University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Photo by: Dean Popejoy
Bears Battle to Last Match, Come Up Just Short Against Wolverines
2/14/2020 9:47:00 PM | Wrestling
Northern Colorado dropped its first dual of the weekend to Utah Valley
OREM, UT- Northern Colorado wrestling was in another battle to the last match on Valentines Day against Utah Valley, with the Wolverines holding off the Bears, 20-15. The team's each won five matches, but UVU managed to earn bonus points in three to top UNC.
"Tonight we lost a close one," head coach Troy Nickerson said. "I do not think we looked our best. We need to be more disciplined and do the hard things right."
The dual started in the 141 lbs match, as Brody Lamb got the start against Kainalu Estrella. Lamb trailed Estrella 5-3 after the first period. In the second period, Estralla used his fourth takedown of the match to turn Lamb for the fall at 4:41. UNC was in a 6-0 hole quickly.
No. 10 Andrew Alirez faced Cameron Hunsaker in the 149 lbs bout. After the first period, Alirez had a 2-1 advantage and built the lead to 6-1 after the second. Alirez scored another takedown in the third period and added the riding time bonus for the 9-3 decision win. The win put the Bears on the board, down 6-3.
In the 157 lbs match, Jimmy Fate met Jed Loveless and the redshirt-junior got the early takedown to take the lead in the first period. Fate added another takedown in second period for a 4-1 leading heading to the final period. Fate built enough riding time to earn the bonus and won the 5-3 decision over Loveless. The dual was now tied at six following the decision win.
No. 31 Austin Matthews got back to his winning ways in the 165-bout against Koy Wilkinson. Matthews had a 3-2 lead after the first period, adding another takedown in the second period. In the third period, Matthews used three escapes to hold off Wilkinson in a 9-7 decision win. The Bears were now in the lead over the Wolverines, 9-6.
Billy Higgins faced No. 9 Kimball Bastian in the 174 lbs match. Bastian would rack up four takedowns and the riding time bonus on the way to an 11-2 major decision win. UVU retook the lead, 10-9 over UNC.
At 184 lbs, No. 23 Alan Clothier battled Ashton Seely. Clothier jumped on Seely quickly, with two, first period takedowns. He would add another in the second period to extend his lead to 6-3. Seely fought back in the third period with a takedown and Clothier was hit with a stalling penalty. Clothier had built a built enough of a lead to hold on for the 7-6 decision win. The Bears had the lead back, up 12-10.
Xavier Vasquez would take on No. 19 Tanner Orndorff in the 197 lbs match. Orndorff would score six takedowns on Vasquez, adding the riding time and a penalty to get the 14-4 major decision. The dual continued to be back-and-forth, with the Wolverines now leading 14-12.
Robert Winters Jr. was the Bears guy at 285 lbs and he would have a tough test against No. 4 Tate Orndorff. Winters Jr. wrestled well against the highly ranked Orndorff, but was ridden out in the second period. Orndorff got the escape and riding time in the third period for the 2-0 decision win. UVU had strung two wins together for the 17-12 lead over UNC.
The Bears now turned to Jace Koelzer at 133 lbs, as he faced Josiah Nava. Koelzer controlled Nava from the first period on, racking up three takedowns, a two-point nearfall and a four-point nearfall, along with the riding time point. Koelzer had rallied UNC with a 14-1 major decision and UNC was now only down one, 17-16, to UVU heading to the final match.
The 133-bound was a ranked matchup between No. 18 Mosha Schwartz and No. 11 Taylor LaMont. Schwartz led after the first period, getting two takedowns and an escape to LaMont's one takedown and an escape. LaMont would unleash his offense in the second period, getting three takedowns to race ahead of the Schwartz. Despite a late reversal from Schwartz, LaMont won the 11-9 decision to secure the dual win, 20-16.
UNC fell to 2-7 on the season and 1-5 in Big 12 duals.
"We will need to make some quick adjustments as we have a short turnaround in Laramie on Sunday," Nickerson added.
Results
141: Kainalu Estrella (UVU) FALL Brody Lamb (NC), 4:41
149: #10 Andrew Alirez (NC) DEC Cameron Hunsaker (UVU), 6-3
157: Jimmy Fate (NC) DEC Jed Loveless (UVU), 5-3
165: #31 Austin Matthews (NC) DEC Koy Wilkinson (UVU), 9-7
174: #9 Kimball Bastian (UVU) MD Billy Higgins (NC), 11-2
184: #23 Alan Clothier (NC) DEC Ashton Seely (UVU), 7-6
197: #19 Tanner Orndorff (UVU) MD Xavier Vasquez (NC), 14-4
285: #4 Tate Orndorff (UVU) DEC Robert Winters Jr. (NC), 2-0
125: Jace Koelzer (NC) MD Josiah Nava (UVU), 14-1
133: #11 Taylor LaMont (UVU) DEC #18 Mosha Schwartz (NC), 11-9
What's Ahead?
Northern Colorado will now travel to Laramie for a dual with Wyoming on Sunday, Feb. 16, with the first match starting at 2 p.m.(MST).
