Dec. 17, 2001

LARAMIE, Wyo. -

The University of Wyoming Cowboy wrestling team completed a challenging California road trip on Sunday with a close 19-17 come-from-behind victory over the UC-Davis Aggies. Wyoming bounced back from a tough 24-15 loss at No. 20 Fresno State on Friday night to even its dual record at 2-2.

Poke junior Brad Steele recorded the first UW victory against the Aggies in the second match of the day by defeating Jason Paul 10-3 in the heavyweight division. The victory gave Steele a perfect 4-0 record in duals and an overall season record of 20-4.

UC-Davis won the next two matches at 125 and 133 pounds to take a 13-3 lead before the Cowboys would go on a three-match win streak. Senior Mark Hamrick won his match at 141 pounds, sophomore Chad Plummer was victorious at 149 and sophomore Levi Prevost won at 157 to even the score at 13-13.

The Aggies won the 165 pound class to take the lead one more time at 17-13. Redshirt freshman E.K. Waldhaus pulled the Pokes to within one point (17-16) with a victory in the 174 pound division after an 8-3 decision. Sophomore Kevin Kessner sealed the win for Wyoming with a 10-4 decision at 184.

Friday night in Fresno the Cowboys jumped out to a 6-0 lead when Steele pinned Fresno's Marcio Botelho. The pin was the fifth of the season for Steele. The lead however wouldn't last long as the Bulldogs (4-0) would go on to win the next four matches at 125, 133, 141 and 149 to take a 15-6 lead.

At 157 Wyoming would close the gap to 15-9, after Prevost (ranked 17th) defeated FSU's Ben Baca in overtime 10-8. Sophomore Justin Salas gave the Pokes their second-consecutive victory when he beat Eddie Gifford 5-2 at 165, pulling UW to within three points (15-12). At 174 Fresno's Britt Mooney narrowly edged out Waldhaus 7-6 to give the Bulldogs the lead for good (18-12). Kessner won the next match for the Cowboy at 184 over Landon Seefedlt 10-4, but it wouldn't be enough as FSU would win the last match of the evening at 197 by forfeit.

Complete Wyoming Individual Results:

 vs UC-Davis

 197- Ronnie Silva (UCD) won by forfeit
 HWT- Brad Steele (UW) defeated Jason Paul (UCD), 10-3
 125- Tommy Schurkamp (UCD) defeated Reynold Candelaria (UW), 15-3
 133- Urijah Faber (UCD) defeated Kelly McConville (UW), 4-0
 141- Mark Hamrick (UW) defeated Cris Brines (UCD), 8-2
 149- Chad Plummer (UW) defeated Cooper Fouch (UCD), 7-3
 157- Levi Prevost (UW) defeated Jeremiah Jervis (UCD), 13-4
 165- Burt Pierson (UCD) defeated Justin Salas (UW), 10-1
 174- E.K. Waldhaus (UW) defeated Stuart Young (UCD), 8-3
 184- Kevin Kessner (UW) defeated Steffan Weiner (UCD), 10-4

 vs Fresno State

 HWT- Brad Steele (UW) defeated Marcio Botelho (FSU), pin 2:02
 125- Stephen Abas (FSU) defeated Reynold Candelaria (UW), pin 1:55
 133- Derrick Hayes (FSU) defeated Kelly McConville (UW), 6-2
 141- Ralph Lopez (FSU) defeated Mark Hamrick (UW), 7-4
 149- Jim Medeiros (FSU) defeated Chad Plummer (UW), 9-4
 157- Levi Prevost (UW) defeated Ben Baca (FSU), 10-8 ot
 165- Justin Salas (UW) defeated Eddie Gifford (FSU), 5-2
 174- Britt Mooney (FSU) defeated E.K. Waldhaus (UW), 7-6
 184- Kevin Kessner (UW) defeated Landon Seefeldt (FSU), 10-4
 197- Brian Spalliero (FSU) won by forfeit