11/11/2001 - Wrestling
Mids Split Dual Matches in California

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FRESNO, Calif. - The Navy wrestling team defeated first-year program Menlo College, 23-13, however the Mids fell to the host Fresno State Bulldogs, 28-13, Saturday night.

"The guys wrestled and competed hard, but we made some mistakes," Navy head coach Bruce Burnett said. "Travis Manion (So./Doylestown, Pa.) got hurt in his first match and we had to move up Mike Barikian (So./Stratford, N.J.) to the 184-pound weight class and he did a good job for us."

After dropping the first match against Menlo College, Navy team captain Mark Conley (Sr./Exton, Pa.) got the Mids on track with a hard-fought 5-3 victory over James Guizan in the 141-pound weight class.

Menlo went on to win the next three matches to take a 13-2 overall lead, but Jim Letchford (Jr./Marlton, N.J.) pinned Jason Gigliotti in 42 seconds to win the 174-pound weight class. Navy's Mike Bigrigg (Sr./Santa Ana, Calif.) defeated Marc Banks in the 197-pound weight class by technical fall and Steve Kovach (Jr./Parkerburg, Pa.) won the heavyweight division with a 7-1 decision over Menlo's Jeff Dahl. Freshman Sam Gray (Essex, Vt.) closed out the win for the Mids' with an 11-1 decision over Khai Bahn in the 125-pound weight class.

Navy (3-1) dropped four of the first-five matches against Fresno State, as Conley scored a 9-1 major decision over Ralph Lopez, who Conley defeated in the NCAA Tournament last season.

Letchford scored a narrow 3-2 decision over the Bulldogs' Britt Mooney in the 174-pound weight class and Kovach won the heavyweight division, pinning Mike Bridges at the 2:55 mark.

Manion got hurt in his match against Menlo College and Barikian moved up from his normal 165-pound weight class to the 184 division to face Fresno State's Landon Seefeldt. Barikian battled Seefeldt to overtime but gave up a takedown with three seconds remaining, falling 3-1.

"Letchford and Conley wrestled well for us and Kovach is looking good right now," Burnett said. "We really got to find out where we are at and what we need to do to compete against the national contenders."

The Mids will host the Navy Classic Saturday in Halsey Fieldhouse beginning at 9 a.m.

Navy 23        Menlo College 13
125 - Sam Gray (N) dec. Khai Bahn (M), 11-1
133 - Joe Sanchez (M) dec. Mike Simon (N), 17-12
141 - Mark Conley (N) dec. James Guizan (M), 5-3
149 - Saul Lacatero (M) dec. Brett Harman (N), 6-3
157 - Joey Martinez (M) maj. dec. Adam Bones (N), 12-4
165 - Danny Castillo (M) dec. Mike Barikian (N), 4-3
174 - Jim Letchford (N) pin Jason Gigliotti (M), :42
184 - Travis Manion (N) dec. Will Favley (M), 4-3
197 - Mike Bigrigg (N) tech fall Marc Banks (M), 6:17
HWT - Steve Kovach (N) dec. Jeff Dahl (M), 11-1

Fresno State 28 Navy 13
125 - Stephen Abas (F) pin Sam Gray (N), 1:16
133 - Derrick Hayes (F) pin Mike Simon (N), 2:14
141 - Mark Conley (N) maj. dec. Ralph Lopez (F), 9-1
149 - Jim Medeiros (F) dec. Brett Harman (N), 4-2
157 - Ben Baca (F) dec. Mike Carbonaro (N), 7-4
165 - Eddie Gifford (F) maj. dec. Luke Lazzo (N), 21-7
174 - Jim Letchford (N) dec. Britt Mooney (F), 3-2
184 - Landon Seefeldt (F) dec. Mike Barikian (N), 3-1; ot
197 - Marcio Botelho (F) dec. Mike Bigrigg (N), 5-2
HWT - Steve Kovach (N) pin Mike Bridges (F), 2:55