"Tonight we lost a close one," head coach Troy Nickerson said. "I do not think we looked our best. We need to be more disciplined and do the hard things right."
The dual started in the 141 lbs match, as Brody Lamb got the start against Kainalu Estrella. Lamb trailed Estrella 5-3 after the first period. In the second period, Estralla used his fourth takedown of the match to turn Lamb for the fall at 4:41. UNC was in a 6-0 hole quickly.
No. 10 Andrew Alirez faced Cameron Hunsaker in the 149 lbs bout. After the first period, Alirez had a 2-1 advantage and built the lead to 6-1 after the second. Alirez scored another takedown in the third period and added the riding time bonus for the 9-3 decision win. The win put the Bears on the board, down 6-3.
In the 157 lbs match, Jimmy Fate met Jed Loveless and the redshirt-junior got the early takedown to take the lead in the first period. Fate added another takedown in second period for a 4-1 leading heading to the final period. Fate built enough riding time to earn the bonus and won the 5-3 decision over Loveless. The dual was now tied at six following the decision win.
No. 31 Austin Matthews got back to his winning ways in the 165-bout against Koy Wilkinson. Matthews had a 3-2 lead after the first period, adding another takedown in the second period. In the third period, Matthews used three escapes to hold off Wilkinson in a 9-7 decision win. The Bears were now in the lead over the Wolverines, 9-6.
Billy Higgins faced No. 9 Kimball Bastian in the 174 lbs match. Bastian would rack up four takedowns and the riding time bonus on the way to an 11-2 major decision win. UVU retook the lead, 10-9 over UNC.
At 184 lbs, No. 23 Alan Clothier battled Ashton Seely. Clothier jumped on Seely quickly, with two, first period takedowns. He would add another in the second period to extend his lead to 6-3. Seely fought back in the third period with a takedown and Clothier was hit with a stalling penalty. Clothier had built a built enough of a lead to hold on for the 7-6 decision win. The Bears had the lead back, up 12-10.
Xavier Vasquez would take on No. 19 Tanner Orndorff in the 197 lbs match. Orndorff would score six takedowns on Vasquez, adding the riding time and a penalty to get the 14-4 major decision. The dual continued to be back-and-forth, with the Wolverines now leading 14-12.
Robert Winters Jr. was the Bears guy at 285 lbs and he would have a tough test against No. 4 Tate Orndorff. Winters Jr. wrestled well against the highly ranked Orndorff, but was ridden out in the second period. Orndorff got the escape and riding time in the third period for the 2-0 decision win. UVU had strung two wins together for the 17-12 lead over UNC.
The Bears now turned to Jace Koelzer at 133 lbs, as he faced Josiah Nava. Koelzer controlled Nava from the first period on, racking up three takedowns, a two-point nearfall and a four-point nearfall, along with the riding time point. Koelzer had rallied UNC with a 14-1 major decision and UNC was now only down one, 17-16, to UVU heading to the final match.
The 133-bound was a ranked matchup between No. 18 Mosha Schwartz and No. 11 Taylor LaMont. Schwartz led after the first period, getting two takedowns and an escape to LaMont's one takedown and an escape. LaMont would unleash his offense in the second period, getting three takedowns to race ahead of the Schwartz. Despite a late reversal from Schwartz, LaMont won the 11-9 decision to secure the dual win, 20-16.
UNC fell to 2-7 on the season and 1-5 in Big 12 duals.
"We will need to make some quick adjustments as we have a short turnaround in Laramie on Sunday," Nickerson added.
Results
141: Kainalu Estrella (UVU) FALL Brody Lamb (NC), 4:41
149: #10 Andrew Alirez (NC) DEC Cameron Hunsaker (UVU), 6-3
157: Jimmy Fate (NC) DEC Jed Loveless (UVU), 5-3
165: #31 Austin Matthews (NC) DEC Koy Wilkinson (UVU), 9-7
174: #9 Kimball Bastian (UVU) MD Billy Higgins (NC), 11-2
184: #23 Alan Clothier (NC) DEC Ashton Seely (UVU), 7-6
197: #19 Tanner Orndorff (UVU) MD Xavier Vasquez (NC), 14-4
285: #4 Tate Orndorff (UVU) DEC Robert Winters Jr. (NC), 2-0
125: Jace Koelzer (NC) MD Josiah Nava (UVU), 14-1
133: #11 Taylor LaMont (UVU) DEC #18 Mosha Schwartz (NC), 11-9
What's Ahead?
Northern Colorado will now travel to Laramie for a dual with Wyoming on Sunday, Feb. 16, with the first match starting at 2 p.m.(MST).
Players Mentioned
HC Nickerson, Vinny Zerban, and AJ Heeg Post Dual Press Conference vs Cal Baptist 01/24/2025
Wednesday, May 21
Andrew Alirez Press Conference
Wednesday, May 21
Postmatch Press Conference - HC Troy Nickerson
Wednesday, May 21
Head Coach Troy Nickerson and Andrew Alirez Post Match Press Conference
Monday, February 24