SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- Vanguard men's wrestling took on both Cal Poly Humboldt and San Francisco State today in the first duals against the new Mountain Pacific Sports Federation members. While the Lions showed charisma in all of their fights, VU fell to CPH 44-6 and SF State 38-6 to fall to 4-9 in duals.
What Happened? VU 6 CPH 44
Hector Hernandez took on Isaiah Miller at 125-pounds and though Hernandez had a good first engagement, Miller earned a pin in the first period to take six points for the Lumberjacks.
Robert Villegas then faced Josh Neiwert at 133 pounds and Villegas held the line for most of the first period, but Neiwert made a takedown to lead 3-0. Neither wrestler scored in the middle period but a reversal at the start of the third by Neiwert gave him a 6-0 decision result.
Fernando Barreto Jr. and Nathan Aguiler squared off at 141 pounds and the two were all over the mat in a high-octane first period. Yet Barreto Jr. had the better of the action and rolled Aguiler over for a pin to get the Lions on the board. Vanguard was open at 149 pounds, which pushed the meeting to 157 pounds and a rematch between
Caidence Turner and Gil Mossburg from the MPSF Tournament. The two were equal in strength and each wrestler earned only one escape until late in the third period, as Mossburg got another escape and snuck away with a 2-1 decision to upset Turner. However, Turner performed much better on Saturday than in his 13-4 defeat to Mossburg in the tournament.
Mason Hernandez was pitted against Cole Zoller at 165 pounds and Zoller was in control, as the Lumberjack led 7-0 after one frame. Hernandez played the best defense he could, but Zoller got a 14-2 major decision victory, though Hernandez had performed better than in his 15-0 defeat to Zoller at the MPSF Tournament. VU was open at 174 pounds, which brought
Keagen Kroeger out for the 184-pound matchup against Micaiah Montalbin. Kroeger had a good showing over the first minute, as he tangled with Montalbin evenly, but then the Lumberjack found a few openings and led 7-1 after one period. Kroeger then got an escape, but that was it, as Montalbin scored the remaining points for a 12-1 major decision.
The Lions were open at 197 pounds and
Roman Torres capped the dual with a meeting with Carson Hatch Torres did his best, but Hatch slowly got the advantage late in the first frame to pin Torres and give Cal Poly Humboldt a 44-6 match win.
VU 6 SFS 38
It was the same lineup for the Blue and Gold against the Gators, but unfortunately, the only victory came from Barreto Jr. not having an opponent at 141 pounds.
Hector Hernandez showed tons of grit in an MPSF rematch against Evan Kusumoto, as he was down 13-0 after one frame. He made a takedown in the second and another in the third, but he could not gain more ground as the clock ran out, with Kusumoto winning 13-9. Villegas made four escapes against Zach Wright, but Wright made all the other scoring moves, as the Gator locked up five takedowns in a 16-4 major decision victory.
Turner took on Sean Yamasaki and the SF State wrestler got the first takedown but Turner wriggled free to trail 3-1 after one. The Lion got another escape in the second and a reversal, but Yamasaki got another takedown and went on to win 7-4.
Mason Hernandez squared off against Kyle Botelho and Hernandez only got two escapes as Botelho won 15-2. Kevin Clements and Kroeger were scoreless after two periods, as neither wrestler could find a true opening. However, Clements made a late pin with just 26 seconds left on the board to prevail. It was similar for Torres against Felipe De Mators, as Torres only got a penalty point in the second period. As the two grappled in the third, De Matos got a takedown and pinned Torres with 50 seconds remaining to grab all six points for the Gators.
What's Next? Vanguard will travel to the Arizona Christian Firestorm Open next Saturday as a final warmup before qualifications for the NCWA Nationals.
What's Next? The two sides return to the Dean Harvey Field for a 10:00 a.m. doubleheader tomorrow.
