Boxers Win Three, But Clan Take Match With Two Pins
BURNABY, B.C. –
Caleb Malychewski (Jr., Camas, Wash.) edged closer to a 30-win season,
Bruce Balcita (Jr., Myrtle Creek, Ore.) took one stop closer to 20 and
Ryan Baxter (So., Craig, Alaska) picked up his fifth pin of the year, but the three wins were not enough to put Pacific over the top in a 25-14 loss to Simon Fraser on Sunday in men's wrestling action at West Gymnasium.
Malychewski, ranked No. 9 in the latest NWCA Division III Individual Rankings, proved dominant in improving to 28-7 on the season, posting a 17-2, third-round technical fall over Robert Rogal in the 184-pound match. Balcita, meanwhile, took on step closer to his first collegiate 20-win season by scoring a strong 8-2 decision over Brock Lamb in the 165-pound match. The win improved Balcita to 19-11 on the year.
Baxter earned the first of the Boxers' three matches of the night in the 141-pound match, pinning Dillon Hume midway through the first period. The pin was Baxter's fifth of the season and improved the sophomore to 13-9 on the year.
The Clan, however, picked up a pair of pins and scored bonus points in one other to complete a season sweep of the Boxers in their first season as a NCAA Division II program. Skylor Davis opened the match by stunning No. 10 ranked
Eric Harder (So., Bethesda, Md.) with a 15-6 major decision. After Baxter gave Pacific a 6-4 lead, Alex Stemer gave the Clan the lead for good with his first round pin of
Will Patrick (Fr., Sitka, Alaska) at 149. Josh Punzo then made it a 13-6 lead with his 4-0 decision over
Dillon Ford (So., Montesano, Wash.) at 157.
Balcita's victory at 165 brought Pacific within four points, but Cody Coombes outlasted
Michael Tyner (So., Aloha, Ore.) 9-8 in the 174-pound bout to make it a seven-point advantage once again. Malychewski's technical fall brought Pacific within 16-14, but an 8-4 decision in favor of Manvir Sahota at 197 pounds and a pin for Sunny Dhinsa closed out the dual in favor of the Clan.
Pacific concludes their dual meet season with a 6-9 record. The Boxers will now take the next two weeks to prepare for the NCAA Division III West Regional Tournament, which takes place on Sat., Mar. 2, in Minneapolis, Minn.
SIMON FRASER 25, PACIFIC 14
125: Double Default
133: Skylor Davis (SFU) maj. dec. No. 10
Eric Harder (PAC), 15-6 (4-0 SFU)
141:
Ryan Baxter (PAC) win by fall over Dillon Hume (SFU), 1:30 (6-4 PAC)
149: Alex Stemer (SFU) win by fall over
Will Patrick (PAC), 1:38 (10-6 SFU)
157: Josh Punzo (SFU) dec.
Dillon Ford (PAC), 4-0 (13-6 SFU)
165:
Bruce Balcita (PAC) dec. Brock Lamb (SFU), 8-2 (13-9 SFU)
174: Cody Coombes (SFU) dec.
Michael Tyner (PAC), 9-8 (16-9 SFU)
184: No. 9
Caleb Malychewski (PAC) win by tech. fall over Robert Rogal (SFU), 17-2, 6:10 (16-14 SFU)
197: Manvir Sahota (SFU) dec.
Chris Harlin (PAC), 8-4 (19-14 SFU)
285: Sunny Dhinsa (SFU) win by fall over
Nik Streng (PAC), 1:50 (25-14 SFU)
Dual Records: Simon Fraser 3-11; Pacific 6-9
