LAS VEGAS, Nev.—It was a big gamble for the third-year wrestling program.
Southeastern headed west to the annual Desert Duals where some of the best programs in small college wrestling would be in attendance.
The Fire proved that they were one of the squads that made the tournament a tough one.
Southeastern went 3-1 during the four duals on the day, with the lone loss to top ranked Grand View.
The ninth-ranked Fire cruised past Warner Pacific 34-4 to start the day, getting pins from Caleb Rudisill, and Matthew Cates. At 125, Olson Delisca scored an 8-2 win over sixth-ranked Josh Johnson.
Southeastern scored a 23-16 win over fourth-ranked Menlo in its second dual with the Fire winning the first five matches, including major decisions by Ethan Owen at 133, and Evyn Insalaco at 157. Additionally, Dylan Chatterton knocked off seventh-ranked Terrill Sidner at 149.
Even in the loss to the defending national champions in the third dual by the count of 32-9, there were some positives. Two matches were decided by two points, and the Fire gave up just two bonus points in the first seven matches.
Against Embry-Riddle, Delisca, Owen, and Nathan Ferkovich all beat ranked wrestlers. Delisca scored a win over fifth-ranked Chandler Strand, Owen pinned ninth-ranked Collin Anderson, and Ferkovich defeated No. 5 Kody Davis.
The Fire return to action on January 6
th in Alabama against Greensboro College and Huntingdon College.
No. 9 Southeastern 34, Warner Pacific 4
125 Olson Delisca (Southeastern University) over Josh Johnson Dec 8-2
133 Caleb Rudisill (Southeastern University) over Unknown (Unattached) Fall 0:57
141 Jake Watters (Southeastern University) over Zachery Sias (Warner Pacific) Dec 10-4
149 Baylen Cooper (Warner Pacific) over Kyle Kirkham (Southeastern University) Dec 9-4
157 Evyn Insalaco (Southeastern University) over Timothy Riviera (Warner Pacific) Dec 11-10
165 Matthew Cates (Southeastern University) over Jonathan Moskowitz (Warner Pacific) Fall 1:04
174 Nathan Ferkovich (Southeastern University) over Matthew Aguigui (Warner Pacific) Maj 10-1
184 Joe Dickinson (Warner Pacific) over Chris Williams (Southeastern University) Dec 10-6
197 Jason Davis (Southeastern University) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf
285 Aris Knight (Southeastern University) over Alvaro Venegas (Warner Pacific) Dec 6-3
No. 9 Southeastern 23, No. 4 Menlo 16
125 Zac Branning (Southeastern University) over Logan Eaton (Menlo) Dec 9-4
133 Ethan Owen (Southeastern University) over Ian Morken (Menlo) Maj 16-4
141 Jake Watters (Southeastern University) over Devin Everk (Menlo) Dec 6-3
149 Dylan Chatterton (Southeastern University) over Terrill Sidner (Menlo) Dec 11-7
157 Evyn Insalaco (Southeastern University) over Jesus Zamorano (Menlo) Maj 15-5
165 Joseph Jauregui (Menlo) over Angel del Cueto (Southeastern University) Fall 6:46
174 Tyler Noon (Menlo) over Nathan Ferkovich (Southeastern University) Maj 14-3
184 Jason Davis (Southeastern University) over Young An (Menlo) Dec 9-2
197 Chris Williams (Southeastern University) over Jovan Villalobos (Menlo) Dec 8-3
285 Javier Gonzalez (Menlo) over Aris Knight (Southeastern University) Fall 4:33
No. 1 Grand View 32, No. 9 Southeastern 9
125 Matthew Nguyen (Grand View) over Olson Delisca (Southeastern University) Dec 8-2
133 Trevor Murano (Grand View) over Ethan Owen (Southeastern University) Dec 6-2
141 Josh Wenger (Grand View) over Jake Watters (Southeastern University) Maj 10-0
149 Dylan Chatterton (Southeastern University) over George Benoit (Grand View) Dec 10-5
157 Mason Miller (Grand View) over Evyn Insalaco (Southeastern University) SV-1 3-1
165 Grant Henderson (Grand View) over Angel del Cueto (Southeastern University) Dec 2-0
174 Dylan Blackford (Grand View) over Nathan Ferkovich (Southeastern University) Maj 12-3
184 Chris Williams (Southeastern University) over Ethan Leighton (Grand View) Fall 2:36
197 Evan Hansen (Grand View) over Jason Davis (Southeastern University) Fall 4:14
285 Dean Broghammer (Grand View) over Aris Knight (Southeastern University) Fall 1:20
No. 9 Southeastern 23, No. 10 Embry-Riddle 14
125 Olson Delisca (Southeastern University) over Chandler Strand (Embry-Riddle) Dec 7-1
133 Ethan Owen (Southeastern University) over Collin Anderson (Embry-Riddle) Fall 1:41
141 Cameron Huizar (Embry-Riddle) over Jake Watters (Southeastern University) Dec 10-7
149 Dylan Chatterton (Southeastern University) over David Salazar (Embry-Riddle) TF 20-4
157 Evyn Insalaco (Southeastern University) over Carlos Apodaca (Embry-Riddle) Dec 9-6
165 Taylor Owens (Embry-Riddle) over Matthew Cates (Southeastern University) Maj 12-4
174 Nathan Ferkovich (Southeastern University) over Kody Davis (Embry-Riddle) Dec 12-5
184 Jason Davis (Southeastern University) over Payton Mair (Embry-Riddle) Dec 3-1
197 Tyler Hall (Embry-Riddle) over Chris Williams (Southeastern University) Maj 13-3
285 Elias Mason (Embry-Riddle) over Aris Knight (Southeastern University) Dec 4-2
