The second-ranked Southern Oregon wrestling team won the first five matches and picked up four total pins as the Raiders rolled to a 38-12 victory over No. 20 Menlo Friday night at Bob Riehm Arena.
Southern Oregon, 9-3 in duals this season, knocks off the Oaks for the second weekend in a row after taking a 22-18 victory last Saturday in Atherton, Calif. The Raiders return to action Saturday, when they will host Clackamas Community College in a 5 p.m. exhibition dual and Simon Fraser in a 7 p.m. dual at Bob Riehm Arena.
“We were aggressive tonight compared to when we wrestled them down south, and I think that made a huge difference,” SOU head coach Mike Ritchey. “You’ve got to push yourself this time of year in matches and I was pleased to see our aggressiveness tonight and it paid off.”
Top-ranked Mitchell Lofstedt opened the dual with his 19th pin of the season, taking down Menlo’s Drake Medieros in 5:37 to win the 125-pound bout. Miguel Baltazar and No. 5 Kyle Wirkuty followed with a pair of major decision victories in the 133 and 141, while No. 6 Jimmy Eggemeyer picked up a forfeit win in the 149 and Dalton Urrutia pinned Mike Lopez in 1:45 to take the 157.
David Rios earned the first win of the night for Menlo, picking up a 4-3 upset of No. 7 Brian Lemmon in the 165, and Nick Gill followed with a 9-7 win over Tucker Van Matre in the 174. The Raiders bounced back with a pair of pins, as Tyler Thomas took down Greg Alvarez in 4:08 and Derek Rottenberg pinned Justin Harrison in 6:31 to win the 184 and 197. Menlo’s seventh-ranked Leonard Romero ended the dual with a pin of 10th-ranked Bubba Owens in 4:25.
Southern Oregon has already clinched its 42nd consecutive winning season, stretching back to 1970-71, when legendary coach Bob Riehm led the Raiders to an 11-2 record. During the streak, the Raiders are now 408-135-2 in dual meets.
125 – (SOU) #1 Mitchell Lofstedt fall Drake Medieros, 5:37
133 – (SOU) Miguel Baltazar maj. dec. Alex Varela, 15-1
141 – (SOU) #5 Kyle Wirkuty maj. dec. Christian Franks, 10-2
149 – (SOU) #6 Jimmy Eggemeyer win by forfeit
157 – (SOU) Dalton Urrutia fall Mike Lopez, 1:45
165 – (MC) David Rios dec. #7 Brian Lemmon, 4-3
174 – (MC) Nick Gill dec. Tucker Van Matre, 9-7
184 – (SOU) Tyler Thomas fall Greg Alvarez, 4:08
197 – (SOU) Derek Rottenberg fall Justin Harrison, 6:31
285 – (MC) #7 Leonard Romero fall #10 Bubba Owens, 4:25
