Grapplers Set New Record For Dual Wins

Sunday, February 12

Chadron, NE

5 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Chadron State

GCU two-time All-American Victor Carazo won both matches at Chadron State Sunday.

2/12/2012 7:55:00 PM | Wrestling

Grand Canyon set a new school mark for dual wins in a single season by winning its 18th Sunday in Chadron, Neb.

The Antelopes (18-4) tied the mark set last season with a 30-6 win over Colorado Mines and set the mark with a 24-13 triumph over Chadron State.

The two victories up GCU’s Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference record to 7-1. It will shoot for the regular-season title for the second straight year Wednesday when it travels to Fort Hays State to take on the hosts and Nebraska-Kearney.

UNK is 5-0 in RMAC duals and ranked No. 2 in the Basford poll and No. 4 in the National Wrestling Coaches Association poll. Fort Hays State is No. 9 and No. 15, respectively. GCU is sixth in the Basford and seventh in the NWCA.

Head coach R.C. LaHaye praised the work of what he calls his, “Big Five” Sunday. Kyle McCrite (125), Bobby Ward (149), Victor Carazo (174), Celic Bell (197) and Jordan Johnson (285) all went 2-0 on the day.

McCrite, No. 5 in the Basford rankings, won by major decision over Elias Arias of Mines and took a decision against Connor Larson of Chadron State. With the wins, McCrite is the first Antelope to reach 30 wins on the season.

Ward, No. 5 in Basford and No. 8 in the NWCA, had a pair of major decision wins. He’s only lost once since he moved down to the 149 class, and that came in overtime during the Grand Canyon University duals. Ward defeated Mines’ Austin Cordova 15-2 and Chadron’s C.J. Clark 9-1.

Carazo also had a pair of major decision wins; including a 13-5 victory over Division I transfer Bret Klopp of Chadron State. Carazo is No. 3 in the Basford poll and No. 5 in the NWCA.

The unranked Bell also had two major wins. He dominated Mines’ Bradley Price 11-0 and knocked off Chadron’s Chris Leak, who beat NWCA second-ranked Luke McPeek of Adams State earlier in the year, 12-2.

“He’s really coming on at the right time,” LaHaye said of Bell.

Johnson, ranked third in both polls, defeated Mines’ Robert Tucker 7-3 and Chadron’s R.J. Boylan 3-1.

Against Mines, Ted Bristol (157) knocked off eighth-ranked Steven Kelly 7-3.

After losing to eighth-ranked Jordan Larsen of Mines, 8-4, GCU freshman David Wilberbeat Chadron senior Mikah Kadera 8-1.

Junior Brett Sanchez (184) also added a pair of GCU wins by decision.

“Anytime you can win RMAC matches, it’s a good day,” added LaHaye. “Our ‘Big 5’ all wrestled well. When you win 15 of 20 matches, it’s a dominating day.”
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No. 7 Grand Canyon 30, Colorado Mines 6
197 (Exhibition) – Alec Bird, CSM, major dec. Eric Fan, 21-12
285 – No. 3 Jordan Johnson, GCU, dec. Robert Tucker, 7-3 (3-0 GCU)
125 – Kyle McCrite, GCU, major dec. Elias Arias, 16-2 (7-0 GCU)
133 – Tanner Taylor, CSM, dec. Lino Estrada, 6-4 (7-3 GCU)
141 – Vince Herrera, GCU, technical fall Robert Earl, 17-1 (12-3 GCU)
149 – No. 8 Bobby Ward, GCU, major dec. Austin Cordova, 15-2 (16-3 GCU)
157 – Ted Bristol, GCU, dec. No. 8 Steven Kelly, 7-3 (19-3 GCU)
165 – No. 8 Jordan Larsen, CSM, dec. David Wilber, 8-4 (19-6 GCU)
174 – No. 5 Victor Carazo, GCU, major dec. Chad Stich, 13-5 (23-6 GCU)
184 – Brett Sanchez, GCU, dec. Ryan Swanson, 10-3 (26-6 GCU)
197 – Celic Bell, GCU, major dec. Bradley Price, 11-0 (30-6 GCU)

No. 7 Grand Canyon 24, Chadron State 13
285 – No. 3 Jordan Johnson, GCU, dec. R.J. Boylan, 3-1 (3-0 GCU)
125 – Kyle McCrite, GCU, dec. Connor Larson, 6-1 (6-0 GCU)
133 – Dustin Stodola, CSC, dec. Lino Estrada, 7-3 (6-3 GCU)
141 – Perry McAfee, CSC, major dec. Vince Herrera, 11-1 (7-6 CSC)
149 – No. 8 Bobby Ward, GCU, major dec. C.J. Clark, 9-1 (10-7 GCU)
157 – Bruce Zurek, CSC, pinned Ted Bristol, 1:16 (13-10 CSC)
165 – David Wilber, GCU, dec. Mikah Kadera, 8-1 (13-13)
174 – No. 5 Victor Carazo, GCU, major dec. Bret Klopp, 13-5 (17-13 GCU)
184 – Brett Sanchez, GCU, dec. Devan Fors, 3-1 (20-13 GCU)
197 – Celic Bell, GCU, major dec. Chris Leak, 12-2 (24-13 GCU)