ONE UP, ONE DOWN

By Brandon Petersen

The Westcliff men's wrestling team stepped onto the mat Saturday afternoon at Rio Hondo College in Whittier facing one of the toughest measuring sticks in the NAIA, opening a tri-meet with nationally ranked Embry-Riddle before closing the day against Hope International.

The Warriors walked away with lessons, progress, and a clear sense of direction, responding from a challenging 30-14 first-dual loss to earn a 39–12 final-dual victory.

The opening match against Embry-Riddle came against a program built on national contention, including the No. 2 heavyweight in the country, and it showed in stretches.

Still, Westcliff found positives that mattered, particularly from its veterans.

Brian Geiger delivered one of the Warriors' strongest performances of the day at 157 pounds, controlling the match from start to finish and earning an 8–0 major decision. It was the kind of performance that set a standard — poised, disciplined, and efficient.

"There were some pros and cons today," head coach D'Rell Gist said. "Our first match against Embry-Riddle we lost but had some positives. Geiger picked up a major decision at 157 and wrestled very well. We also had guys like Santiago Pacheco and Armando Sandoval who wrestled tough but made small mistakes that cost them big.

"On the feet we wrestled decent as a team, but overall, we saw that we really need to improve on our mat wrestling."

That theme carried through the dual.

Juan Luquin battled through a hard-fought decision at 184, staying composed in tight exchanges.

At heavyweight, Armando Sandoval faced one of the nation's best and continued to compete deep into the match, taking valuable experience from the encounter against elite competition.

The scoreline reflected Embry-Riddle's depth, but for Westcliff, the dual provided clarity.

If the first dual was about measuring where the Warriors stood, the second was about how they responded.

Against Hope International, Westcliff wrestled with confidence and urgency, opening the night with Cameron Silber at 133.

Silber set the tone immediately, winning a gritty 4–1 decision that featured long scrambles and steady pressure. It was the kind of match that energized the lineup and shifted momentum early.

"Against HIU we had a solid performance," Gist said. "Cameron Silber started the night with a barn burner of a match and won by decision. He had some great scrambles and showed heart."

Geiger followed with another exclamation point, pinning Hope in the first period to cap off an impressive day. His consistency across both duals stood out — a veteran leading by example, scoring points, and anchoring the lineup with composure.

"Geiger capped off his day with a pin in the first period," Gist said. "I'm proud of how the guys responded from the first match against Embry-Riddle, and I'm excited to just keep improving. Every single time we wrestle I see improvements, and that's what it's about."

But perhaps the most telling moment of the afternoon came in a loss.

At 149 pounds against Embry-Riddle, freshman Isriel Gutierrez found himself in danger late, fighting desperately to avoid the pin in the closing seconds.

He stayed active, resisted, and battled through the final 20 seconds, refusing to give up bonus points even as the outcome was decided.

In dual wrestling, those moments matter — not just on the scoreboard, but in the culture of a lineup built on trust and sacrifice.

It was a sequence the coaching staff emphasized afterward, a reminder that effort and selflessness don't disappear in defeat.

Gutierrez's stand embodied the kind of growth Westcliff is demanding: compete through the whistle, protect your team, and take pride in the fight.

By the end of the day, Westcliff had split the lessons and the results. The loss to Embry-Riddle offered perspective against a national power. The win over Hope showed progress, depth, and resilience.

Most importantly, it reinforced the identity the Warriors are building — one rooted in effort, accountability, and incremental improvement.

Below are Westcliff's complete dual results from Saturday's tri-meet.

Westcliff vs. Embry-Riddle
Final Score: ERAU 34, Westcliff 10

125 – Double Forfeit
133 – Forfeit ERAU
141 – ERAU Funakoshi over WU Santiago Pacheco (Fall 4:30)
149 – ERAU Esparza over WU Isriel Gutierrez (Tech Fall 17–1)
157 – WU Brian Geiger over ERAU Briggs (Major Decision 8–0)
165 – ERAU Stadel over WU Landon Hernandez (Major Decision 16–7)
174 – ERAU Gorshkov over WU Joey Mora (Major Decision 13–0)
184 – ERAU Tuikolongahau over WU Juan Luquin (Decision 9–6)
197 – ERAU Blomquist over WU Adrian Falcon (Fall 2:28)
285 – ERAU Copley over WU Armando Sandoval (Fall 5:21)

Westcliff vs. Hope International
Final Score: Westcliff 39, HIU 12

125 – Double Forfeit
133 – WU Cameron Silber over HIU Benavidez (Decision 4–1)
141 – Forfeit HIU
149 – HIU Naranjo over WU Isriel Gutierrez (Fall 0:57)
157 – WU Brian Geiger over HIU Pranther (Fall 1:49)
165 – WU Landon Hernandez over HIU Ramirez (Fall 1:44)
174 – Forfeit HIU
184 – Forfeit HIU
197 – Forfeit HIU
285 – HIU Cardona over WU Armando Sandoval (Fall 5:07)