).
Cal Poly 32, SF State 9
133 – Naveed Bagheri (SF State) received forfeit
141 – Filip Novachkov (CP) tech. fall Jamil Smart (SF State), 18-2
149 – Nick Fisher (CP) tech. fall Aaron Wilson (SF State), 20-4
157 – Geoff Doss (CP) tech. fall Isaiah Jimenez (SF State), 19-2
165 – Travis Rasmussen (CP) tech. fall Ian Wrenn (SF State), 22-7
174 – Steven Vasquez (CP) dec. Gene Choi (SF State), 4-1
184 – Kelan Bragg (CP) dec. Zach Jimenez (SF State), 6-2
197 – Ryan Smith (CP) dec. Vince Bordi (SF State), 10-7
285 – Steve Franklin (SF State) dec. Jim Powers (CP), 5-3 SV
125 – Micah Ferguson (CP) dec. Pierre Bondoc (SF State), 6-1