Grand Canyon University Athletics
Lopes trio 6th at RMAC Championships
2/28/2009 10:55:25 AM | Wrestling
KEARNEY, Neb. -- There will be no trip to nationals this year. No grand stage for a courageous group who've helped Grand Canyon wrestling turn a new leaf in this young program's history.
Instead, they walk away from the mat for the final time this year with what-ifs running through their minds.
Grand Canyon's Ryan Becerra, Jack Porter and Alex Contreras each placed sixth in their respective weight classes Saturday at the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championships. The top four finishers in each weight class advance to the NCAA Championships.
Becerra lost to Fort Hays State's Tyler Gonzales, 3-2, at 184 in a match that would've guaranteed him a spot in the nationals. Becerra beat Colorado School of Mines' Brad Price by technical fall, 16-0. He also beat Colorado State Pueblo's Kellen Desmond by tech fall, 16-0, to set up the match with the No. 2-seeded Gonzales. Becerra, seeded fifth, finished 22-8 this year.
Becerra's 22 wins are the most in a season for a GCU wrestler.
Porter lost to Colorado School of Mines' Jordan Larsen, 8-3, at 165 in his bid to qualify for nationals. Porter (pictured) beat No. 7-seeded Jarrod Purvis of New Mexico Highlands, 3-2. He also decisioned San Francisco State's Zach Sesar by the same score to set up the bout with Larsen.
Porter went 18-20 this season. He is 31-40 in his two-year GCU career.
Seeded seventh, Contreras defeated No. 2 Nebraska-Kearney's Joey Morrizon, 3-1, at 133. But Contreras was forced to forfeit his next three bouts, preventing him from advancing.
Contreras went 13-18 this year.
GCU's seventh-seeded Daniel Garay went 2-2 at 174 in one of the toughest weight classes in the nation. Garay beat Adams State's Don Medina by tech fall, 16-0. He lost to Chadron State's No. 2-seeded Brett Hunter by fall in 6:23. Garay then beat San Francisco State's Lucas Duckwall by major decision, 16-2, before falling to Western State College's No. 6-seeded Nick Ross, 2-1.
Garay was 20-19 this year.
Grand Canyon's team finished with 23 points, placing 11th.
