GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Simon Fraser entered the NCAA Super Region VI wrestling tournament with high hopes and great expectations but left Bronson Arena disappointed with none of its 10 wrestlers qualifying for the NCAA championships
 
The Regional Championship was loaded with All-Americans nationally ranked schools: No. 3 Nebraska – Kearney, No. 6 Adams State, host and No. 11 Colorado Mesa, and No. 21 Colorado Mines. Also receiving national votes at the regional tournament were Western Colorado, San Francisco State and Fort Hays State.
 
"I really feel for our seniors," said SFU wrestling head coach Justin Abdou. "They gave everything they had, in a stacked tournament and came up just short. I'm proud of this group, they wrestled hard and were very competitive."
 
"It's a tough region," continued Abdou. "All the qualifiers from our region last year made All-American. There are only 30 spots for 11 teams and over 100 wrestlers."
 
SFU heavyweight Taniela Feliciano-Takafua came closest of the SFU wrestlers to qualifying, finishing fourth. The top three wrestlers in each weight class move on to the NCAA Championships. Feliciano-Takafua entered the tournament with a 30-1 record. He went 2-2 at the tournament, losing to the No. 1 seed Weston Hunt (Colo. Sch. of Mines) in the third-place match. Hunt secured his historic fourth consecutive NCAA Championships appearance by earning a last-minute takedown plus riding time in the third to win 4-2 over  Feliciano-Takafua.
 
In addition Feliciano-Takafua's fourth place finish freshman Magnus McCrackin placed 5th at 165-pounds, Randy McDonald placed 6th at 141 and Riley Prough was 6th at 133.
 
Prough was up by 6 points with 15 seconds left and got caught in a desperation throw for 6 points and then lost in sudden victory, said Abdou.
 
"Our five wrestlers all competing at regionals for the first time had wins so I guess we will try to build on that for next season," said Abdou.
 
Sixth-year senior Logan Nelson, who qualified for nationals in 2020 when the championships were cancelled due to COVID-19, won his opening match but then lost decisions in the quarterfinals (8-3) and consolation round (6-4) to see his season end.


 
NCAA Super Region VI Team Standings
 
1. Nebraska-Kearney- 175 ½ - 8 Champions, 9 National Qualifiers
2. Western Colorado – 102 ½ - 3 Qualifiers
3. Colorado Mesa – 93 ½ - 1 Champion, 5 Qualifiers
4. Colorado School of Mines – 84 ½ - 3 Qualifiers
5. Adams State – 83 – 1 Champion, 3 Qualifiers
6. Fort Hays State – 66 – 3 Qualifiers
7. Chadron State – 48 – 1 Qualifier
8. Simon Fraser – 39 ½T9.  CSU Pueblo – 34 ½ - 1 Qualifier
T9. San Francisco State – 34 ½ - 1 Qualifier
11. New Mexico Highlands – 27 ½ - 1 Qualifier
 
 

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NCAA DII Super Regional VI Results for Simon Fraser
 
125 - Maka Yakapin (7-3) place is unknown and scored 3.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Maka Yakapin (Simon Fraser ) 7-3 won by medical forfeit over Naythan Galbiso (N. M. Highlands) 11-15 (M. For.)
Quarterfinal - Dawson Collins (Colorado Mesa) 22-3 won by decision over Maka Yakapin (Simon Fraser ) 7-3 (Dec 7-4)
Cons. Round 2 - Maka Yakapin (Simon Fraser ) 7-3 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 3 - Christian Lopez (Colo. Sch. of Mines) 14-12 won by injury default over Maka Yakapin (Simon Fraser ) 7-3 (Inj. 3:16)
 
133 - Riley Prough (16-8) placed 6th and scored 8.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Riley Prough (Simon Fraser ) 16-8 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Riley Prough (Simon Fraser ) 16-8 won by fall over Stefano McKinney (San Francisco St.) 10-11 (Fall 2:45)
Semifinal - Wesley Dawkins (Neb.-Kearney) 12-1 won by tech fall over Riley Prough (Simon Fraser ) 16-8 (TF-1.5 3:31 (16-0))
Cons. Semi - Alex Alvarez (Western Colo.) 10-9 won in sudden victory - 1 over Riley Prough (Simon Fraser ) 16-8 (SV-1 18-16)
5th Place Match - Tyler Krause (Colo. Sch. of Mines) 10-8 won by fall over Riley Prough (Simon Fraser ) 16-8 (Fall 2:30)
 
