ATHERTON, CA – Menlo Men's Wrestling hosted the Oak Open inside Haynes-Prim Pavilion on Saturday and entered 35 Oaks to wrestle. Of the 35, 11 Menlo wrestlers found placement including 4 Champions, Nicolas Agilar (125), Kanaipono Tapia (157), Ryan Leong (165), and Petar Bojicic (184). This is Menlo's final tournament appearance before they head to the Cascade Conference Championship tournament!

 

Champion Status!

Nicolas Aguilar (125) - Champion

Nicolar Aguilar made his Menlo debut last week against Vanguard University and totaled a 19-4 tech fall. Aguilar looked just as dominant on the mat at the Oak Open going 4-0. The Oak began his day with a 17-1 tech fall over Zach Wright (SF State). He then earned back-to-back pins to punch his ticket to the Championship match. There he faced Koda Holeman who would end up being disqualified after an illegal punch, naming Aguilar the 125 Champion! This is Nic's first time winning a tournament title as an Oak.    

 

Kanaipono Tapia (157) - Champion

Kanais's day began with a bye, sending him to face Jose Farias (CSU Bakersfield) in the quarterfinals. Tapia would add up a 15-0 tech fall to move onto Magnus Mccrackin (Unatt.). Mccrackin was unsuccessful at scoring against Kanai who tallied another 15-0 victory to advance to the championship match. One more 19-1 tech fall over Zahi Davis would rightfully earn the Championship title with a 49-1 spread across the four matches. 

 

Rysan Leong (165) - Champion

Rysan went 3-0 at the Oak Open facing all DII opponents. His first victory was over Timothy Cowan (Cal Baptist) with an 18-3 tech fall after a first round bye. The semifinals would be against Conrado Trevino-Oceguera (SF State). The two would wrestle through all three periods when Leong was able to lay down the pin with just 30 seconds left in the match. The championship match would be against Devin Alexander (Cal Poly). The score was 4-1 in favor of Leong after an escape and a takedown in the second period. Alexander came back in the third period with an escape and a takedown to tie things up 5-5. With one second left, Rysan pulled off a reversal to go ahead, 6-5 and claim the Championship title!  

 

Petar Bojicic (184) - Champion

Petar won his first Championship title as an Oak after going 3-0! Two tech falls over Bryant Bartlett (Simpson), 21-5), and Gavin Funk (Unatt.), 17-1), would secure his chance in the championship match. There he would face teammate Jonathan Moreno. Bojicic went ahead 7-4 in the first period which ultimately was enough to win in a 9-7 decision.  

 

Oak Placers

Two Oaks were able to find 2nd place finished, Jonathan Moreno (184) and Cole Steketee (285). Moreno (184) had a first round bye and a pin to make it to the championship round. Steketee (285) tallied a 9-3 decision and a 10-7 decision to also advance to the final match. It was the first time Moreno or Steketee have placed this 2023-24 season. 

Three Oaks would secure 3rd place finish at the Oak Open. A first round loss in overtime would send Hunter James to wrestle backs where he won out. He earned a pin and two decision wins to earn a 3rd place finish. Michael Rhea (285) wrestled up a weight class and still went 3-1 with an 11-2 major decision and two decision victories. Oak Squad leader, JC Escutia, was the only member of Oak Squad to place with a tech fall and a major decision. 

Seth Borba (165) and Emmitt Mercado (285) each found 4th place finishes to round out the Oak Open.  

 

Oak Open Direct Link

 

Up Next….

Menlo is on the road one last time on Thursday, February 8th to face off San Francisco State for a dual beginning at 7pm!