GCU Holds Off Highlands, 25-15

Thursday, January 13

GCU

7:00 p.m.

Grand Canyon

New Mexico Highlands University

Eli Arizmendez improved to 8-0 since joining the 'Lopes.

1/13/2011 8:58:32 PM | Wrestling

By: Mike McNally

The No. 10 Grand Canyon University wrestling team won their second straight dual, tonight defeating New Mexico Highlands, 25-15, at Antelope Gymnasium on the campus of GCU.

The ‘Lopes used bookend pins by their two returning All-Americans, No. 4 Victor Carazo and No. 7 Ryan Becerra, to fend off a late charge by the Cowboys, improving to 6-4 in duals this season.

Becerra got the opening nod as the dual started off with the 184-pound match. He wasted little time, pinning New Mexico Highlands’ Andrew Roden at 1:48 to give GCU a quick 6-0 lead. It was Becerra’s fourth win by fall this season.

Newcomer Eli Arizmendez improved to 8-0 for the Antelopes, cruising to a 15-6 major decision win at 197. He led 6-2 after one period and stretched his lead out to as many as 11 points in the third period.

The heavyweights were next to take center stage with GCU’s Peter Anguiano using a near fall in the third period to put away the Cowboys’ R.K. Rockhill, 7-1.

Highlands jumped on the board with a win at 125 to close the gap to 13-3. No. 2 Todd Wilcox stemmed the tide with a hard fought 9-5 victory at 133. The match was even at 4-4 entering the third, but Wilcox used a pair of takedowns to improve his overall record to 17-3 this season.

GCU forfeited at 141, closing their match lead to 16-9.

Two one-point losses by GCU’s Austen Moore at 149 and Ted Bristol at 157 brought the match to 16-15. Moore used a two-point reversal with five seconds remaining to tie the match at 4-4, but lost 5-4 when Highlands’ Mariano Montoya was awarded a point for riding time. Bristol and Trey Saxon of NMHU participated in the night’s most exciting match. Bristol led 9-6 after two periods, but Saxon used a late near fall to win 11-10.

GCU’s Mike Fucci picked up his 12^th win of the season, winning 7-3 at 165, giving GCU a 19-15 lead.

Carazo wasted no time at 174, pinning the Cowboys’ Brad Morgan at 2:31. For Carazo, it was his fourth win by fall, improving his overall record to a team-best 18-3.

The ‘Lopes will be back in action tomorrow as they make the trip north to Prescott for the Mile High Duals on the Embry-Riddle campus.

Full results can be viewed here.