Opening Match Momentum Not Enough To Beat Lakers
COOS BAY, Ore. – A win in the opening bout of the match was not enough for Pacific to build momentum against a talented Southwestern Oregon CC squad as the No. 6 (NJCAA) ranked Lakers beat the Boxers 23-15 in men's wrestling action at the Student Recreation Center.
With the match beginning at 133 pounds,
Eric Harder (Fr., Bethesda, Md.) opened the match by winning his bout without a takedown. A caution penalty point and the bonus point for accruing over four minutes of riding time was all he needed for a 2-0 victory over Skylar Prislae.
From there, the Lakers went on to win the next three matches to take the lead for good. Joe Gardner used a pair of first round takedowns to score a 6-2 decision over
Ryan Baxter (Fr., Craig, Alaska) at 141 pounds while both Nick Bendon and Craig Trask scored major decision victories at 149 and 157, respectively.
Bruce Balcita (So., Spokane, Wash.) put Pacific back on the scoreboard, scoring first and third round takedowns for a 6-2 victory over Kolbjorn Skaflestad. The Lakers then put the match out of reach by winning the next three matches, claiming a forfeit at 174 pounds and decision victories by Ryland Geiger and Bo Yourkes at 184 and 197.
Jared Bridgewater (So., Hillsboro, Ore.) claimed a forfeit win at heavyweight over John Hatch while
Zach Binkerd (So., Hillsboro, Ore.) closed out the dual with a 7-1 win over Tim Spangle at 125 pounds.
NO. 6 (NJCAA) SOUTHWESTERN OREGON CC 23, PACIFIC 15
NOTE: Match started at 133 pounds
125:
Zach Binkerd (PAC) dec. Tim Spangle (SWOCC), 7-1 (23-15 SWOCC)
133:
Eric Harder (PAC) dec. Skylar Prislae (SWOCC), 2-0 (3-0 PAC)
141: Joe Gardner (SWOCC) dec.
Ryan Baxter (PAC), 6-2 (3-3 Tie)
149: Nick Bendon (SWOCC) maj. dec. Devin Silva (PAC), 12-2 (7-3 SWOCC)
157: Craig Trask (SWOCC) maj. dec.
Michael Tyner (PAC), 11-0 (11-3 SWOCC)
165:
Bruce Balcita (PAC) dec. Kolbjorn Skaflestad (SWOCC), 6-2 (11-6 SWOCC)
174: Kris Newport (SWOCC) win by forfeit (17-6 SWOCC)
184: Ryland Geiger (SWOCC) dec.
Caleb Malychewski (PAC), 6-1 (20-6 SWOCC)
197: Bo Yourkes (SWOCC) dec. Wes Heredia (PAC), 7-1 (23-6 SWOCC)
285:
Jared Bridgewater (PAC) win by forfeit over John Hatch (SWOCC) (23-12 SWOCC)
