Nov. 8, 2008

FULLERTON, Calif. -- Cal State Fullerton posted a come-from-behind victory over the 21st-ranked Navy wrestling team late Friday evening after sophomore 165-pounder Matt DeMichiel (Whitesboro, N.Y.) was disqualified for an illegal headbutt, giving the Titans a 21-15 victory. The dual was the first on the docket for both programs.

Heading into the final match of the night, Navy held a 17-15 lead. DeMichiel, who had been issued a warning for the same move earlier in the bout, was leading his match against senior Devin Velasquez, 3-2, when the incident occurred midway through the final period. Time was called by the official and when Velasquez was unable to continue after a two-minute recovery period, six points and what proved to be the match were awarded to the Titans for the DQ.

"Tonight we lost one that we were certainly were capable of winning, in fact we should have won," said ninth-year Navy head coach Bruce Burnett. "It was a tough way to lose, but actually we didn't look very good. I just don't think some of our guys are ready to wrestle right now."

It was a seesaw battle the entire evening with momentum shifting back and forth. Navy jumped out to a 7-0 lead after freshman Luke Rebertus (Elkton, Md.) set the tone in the opening match with a 3-0 victory over Fullerton sophomore Todd Noel. Senior Casey Caldwell (Liberty, Ind.) then extended the Mids' lead by scoring a 13-4 major decision over Tim Hawkins at 184 pounds.

Though a 3-1 decision by Fullerton's John Drake of Philip Neese (Lexington, S.C.) briefly interrupted Navy's charge, the Mids' team captain Scott Steele (Baltimore, Md.) made it a wash with a 7-4 decision over junior Kurt Klimek to push Navy's advantage to 10-3.

As the match then turned to the lightweights, Navy sent its talented freshmen out on the mat where they were met with tough competition. Fullerton not only found its way back into the match, it took the lead with three matches remaining. The turning point of the match took place when sophomore Andre Gonzalez pinned Navy's Pat McCaffrey (Chicago, Ill.) at the first period horn to bring the Titans to within one point of the Mids. Back-back-to-back decisions by Fullerton against Aaron Kalil (Salem, N.H.) at 133 pounds and 141-pounder John Majka (Chicago, Ill.) gave the Titans a 15-10 advantage.

"The inexperience was a bit of a factor for us," said Burnett. "I think the young guys found themselves in a tight match and didn't wrestle and do the things they are capable of doing. The result was making some mistakes. But they are all correctable mistakes and we will fix them."

Navy, though, bounced back. Returning NCAA qualifier Bryce Saddoris (Spring Creek, Nev.) carded an 11-3 major decision over senior Nick Blackshaw at 149 pounds, while senior Joel Ahern (Herkimer, N.Y.) pulled out a 3-2 victory over Steven DeLaFuente to give the Mids a 17-15 lead heading into the final bout of the night.

"The trip and the travel and wrestling some young guys are all just excuses," added a frustrated Burnett. "They are all capable of wrestling a lot better. Bottom line is we have to be able to take care of the basics and do the right things. Hopefully we can learn from this one and then put it behind us because we have two fantastic opponents to battle Saturday."

Navy will battle Stanford in a neutral site matchup on Saturday beginning at 3:00 pm Pacific in Bakersfield, Calif., followed by a 6:00 pm battle against the host Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners.

Dual 1 • Cal State Fullerton 21, Navy 17Nov. 7, 20008 • Fullerton, Calif.
Wt. -- Winner vs. Opponent                                                   Running Score174 - Luke Rebertus (N) dec. Todd Noel (F), 7-2                                   3-0184 - Casey Caldwell (N) major dec. Tim Hawkins (F), 13-4                         7-0197 - John Drake (F) dec. Philip Neese (N), 3-1                                   7-3Hwt - Scott Steele (N) dec. Kurt Klimek (F), 7-4                                 10-3125 - Andre Gonzalez (F) pinned Pat McCaffrey (N), 3:00                          10-9133 - T. J. Dillashaw (F) dec. Aaron Kalil (N), 10-6                            10-12141 - Adin Duenas (F) dec. John Majka (N), 7-2                                  10-15149 - Bryce Saddoris (N) major dec. Nick Blackshaw (F), 11-3                    14-15157 - Joel Ahern (N) dec. Steven DeLaFuente (F), 3-2                            17-15165 - Devin Velasquez (F) by disqualification of Matt DeMichiel (N) at 6:30     17-21