REDDING, Calif. – The second-ranked Southern Oregon wrestling team took an early lead and coasted to a 37-12 victory over Simpson Thursday night in the first-ever dual between the two programs.

Southern Oregon improved to 9-3 in dual matches this season, with the Raiders set to return to action Friday in the Bay Area. The Raiders will take on No. 19 Menlo at 7 p.m. Friday before competing in Saturday's California Collegiate Open.

A pair of top-ranked wrestlers started it off strong for Southern Oregon, as Mitchell Lofstedt (Roseburg, Ore./Roseburg) earned a technical fall victory in the 125 and Prescott Garner (West Linn, Ore./West Linn) followed it up with a pin in the 133. Simpson's Anthony Vega gave the Red Hawks half of their final point total in the 141-pound matchup when he pinned SOU's Justin Eldred (Grants Pass, Ore./Grants Pass).

The Raiders won the next three bouts. Trinity Castner (Winston, Ore./Douglas) earned an upset decision victory over 11th-ranked Marco Fratantoni in the 149, 10th-ranked Dalton Urrutia (Lebanon, Ore./Lebanon) earned a technical fall win in the 157 and Bryson Gutches (Central Point, Ore./Crater) claimed a forfeit victory at 165.

Simpson's Matthew Tsamas gave the Red Hawks their second win of the night with a decision victory over Reed Tennyson (Dillingham, Alaska/Dillingham) in the 174. Southern Oregon followed with a pair of wins at 184 and 197. Sixteenth-ranked Tyler Thomas (Salem, Ore./McKay) pinned Christian White and No. 4 Taylor Johnson (Redmond, Ore./Redmond) won by forfeit. Simpson's 11th-ranked Austin Lobsinger ended the night with a decision victory over No. 12 Bubba Owens (Tillamook, Ore./) in the heavyweight matchup.

Individual bout scores and times were not made available by Simpson.

#2 Southern Oregon 37, Simpson 12
125 – (SOU) #1 Mitchell Lofstedt (Roseburg, Ore./Roseburg) tech. fall Hayden Zimmerman
133 – (SOU) #1 Prescott Garner (West Linn, Ore./West Linn) fall Chan Chao
141 – (SU) Anthony Vega fall Justin Eldred (Grants Pass, Ore./Grants Pass)
149 – (SOU) Trinity Castner (Winston, Ore./Douglas) dec. #11 Marco Fratantoni
157 – (SOU) #10 Dalton Urrutia (Lebanon, Ore./Lebanon) tech. fall Richard Ortiz
165 – (SOU) Bryson Gutches (Central Point, Ore./Crater) win by forfeit
174 – (SU) Matthew Tsarnas dec. Reed Tennyson (Dillingham, Alaska/Dillingham)
184 – (SOU) #16 Tyler Thomas (Salem, Ore./McKay) fall Christian White
197 – (SOU) #4 Taylor Johnson (Redmond, Ore./Redmond) win by forfeit
285 – (SU) #11 Austin Lobsinger dec. #12 Bubba Owens (Tillamook, Ore./)