Jones wins third RMAC title, California Baptist crowned team champions in final year of Division II action

VIDEO: RMAC champion interviews

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – 10 wrestlers were crowned 2018 champions at the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Championships on Saturday evening at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. Among them was JaCobi Jones of CSU-Pueblo, who earned his third-straight RMAC title.

Jones, who majored his way to the finals, was named the 165-pound champion after his opponent, Christian Smith of California Baptist, was unable to compete due to injury. Jones is ranked No. 2 in the country, while Smith is ranked No. 4.

“The feeling (of winning three) is unspeakable,” Jones said. “It’s a great feeling getting out here and representing my school. I’m having fun.”

Jones wraps up his RMAC career as a three-time conference champion and a four-time All-RMAC first team member.

There were two other medical forfeits in the championship bouts at 149 pounds and 157 pounds.

Daxton Gordon of CBU had his hand raised in victory for his second-consecutive RMAC title at 149, and freshman Mason Boutain of San Francisco State won the trophy at 157.

Boutain was slated to wrestle fourth-ranked Payton Tawater of Colorado Mesa, the defending RMAC champion at the weight.

California Baptist ran away with the team title with 132.5 points in its final year of Division II competition. The Lancers will move to Division I next season.

“We’re excited (to move to Division I),” California Baptist head coach Lennie Zalesky said. “I think it’s the best thing for us because there are four other Division I schools in California. It’s exciting. The guys have risen to a good level and we’re just continuing to grow.”

CBU recorded three conference champs in its final RMAC outing, including back-to-back champion Gordon, No. 2 Nolan Kistler at 174 pounds and Garrett Strang at 197 pounds.

Kistler’s win marked his second RMAC individual title. He won his first in 2016.

The race for second place was close as CSU-Pueblo, the 2017 RMAC champs, edged out San Francisco State, 110-104.5.

Each team had four wrestlers in the finals, but it was CSUP’s win from Cody Johnson over No. 11 Sam Alnassiri of SFS in a head-to-head match and the final bout of the night that helped make the difference for the CSUP Pack.

The Pack went four-for-four in its title bouts, earning wins from Josiah Seaton at 125 pounds, Jones at 165 pounds, No. 1 JaVaughn Perkins at 184 pounds and Johnson at heavyweight.

SFS also walked away with multiple champions under the direction of first-year head coach Jason Welch. Gator champions include Nathan Cervantez at 133 pounds, Austin Solari at 141 pounds and Boutain.

2018 RMAC Championships

at Olympic Training Center (Colorado Springs, Colo.)

Team results
1. California Baptist - 132.5
2. CSU Pueblo - 110.0
3. San Francisco State - 104.5
4. Colorado Mesa - 74.0
5. Western State - 62.5
6. New Mexico Highlands - 61.0
7. Adams State - 58.0
8. Colorado School of Mines - 54.5
9. Chadron State - 44.5

Finals results

125: Josiah Seaton (CSUP) dec. Alex Nunez (CBU), 7-2
133: Nathan Cervantez (SFS) dec. Luis Gurule (ASU), 3-2
141: Austin Solari (SFS) dec. Logan Pine (NMH), 3-2
149: Daxton Gordon (CBU) won by medical forfeit
157: Mason Boutain (SFS) won by medical forfeit
165: No. 2 JaCobi Jones (CSUP) won by medical forfeit
174: No. 2 Nolan Kistler (CBU) dec. No. 5 Brandon Supernaw (WSU), 10-4
184: No. 1 JaVaughn Perkins (CSUP) dec. No. 3 Nicholas Fiegener (CBU), 3-1 SV1
197: Garrett Strang (CBU) dec. Joe Bencomo (ASU), 7-3
285: Cody Johnson (CSUP) dec. No. 11 Sam Alnassiri (SFS), 6-2

NOTE: Rankings from Intermat