Westcliff University men’s wrestling team continued its rapid development at the Simpson Duals on November 1, 2026, achieving three dual victories in four matches. The Warriors opened strongly with a 45-6 win over Evergreen State College before falling 23-12 in a competitive match against No. 2 Southern Oregon University. They then earned convincing wins against Sacramento City College (42-9) and Shasta Community College (44-12).
Highlighting the competition was true freshman Ames-Michael Hoevker, wrestling at 141 pounds. Hoevker defeated a returning All-American and the nation’s No. 5-ranked wrestler in that weight class. He also closely lost to the No. 3-ranked wrestler by a single takedown, marking an impressive collegiate debut for the San Diego native.
Freshmen Nate Granados and Brian Geiger were dominant throughout the day, each finishing with a 4-0 record. Granados earned wins via technical fall and fall, while Geiger secured multiple victories, including a technical fall over Sacramento City College. Carlos Garcia posted a perfect 3-0 record, and Erickson Edpao, Hoevker, Carlos Miranda, Thomas Venezia, and Erik Salcido each concluded the day with 3-1 records. Additional contributions came from Olajuwon Sobomehin (2-1) and Juan Luquin (1-1).
Head coach D’Rell Gist praised the team’s toughness and potential. “The highlight for the men’s team was our true freshman Ames Hoevker beating a returning All American and the current #5 ranked 141-pounder in the nation,” Gist said. “Ames also narrowly lost to the #3 ranked wrestler in the country by 1 takedown. Our team wrestled very tough and we have so much potential. I am excited for what’s to come.”
Westcliff University men’s wrestling will next compete at the Menlo Invitational on Saturday, November 7, 2026.
CSB Take
Westcliff University men’s wrestling continues to show significant growth as it enters its third season, demonstrated by solid dual wins and individual accomplishments at the Simpson Duals. The breakout performance by freshman Ames-Michael Hoevker against top nationally ranked opponents suggests the program is developing high-level talent. Broad contributions across the roster highlight evolving depth that will be essential as the team faces tougher competition. The upcoming Menlo Invitational presents a pivotal opportunity for the Warriors to further validate their progress on the collegiate wrestling stage.
Source: Original report
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