Balcita, Harder Lead Boxers To Three Wins At Desert Duals
LAS VEGAS, Nev. –
Bruce Balcita (Jr., Myrtle Creek, Ore.) and
Eric Harder (So., Bethesda, Md.) won all four of their matches and
Caleb Malychewski (Jr., Camas, Wash.) won three matches on Sunday to lead the Pacific men's wrestling team to three wins at the Wartburg Desert Duals, held at the Flamingo Hotel.
Pacific went 2-1 against their first NCAA Division III competition of the season, beating Washington & Lee 28-17 and No. 28 Loras 30-9 and taking a 30-7 loss to No. 5 Olivet. Pacific also beat their lone NAIA competition of the tournament, winning 19-18 over No. 9 ranked Baker (Kan.). With the 3-1 record, the Boxers improved to 5-2 this season in dual meet competition.
Balcita picked up a pin and a major decision en route to his four-match sweep, doubling his win total and improving to 8-5 on the season and 8-4 in matches at 165 pounds. Harder picked up a major of major decisions among his four wins and improved to 13-6 on the season at 133 pounds. He becomes the second Pacific wrestler this season to eclipse the 10-win plateau.
Malychewski saw his 14-match win streak come to an end when he lost in the second match of the day, 5-4, to Olivet's Jeff Holm. The junior dominated his other three matches, though, earning a pin and a pair of technical falls as he ran his season record to 16-2 on the season. When all was finished, all but one of the wrestlers participating in the varsity matches picked up at least one win.
PACIFIC 28, WASHINGTON & LEE 17
Pacific trailed 11-7 after the first four matches with the Generals, but closed the match by winning four of the final six bouts and scoring bonus points in all of them.
Dillon Ford (So., Montesano, Wash.) tied the match with his 12-1 major decision over Matt Howell at 157 pounds and Balcita gave the Boxers the lead for good with his first round pin of Zac Hicheg at 165 pounds.
Malychewski made it a 22-14 Pacific lead with the first of his two technical falls on the day, scoring a 17-2 win over Morgan Msokal.
Nik Streng (Sr., Honolulu, Hawaii) earned his third win of the season with a second round pin of Connor Smith at 197 pounds. Harder and
Ryan Baxter (So., Craig, Alaska) earned the Boxers' first two wins of the dual at 133 pounds and 141 pounds, respectively.
NO. 5 OLIVET 30, PACIFIC 7
The Comets showed why they are one of the dominant teams in Division III this season, taking all but two matches from the Boxers in a 30-7 rout. Harder and Balcita collected the only victories for the Boxers, with Harder scoring a 9-7 win over Mike Gancer at 133 pounds and Balcita winning a 12-4 major decision over Rocky Cantu.
Olivet came out on top of a pair of close matches that could have made the score closer late. Jeff Holm succeeded in ending Malychewski's 14-match win streak, beating the Boxer 5-4 at 184 pounds.
Evan Schreurs (Jr., Duvall, Wash.) also dropped a one-point decision, falling 2-1 to Jack Griggs at 285 pounds.
PACIFIC 30, NO. 28 LORAS 9
The Boxers put together their most dominant match of the day against Duhawks, collecting wins on eight of the 10 matches. Daylin Ruggerio (Fr., Ely, Nev.) and Harder opened the match with decision victories before Baxter collected the first bonus points of the dual when he pinned Trent Lyons with one second remaining in his match at 141 pounds.
Loras took victories at 149 and 157 pounds to come within 12-9 before the Boxers shut the door with six straight wins. Balcita and
Chris Harlin (Jr., Issaquah, Wash.) both won by decision before Malychewski collected his second technical fall of the day in an 18-0 blanking of Mathias Palmerschein. Streng and Schreurs closed the match with a pair of decision victories, the second wins of the day for both grapplers.
PACIFIC 19, NO. 9 (NAIA) BAKER 18
Pacific never trailed after the 133-pound match with the Wildcats, but has to stay on their game to collect their third and closest victory of the Desert Duals. Trailing 3-0 after the 125-pound opener, Harder scored a 12-4 major decision over Drew Harburger at 133 pounds and Baxter followed with a pin of Paxon Fowloer at 141 pounds to build a 10-3 advantage after three matches.
Baker responded with two wins by decision at 149 and 157 pounds to come back within 10-9. Balcita made it a 13-9 Pacific edge with his 11-3 decision of Jakob Price at 165, but Brandon Cunningham took the three points right back with his 3-2 win over Harlin. Malychewski scored critical bonus points that proved to be the margin in the match when he pinned Hambleton in the 184-pound match. Baker's final two wrestlers were limited to decision victories to preserve the Pacific win.
Pacific will take the next couple of weeks off. They return to dual meet competition on Sat., Jan. 5, as they travel to the Seattle area to face Highline CC.
PACIFIC 28, WASHINGTON & LEE 17
125: Adam Davis (W&L) win by fall over Daylin Ruggerio (PAC), 3:59 (6-0 W&L)
133:
Eric Harder (PAC) maj. dec. Tyler Kaelin (W&L), 11-0 (6-4 W&L)
141:
Ryan Baxter (PAC) dec. H.T. Kotchinan (W&L), 3-1 (7-6 PAC)
149: Conner Duffy (W&L) maj. dec.
