McMINNVILLE, Ore. -- Sophomore wrestler Horacio Godinez from The Evergreen State College took third place in the 141-pound weight class at the Mat Cat Open hosted by Linfield University on Sunday, Jan. 4. Godinez, ranked #18 in the NAIA at 141 pounds, went 4-1 during the tournament and advanced his overall record to 21-2 on the season. A total of six Geoducks competed at the meet.
In the 149-pound weight class, Alex Fenwick (Fr.) of Evergreen reached the fifth round of the consolation bracket. Teammate Jayms Vilona (Fr.) advanced to the third round of consolation play.
Godinez began the 141-pound bracket by pinning unattached wrestler Michael Heakin 2:04 into the match. In the quarterfinals, Godinez claimed a 19-4 win by technical fall against Mason Thynes of Corban University. In the semifinals of the main bracket, Blake Runion from Corban downed Godinez 6-4. Runion, ranked #23 in the NAIA at 141 pounds, broke a 4-4 tie on a reversal with 42 seconds left in the third period.
During the consolation semifinals, Godinez earned a major decision by a 13-5 score versus Dylan Clark from Southern Oregon University. Godinez defeated Timothy Lopez of Southern Oregon 11-6 in the third place match. He led 7-2 after one period and held an 11-3 advantage after two periods. For the season, Godinez has now earned first place at two tournaments, second place at one tournament, and third place at one tournament.
Fenwick lost his first round match at 149 pounds to unattached competitor Nico Yazzolino by a fall at 3:32. Fenwick received a bye in the first round of consolation play, then met four unattached athletes over the next four rounds. In the consolation second round, he pinned Nathan Martinez just 33 seconds into the match.
During the third round of consolation, Fenwick added another fall, this time at 1:02 against Jacoby Jones. Fenwick continued the string of pins in the consolation fourth round when he earned a fall in 38 seconds versus Carter Nix. Dylan Shaw ended Fenwick's run with a pin at 44 seconds in the fifth round of consolation play.
Vilona lost a close match Nix in the first round at 149 pounds, as Nix grabbed a 13-12 win. Nix led 10-9 after two periods and eventually broke a 12-12 tie by receiving a point for riding time.
In the first round of consolation action, Vilona received a bye. He pinned Kenneth Schult of Simpson University (Calif.) at 4:51 in the second consolation round. In the third round of the consolation bracket, Christopher Frost from Southwestern Oregon Community College defeated Vilona 14-10.
Frost owned a 6-5 lead after two periods. Later, Vilona moved in front 10-7 with a takedown followed by a two-point near fall with 1:07 left. Frost reduced the margin with a reversal at 0:58, then added a four-point near fall with 16 seconds remaining for a 13-10 edge. Frost earned one point for riding time to achieve the final score.
The Geoducks will be back in action with a dual meet at Cascade Collegiate Conference rival Eastern Oregon University on Sunday, Jan. 11. Action is set to begin at 4 p.m. PST in La Grande, Oregon.