Recap: Tiebreakers spoil @UNCBearsWrestle's Friday night against the Bulldogs

Friday, January 26

Greeley, CO

7 pm

University of Northern Colorado

Fresno State

Photo by: Dean Popejoy

1/26/2018 11:39:00 PM | Wrestling

Northern Colorado dropped the dual 20-19 after the third tiebreaker clinched it for Fresno State

By: Matthew Kushar, UNCBears.com

GREELEY, Colo.- Duals do not get any closer than the one at Bank of Colorado Arena on Friday night. Fresno State edged Northern Colorado 20-19, needing the third tie breaker to decide the winner after the match was tied at 19 following the final bout.

The deciding factor in the dual was in the final match where Fresno St.'s Richie Brandt managed to takedown Tanner Davis to tie earn the decision with 4-3 and tie the score up. The Bulldogs were then able to narrowly defeat the Bears on point totals from matches decided by either decision or major decision, 60-57.

The dual started in the heavyweight class with Robert Winters Jr. facing No. 28 AJ Nevills. The two were unable to score in the first period, but Nevills managed a takedown, an escape, and a stalling penalty to build a 4-0 lead in the second. Nevills had three takedowns of Winters in the third, before pinning him with :22 seconds left in the match, as Fresno St. raced out to a 6-0 lead over UNC.

Michael Johnson got the start in the 125 lb weight class, where he would meet Sean Williams. After an early takedown by Williams, Johnson scored his own takedown to end the first period with a 3-2 lead. Williams took the lead in the second period with a reversal and another takedown. Down 6-4 in the third period, Johnson managed a takedown of Williams and tied the match at eight with a point for riding time. The two went to overtime to decide the bout and Williams earned the 10-8 sudden victory with a takedown at :38 seconds. The Bulldogs increased their lead to 9-0.

In the 133 lb weight class, No. 19 Rico Montoya went up against Trevor Williams. Montoya jumped ahead with a takedown and added a four-point near fall to hold an 8-1 advantage in the first period. The two exchanged points in the second period with an escape by Williams and a stalling penalty against him to keep Montoya with a 9-2 lead. He added to his lead in the final period with a takedown and the riding time advantage to earn a 13-3 major decision win. UNC was on the board and cut Fresno St. lead to 9-4.

Looking to make up more ground, Benjamin Polkowske battled Chris DeLoza in the 141 lb weight class. Polkowske had a pair of takedowns in the first period and had a 5-3 lead going to the second. Another takedown and an escape by Polkowske extend the lead to 8-4. In the third period, DeLoza managed to get a reversal on Polkowske, who was also hit with a stalling penalty. Polkowske held on for an 8-7 decision win and Fresno St.'s lead shrank to 9-7.

Jimmy Fate had an opportunity to give UNC the lead in the 149 lb weight class, but faced a tough test against No. 22 Khristian Olivas. In the first period, Olivas recorded three takedowns on Fate for a 6-2 lead. Another takedown in the second gave Olivas an 8-3 lead over Fate. Olivas broke the match open in the third with two takedowns and a reversal, leaving Fate on the wrong end of a 17-5 major decision. The Bulldogs rebuilt the lead to 13-7 going to the intermission.

Tyler Kinn was on mat for UNC in the 157 lb weight class and he faced off against Greg Gaxiola. Kinn had two takedowns in the first and built a 4-1 lead. The two exchanged reversals in the second period and an escape by Gaxiola cut Kinn's lead to 6-4. Kinn kept his poise in the third period and scored a takedown and an escape, plus riding time for a 10-5 decision win over Gaxiola. UNC was back in the dual, down only 13-10.

Now in the 165 lb weight class, Keilan Torres was up against Isaiah Hokit. The first period was scoreless, but Hokit jumped ahead of Torres with a takedown to lead 3-1 after the second. Torre tied the match at three in the third with an escape and a stalling penalty, but Hokit got the point right back with his own stalling penalty point with seven seconds left. Torres pulled off a clutch takedown with one second left and survived Hokit with a 5-4 decision win. The win tied the dual at 13.

With the score tied, Sethan Bogulski faced Dominic Kincaid in the 174 lb weight class, looking to put the Bears ahead. Kincaid had the lead early with a takedown, but Bogulski managed an escape to limit the deficit at 2-1. Bogulski tied the match up at three with a takedown, but Kincaid stormed back with a reversal and a four-point near fall to lead 9-3 after the second period. Bogulski did not give up and had a takedown of Kincaid in the third period, but the comeback fell short. Kincaid won 10-5 by decision and broke the tie and gave Fresno St. a 16-13 lead.

UNC needed a strong performance from one of its best in Dylan Gabel, who wrestled against Angel Solis at the 197 lb weight class. Gabel was dominant from the starting, scoring a takedown, a two-point and a four-point near fall to lead 8-0 after the first period. In the second period, Gabel put an end to the match with a fall at 4:07 and UNC turned the three-point deficit into a three-point lead at 19-16.

The dual came down to the 197 lb weight class with Davis going against Richi Brandt. Davis was in front early with a takedown and had a 2-1 lead after the first period. Brandt managed to tie the match at two with an escape in the second period after choosing to start in the down position. After Davis took the lead with an escape in the third period, Brandit scored a takedown to pull ahead 4-3. Brandit held on and defeat Davis 4-3 by decision and the dual was tied at 19.

It was at this point that the dual would have to be decided by a tiebreaker. The first two tiebreakers for duals are individual match wins and falls. The two teams won five matches each and tied with one fall apiece to force the dual to be decided by the third tiebreaker. Fresno State had the advantage in total points in matches decided by decisions and major decisions, 60-57. The Bulldogs were awarded and additional point and they defeated UNC 20-19.

In their words

Tyler Kinn
On his match
"The big part of my match was to push and keep heavy on his head. I knew those low singles were coming and I had a good setup. I could have pushed a little more at the end and get the major, but it is a win."

On his recent success
"I don't know what I've changed but it's all starting coming together as I get close to the end of my career. It's really seeing that this the last opportunity for me to something for myself and the program. It's sad, but also exciting to go out and do something big. Every chance I go out there it's an opportunity"

Dylan Gabel
On his match
"The first period was huge for me. I had those two near falls that gave me six points. He tried that roll through and that was just pride and heart not going over. I knew where my team was at and I knew where I was at so I fought it and was able to get the fall from there."

On his consistency
"It just another day for me, going out and being relaxed throughout the match and my preparation. When I wrestle up tight I'm not successful, so I just try and stay relaxed for everything. It's not a formula for me, but just what I've been doing my whole career."

Troy Nickerson, Head Coach
On the dual
"I knew we needed to win that last match to win the dual. I think we had plenty of chances in every weight class to win that dual and it wasn't our night. We did okay, but I want to see more effort and more heart from the team."

On Dylan and Tyler's matches
"Dylan Gabel going out and doing what he does and needs to do for the team by getting the fall. He knows what he needs to do to get it done. Then Tyler Kinn wrestling probably a better opponent then him. Tyler looked great tonight and really pressed the pace and did what we asked him to do and he came out victorious."

On Fresno State
"Yeah Troy's doing a great job there. He had his guys ready to go tonight and they wrestled hard, pushed the pace on us. I think adding them to the conference is just going to help the Big 12 and get allocations at nationals for the conference."

Moving forward
"This one definitely stings a little bit and we need to continue look inside ourselves to find the purpose and pride in order compete for seven minutes. We didn't have that tonight."

Up Next
Northern Colorado will get a chance to get this dual out of its head, as they travel to face Oregon State in Corvallis. The dual will take place on Sunday, January 28^th at 4 P.M. (MT).