Jimenez Claims RMAC/Super Regional Title; Perez, Phillipy Secure National Berths

[Jeff Silveira]

http://www.sfstategators.com/news/20...aspx?path=wres



HAYS, Kan. – San Francisco State's Isaiah Jimenez captured the individual title in the 165-pound weight class on Sunday during the final two sessions of the 2012 NCAA Division II Super Regional 4/Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Wrestling Championships at Gross Memorial Coliseum on the Fort Hays State University campus.

Also clinching a spot in the national meet for the Gators were Julian Perez, who finished third in the 133-pound division, while Dylan Phillipy took fourth at 149, as the top four placers in each weight class advance to the NCAA Division II Championships.

With the results, the SF State wrestling program has now had at least one national qualifier for the 49th consecutive year.


The fifth-seeded Jimenez, who advanced to the finals after posting three victories on Saturday, squared off against the No. 6 seed Chester Granard of Colorado Mesa in the title bout, as the two grapplers founded themselves deadlocked at 1-1 well into the third period. However, the Gator junior ultimately prevailed after recording a takedown with approximately 30 seconds left and withstanding a late escape to seize the crown.

With his title, Jimenez provided SF State with a regional champion for the fourth consecutive season, joining Naveed Bagheri (133 - 2009, 2010) and Josh Nolan (157- 2011).

Perez, seeded fifth at 133, also punched his ticket to the national meet with two victories on Sunday, recording a 5-2 decision over Colorado Mines' sixth-seeded Tyler Nelson in the consolation semifinals, before upsetting No. 3 seed Matthew Greene of Western with a thrilling 4-2 triumph by sudden victory in the third-place match.

After posting a 2-1 mark on Saturday, the fourth-seeded Phillipy picked right where he left off with a convincing 16-0 win by technical fall over No. 3 seed Mitchell Means of Fort Hays State. However, the Gator sophomore was unable to exact a measure of revenge in the third-place bout as Adams State's fifth-seeded Josh Hensley came away with a 6-0 decision. Phillipy also fell to Hensley in the opening round on Saturday.

Andy Yu, SF State's other remaining wrestler, was unable to secure a berth in the national meet after experiencing a pair of defeats in the back draw at 125 on Sunday. Yu suffered a pin at the hands of Fort Hays State's fifth-seeded Collin Hase in the consolation semifinals, before dropping a 5-3 decision by sudden victory to No. 3 seed Tim Urenda of Colorado State-Pueblo in the fifth-place match.



SF State will now have two weeks to prepare for the DII national championships to be staged March 9-10 in Pueblo, Colo.