Nic Aguilar (Rutgers) 125-pounds
Aguilar returned to the Golden State and showed off his wrestling skills by earning the fall over fellow Californian Robert Garcia IV (Fresno State) in 2:49 of the first period to improve to 5-1 on the season. Garcia got deep on Aguilar’s leg but was not successful in taking him down as Aguilar was triumphant in getting back-to-back takedowns before the fall occurred. Aguilar’s lone loss on the season was in the finals of the Princeton Open to All-American Patrick Glory of Princeton. Aguilar is having a great season and there’s no doubt he will improve and work his way to eventually attempting to garnering All-American status and eventually win a national championship in the future under the guidance of coach Scott Goodale.
Taniela Feliciano-Takafua (Simon Frasier) 285-pounds
There’s a big gap when it comes to wrestling between schools from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and Division I teams. However, don’t tell that to Taniela Feliciano – Takafua who respectfully defeated his Oregon State opponent 7-5 in overtime. Wrestling Jamarcus Grant, Feliciano – Takafua scored a takedown over Grant who was fifth at the Pac-12 Championships last season in overtime to win the bout. Feliciano – Takafua and his teammate Logan Nelson (174) were the lone winners for the Dogs. Feliciano – Takafua improved to 4-2 on the season.
D.J. Lloren (Fresno State) 141-pounds
A year ago, Lloren wrestled at the Save Mart Center but with a different singlet as he was part of the Utah Valley wrestling squad. That day, Lloren won 6-1 over Travis Williams. On Friday, Lloren, now competing for the Bulldogs, pick up a huge win as he defeated No. 22 JoJo Aragona (Rutgers) 4-2 to pick up his first career win as a Bulldog. After a scramble that resulted near the edge, the referees consulted each other to give Lloren the takedown in the first period. Aragona quickly escaped ending the first period 2-1 in favor of Lloren. Another escape in the second period tied the score 2-2. Nevertheless, an escape for Lloren and riding time gave him the 4-2 victory as the crowd went crazy after seeing Lloren obtaining the victory. Lloren is following the steps of his father (Durbin) who was a standout wrestler at Fresno State (1984-88).
Anthony Montalvo (Oklahoma State) 184-pounds
After earning an easy 14-3 major decision over Drexel’s Owen Brooks and helping the Cowboys win 30-6 on Friday, Montalvo faced a harder task on Saturday as he took on No. 25 Chris Weiler out of Lehigh University. Weiler, who is a junior for Lehigh, was a 2019 NCAA qualifier. After being taken down early in the first period, Montalvo tied the score by reversing Weiler near the edge. An escape and takedown by Weiler made the score 4-2. However, with his great switching skills, Montalvo got the reversal and tie the score 4-4. In a scrambling situation, Weiler scores a reversal of his own and puts Montalvo on his back to go up 8-4 after the end of the first period. With an escape and a second stalling call on Weiler, the score gets closer 8-6. Montalvo used his quick skills to get on Weiler’s leg and obtained the takedown to tie the score 8-8 at the end of the second period. Weiler chose down and got the escape to only be takedown by Montalvo once again. Another stall called on Weiler makes the score 11-9 in favor of Montalvo. Montalvo threw in the boots and turned Weiler to his back to obtain the fall in 6:26 to go 2-0 on the week.
Chance Rich (Cal State Bakersfield) 133-pounds
While competing for Valencia High, Chance Rich made history by breaking records with ease. Now competing in college, Rich wants to do the same at Cal State Bakersfield. A redshirt freshman for the Roadrunners, Rich pulled off a stunning upset over Rutgers' Sammy Alvarez, the 11th-ranked 133-pounder in the country. In the final moments of the third period, Rich scrambled out of a throw and flipped Alvarez over for a pin with 10 seconds remaining. Since it was alumni night, the packed gym erupted in cheers as Rich got the fall. Rich is 2-1 on the year with his only loss being to three-time NCAA qualifier Cameron Sykora of North Dakota States.