Allin Franco (PAC), 15-1 (11-7 W&L)
157:
Dillon Ford (PAC) maj. dec. Matt Howell (W&L), 12-1 (11-11 Tie)
165:
Bruce Balcita (PAC) win by fall over Zac Hicheg (W&L), 1:58 (17-11 PAC)
174: Ron Tassoni (W&L) dec.
Chris Harlin (PAC), 8-6 (17-14 PAC)
184:
Caleb Malychewski (PAC) win by tech. fall over Morgan Moskal (W&L), 17-2 (22-14 PAC)
197:
Nik Streng (PAC) win by fall over Connor Smith (W&L), 3:30 (28-14 PAC)
285: Gran Coacly (W&L) dec.
Evan Schreurs (PAC), 3-1 (28-17 PAC)
NO. 5 OLIVET 30, PACIFIC 7
NOTE: Olivet penalized one team point for unsportsmanlike conduct
125: Henry McKewon (OC) dec. Daylin Ruggerio (PAC), 5-0 (3-0 OC)
133:
Eric Harder (PAC) dec. Mike Gancer (OC), 9-7 (3-3 Tie)
141: Justin Holhm (OC) dec.
Ryan Baxter (PAC), 8-2 (6-3 OC)
149: Justin Tamcisek (PC) win by fall over
Allin Franco (PAC), 2:57 (12-3 OC)
157: Dan Fleet (OC) dec.
Dillon Ford (PAC), 6-1 (15-3 OC)
165:
Bruce Balcita (PAC) maj. dec. Rocky Cantu (OC), 12-4 (15-7 OC)
174: Nick Allen (OC) maj. dec.
Chris Harlin (PAC), 9-0 (19-7 OC)
184: Jeff Holm (OC) dec.
Caleb Malychewski (PAC), 5-4 (22-7 OC)
197: Andrew Simpson (OC) won by fall over
Nik Streng (PAC), 2:14 (28-7 OC)
285: Jack Griggs (OC) dec.
Evan Schreurs (PAC), 2-1 (31-7 OC)
PACIFIC 30, NO. 28 LORAS 9
125: Daylin Ruggerio (PAC) dec. Andrew Hoerth (LC), 5-2 (3-0 PAC)
133:
Eric Harder (PAC) dec. Mitch Johnson (LC), 11-6 (6-0 PAC)
141:
Ryan Baxter (PAC) win by fall over Trent Lyons (LC), 6:59 (12-0 PAC)
149: Greg Vance (LC) maj. dec.
Allin Franco (PAC), 17-4 (12-4 PAC)
157: Russ Gossen (LC) won by tech. fall over
Dillon Ford (PAC), 16-0 (12-9 PAC)
165:
Bruce Balcita (PAC) dec. Tommy Gross (LC), 12-11 (15-9 PAC)
174:
Chris Harlin (PAC) dec. Tyler Mideltch (LC), 7-6 (18-9 PAC)
184:
Caleb Malychewski (PAC) won by tech. fall over Mathias Palmerschein (LC), 18-0 (23-9 PAC)
197:
Nik Streng (PAC) dec. Luke Perkis (LC), 9-3 (27-9 PAC)
285:
Evan Schreurs (PAC) dec. Kyle Harm (LC), 2-1 (30-9 PAC)
PACIFIC 19, NO. 9 (NAIA) BAKER 18
125: Nathan Garcia (BU) dec. Daylin Ruggerio (PAC), 11-4 (3-0 BU)
133:
Eric Harder (PAC) maj. dec. Drew Harburger (BU), 12-4 (4-3 PAC)
141:
Ryan Baxter (PAC) win by fall over Paxon Fowloer (BU), No Time Listed (10-3 PAC)
149: Coppenberger (BU) dec.
Allin Franco (PAC), 10-3 (10-6 PAC)
157: Cole Price (BU) dec.
Dillon Ford (PAC), 4-2 (10-9 PAC)
165:
Bruce Balcita (PAC) dec. Jakob Price (BU), 11-3 (13-9 PAC)
174: Brandon Cunningham (BU) dec.
Chris Harlin (PAC), 3-2 (13-12 PAC)
184:
Caleb Malychewski (PAC) win by fall over Hambleton (BU), No Time Listed (19-12 PAC)
197: Singer (BU) dec.
Nik Streng (PAC), 1-0 (19-15 PAC)
285: Bennett (BU) dec.
Evan Schreurs (PAC), 7-1 (19-18 PAC)
EXHIBITION MATCHES
141:
Shawn Speer (PAC) win by fall over Dexter Bass (Wartburg), 3:40
141: Colbey Garrison (Baker) win by fall over
Shawn Speer (PAC), No Time Listed
141:
Shawn Speer (PAC) win by fall over Colin Griffin (Loras), 0:31
157: Nick Michael (Wartburg) win by tech. fall over
Devan Silva (PAC), No Score Listed
157:
Devan Silva (PAC) win by fall over Griffin Warhe (Loras), 1:12
165:
Michael Tyner (PAC) dec. John Filmore (Grand View), 12-5
165: Dustin Roberts (Great Falls) win by fall over Joseph Norcia (PAC), 6:39
165: Casey Park (Great Falls) win by fall over
Michael Tyner (PAC), No Time Listed
165: Mike Ganny (Hastings) dec. Joseph Norcia (PAC), 6-0
165: Casey Park (Great Falls) win by fall over Joseph Norcia (PAC), 1:41
