GCU Opens NCWA With Three Lopsided Wins

Friday, January 24

Dalton, GA

2 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Florida Gulf Coast

GCU went 3-0 in Friday's first day of competition at the NCWA Collegiate Cup. Pictured is Lino Estrada, one of many GCU grapplers to go 3-0 on the day.

Photo by: Darryl Webb

1/24/2014 5:54:00 PM | Wrestling

Grand Canyon opened the National Collegiate Wrestling Association Collegiate Cup by winning three matches Friday to advance to Saturday's quarterfinals.

The Antelopes (8-4) won in lopsided fashion in all three contests. They opened with a 59-0 win over Connecticut and followed it up with a 48-3 triumph over Florida Gulf Coast. To reach the quarters, GCU beat South Florida 61-(-1). GCU won all 11 matches and the Bulls lost one point for unsportsmanlike conduct.

"Good effort by the boys today," said GCU coach R.C. LaHaye. "They wrestled hard and dominated. We expect a big step up in competition tomorrow so we will need to step up our intensity as well."

GCU, ranked No. 1 in the NCWA, opens the quarters with a 10 a.m. (Arizona Time) match against Grand Valley State.

Twenty-four teams, including 17 ranked in the NCWA Top 25, make up the two-day tournament. A champion will be crowned Saturday.

Grand Canyon is ineligible due to the four-year transitioning period from moving from Division II to Division I to compete in NCAA Championships. The NCWA provides post season opportunities to programs in similar situations and those colleges and universities that don't have programs at the NCAA level.

GCU RESULTS
NCWA BRACKET