GCU Wrestling Battles Northern Colorado in 25-16 Defeat

Thursday, November 12

Phoenix, Ariz.

8 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Northern Colorado

GCU Wrestling Battles Northern Colorado in 25-16 Defeat

11/12/2015 9:10:00 PM | Wrestling

By: Steven Gonzalez

PHOENIX – For the first time this season, the Grand Canyon wrestling team was able to perform in front of its fans at GCU Arena. Behind a crowd of 1,113 the Antelopes picked up three victories but in the end the Lopes fell to Northern Colorado 25-16 on Thursday.

"Tonight was a good barometer of where we are at right now as a team," head coach Jon Sioredas said. "We have closed the gap from last year and I am proud of the steps our new guys are making in order to get better each and every match."

Trey Andrews gave Northern Colorado the 4-0 lead to start the match in the 125-pounds after an 18-2 victory. Juaquin Olivas battled Rico Montoya in a tight 133-pounds match and Montoya was able to extend Northern Colorado's lead to 8-0 after a 5-3 victory.

GCU got its first points of the match in the 165-pound battle that ended in the first period. Casey Larson took down Joe Grable 53 seconds into the match and pinned Grable, giving GCU six points to cut UNC's lead to 19-6.

"Casey has a few magic tricks up his sleeve," Sioredas said. "He came out with his crazy eyes and was able to show off his strength in tonight's match."

GCU picked up back-to-back victories as Kenny Moore followed Larson's lead and was able to win his second match of the season at 174-pounds.

"It was great wrestling in front of our fans because when the match is tough, they give us that extra jolt to push through," Moore said. "We could have won some more matches tonight but now we have to get back to the room and improve on becoming better wrestlers."

The Lopes cut Northern Colorado's lead to 19-10 after Moore defeated Horacio Vialpando 16-5 and after a UNC forfeit in the 184-pound contest by Dylan Gabel, Cale Wilson gave GCU six more points, to trail Northern Colorado 19-16 with two matches left.

After a UNC victory in the 197-pound match, the Lopes trailed 22-16 headed into the final match. In his first match of the season at 285-pounds, Sean Medley battled Jack Kuck and after three periods, the two were tied at 1-1. In the tie breaker period, Medley was able to get an escape to but Kuck responded with an escape of his own to tie the match at 2-2. In the second overtime round, Kuck would come away with the win, giving Northern Colorado the 25-16 victory.

The Lopes will be back in action next Friday, Nov. 20, as they head back out on the road to face the No. 4 team in the country, Iowa.

GCU vs. Northern Colorado Results
125- Trey Andrews (UNC) def. Trayton Libolt Libolt (GCU), 17-2 / UNC 5 – Grand Canyon 0
133- Rico Montoya (UNC) def. Jauquin Olivas (GCU), 5-3 / UNC 8 – Grand Canyon 0
141- Sonny Espinoza (UNC) def. Steven Abayon (GCU), 16-0 / UNC 13 – Grand Canyon 0
149- Timmy Box (UNC) def. Blake Monty (GCU), 9-6 / 16 UNC – Grand Canyon 0
157- Eleazar De Luca (UNC) def. Chayse Jackson (GCU), 8-2 / 19 UNC – Grand Canyon 0
165- Casey Larson (GCU) def. Joe Grable (UNC), 6-0 / 19 UNC – Grand Canyon 6
174- Kenny Moore (GCU) def. Horacio Vialpando (UNC), 16-5 / 19 UNC – Grand Canyon 10
184- Cale Wilson (GCU) def. Dylan Gabel (UNC), forfeit / 19 UNC – Grand Canyon 16
197- Trent Noon (UNC) def. Austin Gaun (GCU), 8-2 / 22 UNC – Grand Canyon 16
285- Jack Kuck (UNC) def. Sean Medley (GCU), 2-1 / 25 UNC – Grand Canyon 16