Another Big Weekend Of Wrestling At GCU

A busy week of wrestling continues at Grand Canyon University.

The fifth-ranked Antelopes will have four dual meets Friday and Saturday, giving them nine matches in the last eight days.

Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opponents No. 22 CSU-Pueblo and Western State, National Collegiate Wrestling Association No. 1 California Baptist and Simon Fraser, from Canada will be here in the second large dual event at Grand Canyon in eight days.

Last Saturday, GCU hosted five schools, including No. 1 Newberry, in a 10-match extravaganza at GCU Arena. On Monday, the ‘Lopes took on Arizona rival Embry-Riddle and No. 18 RMAC foe Colorado Mesa.

GCU faces Simon Fraser at Antelope Gymnasium tonight at 7 p.m. There are four rounds of wrestling at the gym Saturday, beginning with a 1 p.m. match between CSU-Pueblo and Cal Baptist. Grand Canyon wrestles Cal Baptist at 3 p.m., CSU-Pueblo at 5 p.m. and Western State at 7 p.m.

There will be two mats going simultaneously at 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

In all, GCU Arena and Antelope Gym will have hosted 21 dual matches in eight days.

This weekend, 19 wrestlers with nationally rankings will compete, including six from Grand Canyon.
Results will be posted on GCULopes.com after each round and fans can follow the GCU matches live, and for free, with streaming video provided by the AmericaOne Network.

GCU DUALS II SCHEDULE
Friday, 7 p.m.
Grand Canyon vs. Simon Fraser
Saturday, 1 p.m.
Mat 1: California Baptist vs. CSU-Pueblo
Mat 2: Exhibitions/Warm-up
Saturday, 3 p.m.
Mat 1: Grand Canyon vs. California Baptist
Mat 2: Western State vs. Simon Fraser
Saturday, 5 p.m.
Mat 1: Grand Canyon vs. CSU-Pueblo
Mat 2: Western State vs. California Baptist
Saturday, 7 p.m.
Mat 1: Grand Canyon vs. Western State
Mat 2: CSU-Pueblo vs. Simon Fraser

Nationally-Ranked Wrestlers (Basford)
125 – No. 4 Kyle McCrite (Grand Canyon), No. 8 Nick Mamalis (CSU-Pueblo)
133 – No. 7 Jesse Hillhouse (CSU-Pueblo)
149 – No. 7 Bobby Ward (Grand Canyon)
157 – No. 4 Ted Bristol (Grand Canyon)
174 – No. 2 Victor Carazo (Grand Canyon)
184 – Honorable Mention Adam Carey (CSU-Pueblo)
197 – No. 7 Celic Bell (Grand Canyon)
Hwt. – No. 5 Jordan Johnson (Grand Canyon)
Nationally-Ranked Wrestlers (NWCA)
125 – No. 7 Kyle McCrite (Grand Canyon)
133 – No. 4 Jesse Hillhouse (CSU-Pueblo), No. 8 Matt Greene (Western State)
157 – No. 4 Ted Bristol (Grand Canyon)
Nationally-Ranked Wrestlers (NCWA)
125 – No. 2 Jimmy Martinez (California Baptist)
133 – No. 5 Alex Anunciation (California Baptist)
141 – No. 2 Bradford Gerl (California Baptist)
149 – No. 1 Dylan Cataline (California Baptist)
157 – No. 4 Chris Santana (California Baptist)
165 – No. 9 Bronson Gerl (California Baptist)
174 – No. 4 Ken Tribble (California Baptist)
197 – No. 6 David Dill (California Baptist)
Hwt. – No. 1 Zach Merrill (California Baptist)

Team Previews
GRAND CANYON
The Antelopes come into the weekend with six wrestlers in the latest Basford individual rankings (released Dec. 28). Two-time All-American Victor Carazo (174) is the highest rated at No. 2.

Kyle McCrite (125) is ranked No. 4 by Basford and No. 7 in the National Wrestling Coaches Association poll. Ted Bristol (157) is ranked fourth in both. Heavyweight Jordan Johnson, who has just one loss on the season, is No. 5 in Basford. Both Bobby Ward (149) and Celic Bell (197), who also has just one loss, are No. 7.

Unranked Lino Estrada (133) is hoping to wrap up an impressive week, too. He beat the No. 6 ranked wrestler, Newberry’s Matt Oliver, last Saturday and downed Colorado Mesa national-qualifier Tyler Nelson Monday.

CALIFORNIA BAPTIST
The Lancers will have one of the stronger teams here this weekend. They beat No. 18 Colorado Mesa in the arena last week and impressed in a 20-14 loss to No. 1 Newberry. Their 14 points against No. 3 St. Cloud State was the most of any SCS opponent in last Saturday’s event.

Ranked No. 1 in the NCWA, Cal Baptist is in the transition period from moving to NCAA Division II from NAIA. Nine of the 10 wrestlers in their lineup are ranked in the NCWA poll, including No. 1’s Dylan Cataline (149) and Zach Merrill (Hwt.)

CSU-PUEBLO
The ThunderWolves are 2-0 in duals and own an RMAC win over Fort Hays State.

Jesse Hillhouse (133) is ranked No. 4 in the NWCA and No. 7 in Basford. Nick Mamalis (125) is No. 8 and Adam Carey (184) received an honorable mention in the Basford rankings.

Hillhouse has won two tournaments this season.

SIMON FRASER
The Clan are 0-2-2 in duals on the season. Head coach Mike Jones is in his 35th season. Clete Hanson (184) owns the best record, according to NWCA Scorebook, at 8-2. Skylor Davis (125) is 6-3.

WESTERN STATE
Another RMAC opponent, the Mountaineers have a young team with some impressive individual records.

Freshman Matt Greene (133) is ranked No. 8 in the nation and boasts a 17-1 mark. Four other frosh with impressive records include Dustin Stiegemeyer (125, 14-4), Kyle Piatt (184, 11-4), Elliott Copeland (174, 9-3) and Sam Mangum (197, 11-2). Sophomore Kurtis Ramsey (149) is 10-1.
GCU head coach R.C. LaHaye and assistant coach Larry Wilbanks both wrestled for veteran WSC coach Miles Van Hee, a former NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year.

Grand Canyon University Athletics

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