The SF State wrestling team entered its Jan. 30 dual meet riding a five-match winning streak, but got mixed results when they won and lost a match apiece and saw their top wrestler exit due to an injury.

SF State wrestling's squad narrowly lost to conference rivals Chadron State University 19-18, but later defeated California Baptist University 22-18 on Jan. 30.

Against Chadron State, SF State won five matches and lost five, while against Cal Baptist, the Gators won six matches and lost four.

However, in defeating Cal Baptist, senior Curtis Schurkamp re-injured his left knee, leaving his return to the mat "up in the air."

"I knew it was hurt, but I'm not one to call it quits," said Schurkamp.

"But it just got to the point where I couldn't bear it and the ref had to call it. He asked me if I wanted to keep going, and I said 'yeah,' but he called it."

Though Schurkamp lost by injury to Samuel Fragoza in the 125-weight division, his previous victory during the Chadron dual meet pulled the Gators within a one-point margin, despite the eventual loss.

"That guy was going out for blood," said Schurkamp of his Chadron State opponent Devlon Webb, whom he defeated by a narrow 1-0 decision.

"He's ranked third in the country and he just wrestled to the point where he had nothing to lose."

Gator 133-pound freshman Naveed Bagheri opened the competition by outclassing Chadron's sophomore Ryan Zavala and earning an 18-3 technical fall victory.

Junior 141-pound Ben Lockett was SF State's first man to lose, dropping a 7-2 decision to eighth nationally ranked Jimmy Savala.

SF State's next three wrestlers, 149-pound senior Joaquin Carlos, 157-pound junior Markham Bertron and 165-pound sophomore Zach Sesar, all won their matches against their Chadron foes.

The Gators would lose their next four bouts however, essentially sealing the win for the Eagles.

Chadron's fourth nationally ranked senior Brett Hunter earned the only pin of the first dual meet by beating Gator 174-pound sophomore Arman Ostadsharif at the 4:28 mark.

Senior 184-pounder Marques Gales, junior 197-pounder Vincent Bordi, and heavyweight junior Steve Franklin all lost three drawn-out matches to their Chadron opponents.

The Gators edged Cal Baptist in their second match of the evening though they lost the first bout. After controlling the first period and building a 7-4 lead, Bagheri was pinned by Chauncey Phillips with 32 seconds left in the second period.

Lockett rebounded from his earlier defeat, tuning-up Andrew Collins by a 21-6 technical fall.

Bertron was unable to secure his second win of the day, dropping a 7-1 decision to Jarell Price while teammate Sesar extended his win total by beating Russell Delmar with a 6-2 decision.

Ostadsharif was the only Gator unable to earn a win as he lost against Lamar Reed 7-2. SF State's big men -- Gales, Bordi and Franklin -- would all win their final matches, securing the team's triumph over Cal Baptist.

Even with the 50-50 result at the double header dual meet, SF State head wrestling coach Lars Jensen acknowledged that some of his wrestlers did well. "Joaquin Carlos and Zach Sesar at 165 did well winning both their matches," Jensen said.

"The heavyweights and 184's could've done a little bit better. It kind of cost us the match," said Jensen, referring to Franklin's 11-7 decision loss against Chadron's Shaine Odell.

"But he'll get that guy back. I don't think they expected a one-point match from us. We gave them all they could handle."

A double winner at Friday's dual meet, Carlos shared his team's enthusiasm of almost beating a top rated Chadron State team.

"We almost beat one of the top rated teams," Carlos said.

"Our guys are stepping up and doing pretty good."

Carlos first bested Chadron State's Brian Easterling by a 12-0 major decision and later decisioned Ethan Hall by a score of 12-7.

"A couple of guys on our team made some stupid mistakes. [Losing by one point] kinda sucks, but we showed that we are right there," said Schurkamp.

The Gators leave Friday's dual meet with an overall record of 7-5 and 2-1 against conference competition.

SF State entered the meet ranked 20 while Chadron ranked at 13. The NAIA ranked Cal Baptist at 11.

"This doesn't mean anything," said Jensen of Friday's action. "What really means something is in a month when we really get going."

The Gators will be on the road in their next match at Grand Junction, Colo., as they face conference foe Mesa State College on Sunday, Feb. 8.