Despite the fact that Cal Poly's Boris Navachkov and Purdue's Juan Archuleta could only manage to earn an escape point each through six minutes of regulation, the first two and a half periods featured very explosive sequences in which one wrestler would attempt a takedown which was then defended and acrobatically countered with neither wrestled securing points.
Late in the third period, one such exchange ended with Navachkov in on a deep single which was completed through sheer power as the returning All-American lifted Archuletta into the air before finishing the takedown.
"I just got in deep," said Novachkov. "He's very athletic. I'm glad he came all the way from Purdue for this event. This is a good tournament for me."
The 133 final between Tyler Wilcox Grand Canyon University and Brandon Rocha of Cal Poly 3-1 was very similar except Wilcox was only able to earn the first takedown of the bout with almost no time left in the sudden-victory overtime.
"I could feel he was more tired than me," Wilcox said. "I fed on that. I knew if I was going to go to the rideout I was going to win. I have a lot of work to do. I'm still just putting it all together."
In no finals match was the crowd more excited than at 174 pounds. Erik Starks of Arizona State gave up the initial takedown to Victor Carazo of Grand Canyon University, but the back-and-forth action saw him tie the bout in regulation 6-6. In the sudden-victory overtime, Starks got extended on a shot, struggled to get back to his feet but then instantly shot again to get in on a deep double leg takedown and put Carazo to his back to win 10-6.
"I felt pretty good," Starks said after the win. "He got me with a good takedown. Conditioning is just one aspect. You've got to have the will to win. Fake and go, fake and go. He reacted to my shot, I reacted to his."
The most dominating performance of the night belonged to Embry Riddle's Tyler Chang, who built up a big lead before pinning Barrett Abel of Cal Poly in the 2nd period of the 157 pound final.
The host school crowned a champion at 184 pounds where Titan wrestler Todd Noel won 5-3 over Jake Meridith of Arizona State. Noel held a 4-2 lead in the third period with over three minutes riding time. After being warned for stalling he released Meredith, creating a situation where Meredith could tie the bout with a takedown. Rather than try and simply hold on for the win, Noel went for another takedown and was deep on a shot when time expired.
"He wrestled well," Fullerton head coach Dan Hicks said of Noel's performance. "His opponent is very good on top so we didn't want to go there. I told him to take that kid down again at the end of the match and he went for it."
"We're a bit banged up," Hicks said in regard to a Titan squad which has seen some early-season injuries. "We won't be at full strength until after Christmas."
Hicks accepted many congratulations upon the conclusion of a very well-run tournament, but admitted frustration at the uncertainty his team being allowed to continue.
"We're in a big battle," Hicks said about the future of wrestling at Cal State Fullerton. "We got the first year. We raised $313,000 last year (along with the women's gymnastics team, coached by his wife.) We've got a good pledge drive going. Now they want two years ahead in cash by March 1. This isn't being asked by other sports teams here. It's indefensible the way they're treating us. We had the All-Star Match, the place was packed and no administrators came. It's frustrating. We're worn out."
Finals Results:
125: Ryan Mango (Stanford) over Ben Ashmore (Arizona State), 3-2
133: Tyler Wilcox (Grand Canyon) dec. Brandon Rocha (Cal Poly), 3-1 SV
141: Boris Navachkov (Cal Poly) dec. Juan Archuleta (Purdue), 3-1
149: Chris Santana (Cal State Bakersfield) dec. Timmy Boone (Stanford), 5-3
157: Tyler Chang (Embry-Riddle) pinned Barrett Abel (Cal Poly), 4:11
165: Ryan Desroches (Cal Poly) dec. Lucas Espercueta (Stanford), 8-6
174: Erik Starks (Arizona State) dec. Victor Carazo (Grand Canyon), 10-6 SV
184: Todd Noel (Cal State Fullerton) dec. Jake Meredith (Arizona State), 5-3
197: Riley Orozco (Cal State Bakersfield) dec. Ian Daube (Cal State Fullerton), 5-3
285: Ryan Halsey (Unattached) dec. David Morgan (Bakersfield), 3-2
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