LITTLE ROCK – The Trojans hosted #5 Oklahoma State and SIUE this afternoon, with
Alex Hernandez,
Dylan Johnson, and
Paul Bianchi each picking up individuals wins. Little Rock was able to get on the board against the Cowboys thanks to a major decision by Bianchi but dropped the dual to the ranked team 36-4. Due to five tight decisions benefiting SIUE with just a one-point separation, the Trojans couldn't best the Cougars, instead finishing down 21- 13.
"Today there were a lot of ups and downs and highs and lows," said head coach
Neil Erisman. "We were very close to beating SIUE not just in several individual matches but as a whole and there's a lot of emotions. But then you've got to wrestle a top 5 team like Oklahoma State, and I think we responded well. I think we bounced right back. Tough day, good day...good, bad, ugly, great, there was a whole mix of everything through the day. We gotta keep getting better."
Hernandez collected his first career win with a 10-3 decision against the Cougars. The true freshman jumped ahead quickly, earning a takedown in the first five seconds and then converting to a four-point near fall. His opponent from SIUE did not produce a single takedown, as Hernandez added another takedown, escape, and point for riding time.
"I was super proud of Alex today," added Coach Erisman. "He went out there and did everything he could to win and it worked for him."
Johnson commanded his bout on the way to an 11-1 major decision versus SIUE. The senior had over two and a half minutes of riding time, executing a four-point near fall with less than 20 seconds left on the clock to finish strong.
Coach Erisman had plenty of praise for the Pine Bluff native. "If you look where Dylan started when he got here and where he's at now, it's a phenomenal transformation. He works so stinking hard, he does the right things, and he's putting himself in a position to be successful, so he's just got to keep moving forward. To have an Arkansas native who is winning and competing in our sport, it hasn't been done a whole lot, so for him to be doing what he's doing is fantastic."
In his match against the Cowboys, the elder Bianchi earned a takedown and four-point near fall in the first period to pull ahead. Like Hernandez earlier, he did not allow his opponent from Oklahoma State a single takedown, adding another takedown, an escape, and riding time to claim a 10-2 major decision. In addition, Bianchi won by forfeit against the Cougars.
"I don't take standards off of Paul, because he's capable of doing that," admitted Coach Erisman. "Paul blew through it, and I was really proud of him. He needed to do that. He did some things that were uncomfortable, and he's got to continue to do that to find the success he wants to find."
In the second dual of the day, Little Rock versus SIUE, bouts at 125, 149, 174, 184, and heavyweight had just a one-point difference, but all five ended up helping out the Cougars. The 15 points ultimately swung the dual in their favor, with the Trojans narrowly missing out on their first-ever D1 win.
Next weekend, Little Rock will travel to California, competing against Pac-12 foes CSU-Bakersfield and Cal Poly as well as Fresno State.
"We're going to be in another dogfight," said Coach Erisman on the upcoming duals. "Every match is going to be tough, every match is going to be a nail biter, and we've got to learn to win that grind and win those one-point matches. When we start doing that, I think the success is just going to go up from there."
RESULTS
vs SIUE
125: Austin Macias (SIUE) DEC
Khyler Brewer, 5-4
133:
Paul Bianchi win by forfeit
141: Saul Ervin (SIUE) DEC
Conner Ward, 4-1
149: Cardeionte Wilson (SIUE) DEC
Joseph Bianchi, 4-3
157: #11 Justin Ruffin (SIUE) DEC
Thomas Lisher, 11-4
165:
Alex Hernandez DEC Chase Diehl (SIUE), 10-3
174: Kevin Gschwendtner (SIUE) DEC
Triston Wills, 5-4
184: Ryan Yarnell (SIUE) DEC
Tanner Mendoza, 5-4
197:
Dylan Johnson MD Austin Andres (SIUE), 11-1
285: #25 Colton McKiernan (SIUE) DEC
Gabe Beyer, 3-2
vs #5 Oklahoma State
125: #16 Trevor Mastrogiovanni (OSU) DEC
Khyler Brewer, 5-2
133:
Paul Bianchi MD Andrew Nieman (OSU), 10-2
141: #7 Kaid Brock (OSU) DEC
Conner Ward, 10-4
149: #4 Boo Lewallen (OSU) DEC
Kyle Prewitt, 10-3
157: Jalin Harper (OSU) MD
Noah Aziere, 11-3
165: #5 Travis Wittlake (OSU) MD
Alex Hernandez, 16-4
174: Dustin Plott (OSU) F
Triston Wills, 2:45
184: #7 Dakota Geer (OSU) TF
Zane Davis, 19-3
197: AJ Ferrari (OSU) TF
Dylan Johnson, 22-7
285: Austin Harris (OSU) DEC
Gabe Beyer, 6-5
Extra Matches
125:
Jayden Carson F Matt Malavsky (SIUE), 1:07
125: Reece Witcraft (OSU) TF
Josh Sarpy, 17-0 (3:50)
125: Jakason Burks (OSU) MD
Hasan Krigger, 9-1
125: Jakason Burks (OSU) DEC
Josh Sarpy, 6-1
125: Reece Witcraft (OSU) MD
Hasan Krigger, 14-1
133:
Jaylen Carson F Colt Newton (OSU), 1:25
133: Reece Witcraft (OSU) MD
Aidan Campbell, 15-3
141: Dusty Hone (OSU) TF
Austin Keal, 16-1 (3:18)
157: Kaden Gfeller (OSU) TF
Kyle Prewitt, 18-1 (5:00)
157: Kaden Gfeller (OSU) DEC
Joseph Bianchi, 10-4
165: Daniel Manibog (OSU) DEC
Zeke Beach, 9-4
174: Christian Bahl (OSU) MD
Will Edgar, 16-5
197: Luke Surber (OSU) TF
Brooks Sacharczyk, 22-4
HWT: Konner Doucet (OSU) TF
Caz Grabowski, 16-0 (2:42)
HWT:
Josiah Hill DEC over Aric Bohn (SIUE), 3-1
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