141 - Randy McDonald (18-14) placed 6th and scored 5.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Randy McDonald (Simon Fraser ) 18-14 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Nick James (Neb.-Kearney) 19-8 won by fall over Randy McDonald (Simon Fraser ) 18-14 (Fall 2:41)
Cons. Round 2 - Randy McDonald (Simon Fraser ) 18-14 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 3 - Randy McDonald (Simon Fraser ) 18-14 won by decision over Angel Flores (Adams St.) 11-9 (Dec 12-8)
Cons. Semi - Joshua Fuentes Norikiyo (San Francisco St.) 19-8 won by decision over Randy McDonald (Simon Fraser ) 18-14 (Dec 5-1)
5th Place Match - Dean Noble (Western Colo.) 19-11 won by fall over Randy McDonald (Simon Fraser ) 18-14 (Fall 5:32)
149 - Jacob Alexander-Torres (3-6) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Josh Tolentino (San Francisco St.) 20-8 won by fall over Jacob Alexander-Torres (Simon Fraser ) 3-6 (Fall 6:09)
Cons. Round 1 - Jacob Alexander-Torres (Simon Fraser ) 3-6 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 2 - Cason Lindsey (Fort Hays St.) 21-17 won by major decision over Jacob Alexander-Torres (Simon Fraser ) 3-6 (MD 11-3)
 
157 - Brent Hodgson (9-11) place is unknown and scored 1.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Brent Hodgson (Simon Fraser ) 9-11 won by decision over Dean Neff (Chadron St.) 5-10 (Dec 11-4)
Quarterfinal - Josiah Rider (Adams St.) 24-2 won by major decision over Brent Hodgson (Simon Fraser ) 9-11 (MD 10-1)
Cons. Round 2 - Justin Davis (CSU Pueblo) 1-2 won by major decision over Brent Hodgson (Simon Fraser ) 9-11 (MD 11-1)
 
165 - Magnus McCrackin (8-5) placed 5th and scored 8.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Magnus McCrackin (Simon Fraser ) 8-5 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Magnus McCrackin (Simon Fraser ) 8-5 won by decision over Jackson Damenti (Colo. Sch. of Mines) 10-9 (Dec 13-7)
Semifinal - Matt Malcom (Neb.-Kearney) 26-2 won by tech fall over Magnus McCrackin (Simon Fraser ) 8-5 (TF-1.5 4:55 (18-0))
Cons. Semi - Ruben Garcia (CSU Pueblo) 4-1 won by decision over Magnus McCrackin (Simon Fraser ) 8-5 (Dec 6-0)
5th Place Match - Magnus McCrackin (Simon Fraser ) 8-5 won by decision over Alexander Holguin (Colorado Mesa) 17-13 (Dec 9-7)
 
174 - Patrik Leder (3-4) place is unknown and scored 0.5 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Patrik Leder (Simon Fraser ) 3-4 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Austin Eldredge (Neb.-Kearney) 23-4 won by tech fall over Patrik Leder (Simon Fraser ) 3-4 (TF-1.5 3:30 (16-0))
Cons. Round 2 - Patrik Leder (Simon Fraser ) 3-4 won by decision over Remington Winmill (CSU Pueblo) 0-2 (Dec 15-9)
Cons. Round 3 - Cody Lewis (Adams St.) 11-15 won by fall over Patrik Leder (Simon Fraser ) 3-4 (Fall 3:43)
 
184 - Logan Nelson (9-2) place is unknown and scored 3.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Logan Nelson (Simon Fraser ) 9-2 won by fall over Hamzah Alsaudi (San Francisco St.) 12-14 (Fall 6:41)
Quarterfinal - Nolan Krone (Colorado Mesa) 17-7 won by decision over Logan Nelson (Simon Fraser ) 9-2 (Dec 8-3)
Cons. Round 2 - Lance Killgore (N. M. Highlands) 10-16 won by decision over Logan Nelson (Simon Fraser ) 9-2 (Dec 6-4)
 
197 - Rick Feroce (5-11) place is unknown and scored 0.5 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Rick Feroce (Simon Fraser ) 5-11 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Hayden Prince (Neb.-Kearney) 19-8 won by major decision over Rick Feroce (Simon Fraser ) 5-11 (MD 15-3)
Cons. Round 2 - Rick Feroce (Simon Fraser ) 5-11 won by decision over Callum Bisping (San Francisco St.) 1-5 (Dec 14-8)
Cons. Round 3 - Tereus Henry (Fort Hays St.) 27-10 won by fall over Rick Feroce (Simon Fraser ) 5-11 (Fall 2:39)
 
285 - Taniela Feliciano-Takafua (26-3) placed 4th and scored 10.5 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Taniela Feliciano-Takafua (Simon Fraser ) 26-3 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Lee Herrington (Neb.-Kearney) 20-8 won by decision over Taniela Feliciano-Takafua (Simon Fraser ) 26-3 (Dec 3-2)
Cons. Round 2 - Taniela Feliciano-Takafua (Simon Fraser ) 26-3 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 3 - Taniela Feliciano-Takafua (Simon Fraser ) 26-3 won by fall over Julian Sanchez (N. M. Highlands) 6-7 (Fall 1:07)
Cons. Semi - Taniela Feliciano-Takafua (Simon Fraser ) 26-3 won by decision over Sammy Deseriere (Western Colo.) 17-12 (Dec 4-2)
3rd Place Match - Weston Hunt (Colo. Sch. of Mines) 19-2 won by decision over Taniela Feliciano-Takafua (Simon Fraser ) 26-3 (Dec 4-2)
 
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