MIAMI GARDEN, Fla. (February 6, 2022) – The St. Thomas University Men's Wrestling team defeated the University of Central Florida Knights to wrap up the regular season at home in the Fernandez Family Center on Friday evening. The Bobcats took the dual by a final score of 31-18.
 
Both teams had two forfeits each, UCF forfeited the 125 and 165 weight classes, while Stu forfeited the 133 and 141 bouts. The match started at the traditional 125 weight class putting St. Thomas behind 12-6 to start out the dual.
 
The first wrestling match was at the 149-weight class with Gianni Guerriero taking the win by decision 10-4 to pick up three points for the Bobcats. This was the first of six straight wins for STU that included one forfeit. Noah Horst followed up with a win by major decision, dominating his opponent and picking up three minutes of riding time taking the match 10-1. St. Thomas then took the lead 13-12
 
Noel Fuentes then won the 165-bout by forfeit as Stu extended their lead 19-12. Christian Cobo had a thrilling match winning with a last second pin in the second period. Cobo was taken down early and worked back with a just as fast reversal. After UCF deferred their choice to begin the second period, Cobo chose bottom and used his escape route again picking up another reversal, two nearfall points, and the final pin.
 
Jessiah Garcia-Contreras picked up the Bobcats second major decision win on the night taking it 13-0. Garcia-Contreras picked up two points because of stalling warnings, two takedowns, six nearfall points, and the riding time point. Maximo Fernandez had one of the most exciting matches in the FFC Gym in the 197-weight class. The second and third periods were thrilling as it was a point-for-point match. After the second period the match was tied three all heading into the final two minutes. Fernandez chose bottom and escaped easily to take the one-point lead. UCF then got a takedown that gave them the lead as time winded down. Fernandez escaped and then picked up a late takedown and four nearfall points to break it open and win 11-5.
 
St. Thomas was deducted a team point for running onto the mat in celebration after the 197-match.
 
Up Next
St. Thomas heads to the Mid-South Tournament in Bowling Green, Kentucky on February 18-19 as the Bobcats compete for bids to the national tournament.