LA GRANDE, OR – Menlo Men's Wrestling has done it again! The Oaks sent 12 wrestlers to compete in the Cascade Collegiate Conference Championship Tournament hosted at Eastern Oregon University this weekend and finished in 1st place as a team with 156 points. Menlo placed 3 Champions, 3 runner-ups, and 5 others placed in the top 7. The Oaks have now won the Cascade Collegiate Conference Championship title six different times and this would make back-to-back Championship years. Menlo also returns home with a plethora of tournament awards including Wrestler of the Tournament, awarded to 165-Champion Rysan Leong, and the Coach of the Year award named to Head Coach Joey Martinez for the second time in back-to-back years as well. It was an outstanding weekend for Menlo Men''s Wrestling and preparation is now focused towards the NAIA Championship Tournament happening next month. 

 

CCC Championship Tournament Direct Link

 

Champion Status! 

#2 Jovan Garcia (133) - Champion

Jovan took runner-up last year at the CCC tournament and was ready to claim his title this time around! A first round bye sent him to the quarterfinals against Jason Ramirez (ACU) where Garcia would lay down the pin to advance. On day two, the Oak would tally up a 14-4 major decision over #12 Braden Carson (EOU) to make his way to the championship round to face off #10 Simon Braeber (SOU). It was a no-doubter that Jovan would walk away victorious after he was able to score a 12-1 lead in the first period with two takedowns and two near falls. Another two takedowns in the second period would end the match in an 18-2 tech fall to name Jovan Garcia the 133-Champion! Jovan will compete in the NAIA Championship tournament for the second time as an Oak.    

 

#7 Rysan Leong (165) - Champion 

Rysan finished 3rd at the CCC tournament last year and was ready to stand tall on that podium this year! Rysan finished day one with a 16-0 tech fall over Carlos Martinez (Simpson) and a 4-2 decision over #16 Devin Crawford (Montana-Northern) to make it to the semifinals. There, he would face #4 Hunter Hobbs (Providence) and end up going into overtime after a 1-1 tie through three periods. Leong got the takedown with a minute left to punch his ticket to the championship round to see #1 Keller Rock (ERAZ). The match remained scoreless until the third period when Rysan was able to get two escapes and a point of riding time to win in a 3-0 decision. The reigning National Champion will be returning to the big stage for another chance at the National title!     

 

#11 Isaiah Morales (184) - Champion

Isaiah returned to the CCC Championships and was prepared to take the crown! Morales earned a first round bye and a 4-1 decision over #21 Rylin Burns (Montana-Northern) to make it to the semifinals on day two. The semifinals would bring #8 Kyle Knudtson (EOU) up next and the Oak was able to add up an upset 17-8 major decision for his chance at the conference title. The championship round would be between Morales and #13 Alan Badley (Providence). Isaiah held a steady 6-0 lead after the first period with a takedown and a nearfall. Badley would come back with 6 points in the second period but would not be enough to overcome the Oak after a reversal would secure the 10-6 victory and the 184-title! Isaiah will be qualifying for the NAIA Championship tournament for the second time in his Oak career.   

 

Oak Placers

#14 Nicolas Aguilar (125) - 2nd place

After a first round bye, Aguilar would go on to pin Brayden Boyd (Corban) to make it to the semifinals. There, he would face Vonn Fenn (SOU) and run up a 7-0 lead in the first period with a takedown and a 4-second nearfall. The second period Nicolas continued to dominate until it ended in a 12-1 major decision to punch his ticket to the championship round. #3 Hunter Sparks (EOU) would be Aguilar's next opponent. It was a low scoring match with the first period in favor of Sparks, 1-3. The Oak was able to earn the escape but would fall short in the end by a 7-2 decision to place 2nd in the conference tournament. A 2nd place finish will qualify Nicolas Aguilar into the NAIA Championship Tournament for the first time in his Oak career! 

  

#3 Kanaipono Tapia (157) - 2nd place

Kanai finished the CCC Championship tournament 3-1 to place 2nd. Tapia finished day one with a tech fall over Joseph Andrade (Simpson) and a 13-3 major decision over Dylan Straley (SOU) to advance to the semifinals. The Oak faced Justin Windauer (Montana-Northern) and remained scoreless until the second period. Kanai added an escape and a takedown to run up a 4-1 lead and ultimately win the match to make it to the championship round. Kanai would rematch David Rubio (Corban) and have another low scoring matchup. The second period Tapia earned an escape but the championship match went to Rubio in a 1-4 decision for Kanaipono to take 2nd overall. Kanaipono will be competing in the NAIA Championship tournament with a 2nd place finish!        

 

#7 Antonio Dacosta (285) - 2nd place

Antonio went 2-1 in the CCC Championship tournament to finish 2nd place. On day one Dacosta received a first round bye and earned an 8-2 decision over #23 Corbin Hayes (ERAZ) to stay alive into the semifinals. Antonio would take another 8-6 decision over #11 Jacob Vincent (Simpson) to make his way to the championship round. #2 Kc Buday (Providence) and Dacosta went into extra periods to decide the title but a tie-breaker point would earn Dacosta the 2nd place finish and his spot at the NAIA Championship tournament again! 

 

#11 Jeramiah Steele (133) - 3rd place

Jeramiah went 5-1 at the CCC tournament to place 3rd. The Oak split on the first day after pinning Isaiah Marquez (ACU) and losing in sudden victory to Colby Evens (ERAZ). Day two Steele went undefeated in wrestle-backs with a pin over Francisco Contreras (Evergreen) and two decisions, a 2-0 win over Julian Leon and a 5-4 win over #12 Braden Carson (EOU) to make his way to the 3rd place match. The championship match would end up being a rematch against Colby Evens and Jeramiah took full control of the mat. Two takedowns and a point for riding time would be what earns the 3rd place finish for Jeramiah and punch his ticket to the NAIA National Tournament for the first time!      

 

#10 Seth Borba (165) - 4th place

#16 Hunter James (197) - 4th place

#11 Maximus Zamora (174) - 7th place

#14 Ledger Petracek (174) - 6th place

 

Up Next….

One final chance on the mat for the Oaks who qualify for the NAIA National Championship Tournament will take place in Park City, Kansas on March 1-2.