ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Despite a forfeit in the 197lb weight class, Missouri Baptist men's wrestling managed to secure a win on the road against Hannibal LaGrange on Tuesday night 28-22.
The Spartans were coming off a loss to Missouri Valley College nearly a week ago and looked to turn the corner. The team, however, found itself in an 0-6 deficit after the first match. In the 125lb class, Demarcus Gurlly was defeated by Hannibal's Bryar Ginther by fall, starting things off right for the Trojans.
Though trailing early, MBU put together a quality performance, thanks in no small part to stroung outing by Joe LaMar and Chris Padilla. Lamar tied the dual at six all with a win by fall over HLG's Harry Jacobsen. Chris Padilla followed-up that win with one of his own. The junior defeated Matt Mattingly by technical fall to give the Spartans their first lead of the night 11-6.
Both teams exchanged wins in the 149 and the 157lb classes. Hannibal's Tyler Sonnaben beat Esmond Ford (15th ranked 149lb) by decision 9-8, but Espen Conley came right back to earn a huge six-point win by fall over James Townsend to 17-9.
Hannibal began to chip away at the Missouri Baptist lead in the following two matches. Bryce Alexander (15th ranked 165lb) and Nathan Downs (8th ranked 174lb) both recorded wins to cut the MBU lead to one as the 184lb class came to the mat. The Spartan's Weston Keleher (2nd ranked 184lb) took matters into his own hands and posted a huge win by fall over Brady Ruby to give MBU a seven-point lead.
It was after an open win by forfeit in the 197lb weight class that things really became interesting. For the second consecutive dual, it all came down to Julius Anglikas in the heavyweight division. This time, Anglikas brought it home for his team with a win by technical fall to seal the victory.
The Spartans will have a short road trip just minutes away on Saturday as the team will compete in the Brands Open hosted by Maryville University.
