Deakin and Rivera Win at Cliff Keen Las Vegas

12/2/2018 6:29:00 PM | Wrestling

LAS VEGAS — A pair of Wildcats — Sebastian Rivera (125 lbs.) and Ryan Deakin (157 lbs.) — took home first-place medals at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Collegiate Wrestling Invitational this weekend.

The duo went undefeated and combined for four ranked wins in their victorious journeys. Only one school — the champion Ohio State — had more individual champions.

Rivera recorded a win over No. 17 Drew Mattin (Michigan) and No. 3 Ronnie Bresser (Oregon State) in the event. His matchup with Bresser was his first meeting with the Beaver grappler since Rivera won in the 2018 NCAA Championships.

Deakin impressively recorded major decisions against a pair of top-20 wrestlers, including 2018 NCAA All-American Kennedy Monday of North Carolina, who is ranked No. 6 in the nation. Deakin topped unraked Griffin Parriott of Purdue in the championship bout.

Colin Valdiviez (133 lbs.) and Yahya Thomas (141 lbs.) both recorded three wins in the prestigious event. NU finished in 14th place with 62 team points.

NU is back in action on Friday, December 7, with a midday dual against Old Dominion at Patten Gym. Action will start at 12 p.m.

RESULTS:
125: No. 2 Sebastian Rivera (NU) Tech. Fall Christian Moody (Oklahoma), 17-2 (5:29)
125: No. 2 Sebastian Rivera (NU) maj. dec. Drew Hildebrandt (Central Michigan), 14-4
125: No. 2 Sebastian Rivera (NU) dec. No. 17 Drew Mattin (Michigan), 5-2
125: No. 2 Sebastian Rivera (NU) dec. Brent Fleetwood (North Dakota State), 9-3
125: No. 2 Sebastian Rivera (NU) dec. No. 3 Ronnie Bresser (Oregon State), 6-4

133: Casey Cobb (Navy) dec. Colin Valdiviez (NU), 2-1
133: Colin Valdiviez (NU) dec. Brock Bergelin (Central Michigan), 4-2
133: Colin Valdiviez (NU) Tech. Fall Yoshito Funakoshi (Cal Poly), 15-0 (4:49)
133: Colin Valdiviez (NU) dec. Seth Koleno (Clarion), 7-5
133: No. 17 Dylan Duncan (Illinois) maj. dec. Colin Valdiviez (NU), 12-4

141: Yahya Thomas (NU) dec. LJ Bentley (Pittsburgh), 2-0
141: Sam Turner (Wyoming) dec. Yahya Thomas (NU), 2-0
141: Yahya Thomas (NU) maj. dec. Kyle Evans (Western Wyoming), 10-1
141: Yahya Thomas (NU) dec. Carlos Herrera (Cal State Bakersfield), 3-1
141: Austin Headlee (North Carolina) dec. Yahya Thomas (NU), 5-2

149: Shayne Oster (NU) dec. Dresden Simon (Central Michigan), 8-5
149: Requir Van Der Merwe (Stanford) dec. Shayne Oster (NU), 8-1
149: Hunter Richard (Cornell) dec. Shayne Oster (NU), 8-2

157: No. 5 Ryan Deakin (NU) maj. dec. Isaiah Hokit (Fresno State), 18-7
157: No. 5 Ryan Deakin (NU) Fall Nick Knutson (North Dakota State), 4:44
157: No. 5 Ryan Deakin (NU) maj. dec. No. 19 Hunter Willits (Oklahoma State), 11-2
157: No. 5 Ryan Deakin (NU) maj. dec. No. 6 Kennedy Monday (North Carolina), 9-1
157: No. 5 Ryan Deakin (NU) dec. Griffin Parriott (Purdue), 8-2

165: Jacob Wright (Fresno State) Fall Anthony Petrone (NU), 4:08
165: Izaiah Duran (North Idaho) Fall Anthony Petrone (NU), 4:04

184: Colbey Harlan (Stanford) maj. dec. Brendan Devine (NU), 11-1
184: Owen Brooks (Drexel) Tech. Fall Brendan Devine (NU), 16-0 (2:28)

197: Zack Chakonis (NU) dec. Kellan Stout (Pittsburgh), 2-0
197: No. 14 Tom Sleigh (Virginia Tech) dec. Zack Chakonis (NU), 4-1
197: Cordell Eaton (North Dakota State) dec. Zack Chakonis (NU), 5-2

285: No. 11 Conan Jennings (NU) Fall Jacob Aven (Purdue), 6:39
285: Chase Singletary (Ohio State) dec. No. 11 Conan Jennings (NU), 6-5
285: No. 15 Joseph Goodhart (Drexel) dec. No. 11 Conan Jennings (NU), 2-0

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