MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (January 7, 2022) – The St. Thomas University (STU) Wrestling team picked up their first two home dual wins in program history on Friday afternoon as the team hosted the Bobcat Duals. The Bobcats welcomed Dakota Wesleyan University and Keiser University to the Fernandez Family Center.
 
Dakota Wesleyan and Keiser faced off first to kick off the dual, DWU won 32-15 as the final.
 
Match One Summary
Final Score – St. Thomas 35, Dakota Wesleyan 20
 
St. Thomas opened the match up 12-0 as Dakota Wesleyan forfeited in both the 125 and 133 bouts. David Pierson scored in the first actual match of the day for STU by fall in a minute and thirty seconds, this extended the Bobcat lead 18-0.
 
Tyler Khawly-Orta had a dominating performance in the 149-bout winning by a technical-fall, 18-3 over Tommy Klemesrud. Khawly-Orta recorded four takedowns and scored 10-nearfall points in the match only giving up three-escapes that he purposely granted.
 
Dakota Wesleyan won three straight matches the 157 by technical fall, the 165 by decision and 174 by pin. Jessiah Garcia-Contreras got the Bobcats rolling back in the plus side with a pin at the 184-weight class. Garcia-Contreras had full control of the match kicking it off with an early takedown, he then proceeded to collect another takedown and eight nearfall points before the pin having a 12-0 lead.
 
The final heavy weights went in split decision, Dakota Wesleyan picked up a pin in the 197-bout as Maximo Fernandez won by forfeit in the 285-bout.
 
Match Results
125: DJ Perez (St.Tom) over (DWSD) (For.)
133: Omar Corrales (St.Tom) over (DWSD) (For.)
141: David Pierson (St.Tom) over Jared Harris (DWSD) (Fall 1:30)
149: Tyler Khawly-Orta (St.Tom) over Tommy Klemesrud (DWSD) (TF 18-3 3:39)
157: Tyson Johnson (DWSD) over Kade Clute (St.Tom) (TF 16-0 3:08)
165: Kaleb Bigelow (DWSD) over Noel Fuentes (St.Tom) (Dec 11-7)
174: Cole Halouska (DWSD) over Christian Cobo (St.Tom) (Fall 5:30)
184: Jessiah Garcia-Contreras (St.Tom) over Payton Planansky (DWSD) (Fall 5:33)
197: Hunter Planansky (DWSD) over Jesus Perez (St.Tom) (Fall 4:20)
285: Maximo Fernandez (St.Tom) over (DWSD) (For.)
 
 
 
Match Two Summary
Final Score – St. Thomas 30, Keiser 18
 
Keiser took the first match of the dual with a win by fall in the third period, giving them a 6-0 lead. Omar Corrales would then take the 133-bout by forfeit to tie things up.
 
David Pierson would then pick up his second pin of the day under a minute into the second period. Tyler Khawly-Orta dropped the 149-bout in a tough battle that just fell short in a 8-5 decision. Keiser took the 157 and 165 weight classes by decision to take a 15-6 lead.
 
St. Thomas would then win the 174, 184, and 197 bouts by forfeit to regain the lead at 30-15. Keiser's Earnest Johnson took the heavy weight match 4-2 with a late takedown.
 
Match Results
125: Riley Stevens (Kei) over DJ Perez (St.Tom) (Fall 5:27)
133: Omar Corrales (St.Tom) over (Kei) (For.)
141: David Pierson (St.Tom) over James Berline (Kei) (Fall 3:45)
149: Carlos Bogan (Kei) over Tyler Khawly-Orta (St.Tom) (Dec 8-5)
157: George Zertopoulis (Kei) over Kade Clute (St.Tom) (Dec 10-3)
165: Adam El-Damir (Kei) over Noel Fuentes (St.Tom) (Dec 4-2)
174: Christian Cobo (St.Tom) over (Kei) (For.)
184: Jessiah Garcia-Contreras (St.Tom) over (Kei) (For.)
197: Jesus Perez (St.Tom) over (Kei) (For.)
285: Earnest Johnson (Kei) over Maximo Fernandez (St.Tom) (Dec 4-2)
 
Up Next
St. Thomas will travel up to Lakeland, Fla. to compete in the Fire Duals hosted by Southeastern University on Saturday, January 15.