GCU Defeats Embry-Riddle

Wednesday, January 6

GCU

Won (28-15)

Grand Canyon

Embry Riddle (AZ)

1/6/2010 12:29:50 PM | Wrestling

The premiere match of the night was the premier one.

Grand Canyon University redshirt sophomore Victor Carazo (pictured, Modesto, CA/Modesto Junior College), ranked No. 5 in NCAA Division II wrestling at 174 pounds, won a 6-4 decision over Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University freshman Tyler Chang, who had a 20-1 overall record.

Spurred by Carazo's victory, which raised his record to 22-4, the Antelopes went on the defeat the Eagles, 28-15, tonight at Antelope Gymnasium.

Junior Todd Wilcox (Sacramento, CA/Sierra College), who captured the 133-pound championship at the 2010 Midwest Classic in Indianapolis on Sunday, beat Embry-Riddle freshman Joshua Chang, 7-3, to improve to 26-1 on the season. Wilcox is ranked No. 7 in Division II wrestling at 133 pounds.

Other winners for GCU included:

* Sophomore Kevin Treftz (184 pounds, Sierra Vista, AZ/Buena) -- 18-9 major decision over sophomore Matt Hamilton

* Junior Ryan Becerra (197 pounds, Gilbert, AZ/Cal State Bakersfield) -- 8-3 decision over freshman Matt Skinner

* Redshirt junior Richard Hernandez (285 pounds, Tempe, AZ/Briar Cliff) -- fall vs. redshirt freshman Johnny Perez at 1:19

* Freshman Juan Carlos Maynes (Silver, NM/Silver City) -- 9-3 decision over junior Trace Billet

* Redshirt senior Stephen Towne (Phoenix, AZ/Menlo College) -- forfeit

Embry-Riddle victors were 125-pound freshman John Garza, who pinned freshman Madison Gambrell (Clovis, CA/Clovis); 141-pound freshman Mitch Newcomer, who did the same to junior Tommy Marquez (Phoenix, AZ/Paradise Valley CC); and sophomore Isai Gomez, who won an 8-6 decision over redshirt junior Daniel Rubio (Phoenix, AZ/Phoenix College).

GCU currently is not in the top 20 in the NCAA Division II wrestling rankings, although the 'Lopes did receive votes. They were ranked No. 20 in the poll released on Dec. 16, marking the first time in the three-year history of the program that they have been ranked.

GCU next wrestles at the UVU Open (non-varsity) on Saturday in Orem, Utah.