ST. LOUIS – MBU men's wrestling comes up short against a pair of AMC foes during tri-dual Friday night at the Carl & Deloris Petty Sports and Recreation Complex.
 
The Spartans opened their night against the Lynx of (RV) Lincoln College. Steven Weathers led the way for the Spartans by picking up the fall at 149-pounds. Weathers took his opponent down straight to his back earning the fall only 14 seconds into the match.
 
Feeding off that momentum Austin Smith battled his way to a 6-4 decision victory against Anthony Sartori of Lincoln College. Smith picked up a first period takedown and built up some riding time before surrendering and escape near the end of the first period to take a 2-1 lead going into the second. In the second period Sartori picked up a takedown of his own before surrendering a penalty point tying the match at three points apiece heading into the final period. Smith collected another takedown and proceeded to ride out his opponent to collect the 6-4 decision victory.
 
Avante Williams picked up the only other Spartan victory in this dual via forfeit at 174-pounds. Lincoln College went on to win the dual 34-15.
 
In their second dual of the night MBU faced a familiar foe in Hannibal-LaGrange University. Dillon Witt kicked things off for the Spartans at 125-pounds against Doc Miller (HLGU). Witt made quick work of his opponent scoring an early takedown before picking up the fall in 1:17 giving the Spartans an early lead before forfeiting the 133-pound bout to HLGU tying the dual, 6-6.
 
At 141-pounds E.T Rodgers Jr. continued the Spartans' hot start. The freshman opened up the scoring with a takedown shortly after the whistle before recording the fall against Brayden McFarland (HLGU) in only 26 seconds to put the Spartans back on top, 12-6.
 
At 149-pounds senior Steven Weathers picked up his second first period fall of the night. After securing a takedown less than 10 seconds into the match, Weathers turned Humberto Pintor (HLGU) for a pair of back points to take a 4-0 lead halfway through the first period. Weathers continued to pressure from the top position exposing Pintor's back for a second and final time, recording the fall to put the Spartans up 18-6.
 
MBU head coach Brian Jackson knew he needed to pick up bonus point victories if the Spartans wanted to put the dual away with the Spartans giving up forfeits in four of the ten weight classes. Coach Jackson began to play the game within the game bumping Austin Smith from his usual weight class of 157-pounds to 165-pounds hoping for bonus points. Gavin Morawitz received the forfeit at 157-pounds to bring HLGU within six points, 18-12.
 
At 165-pounds the Trojans' Evan Longar scored the only points in the first period taking Smith down and keeping him there for the remainder of the period. The second period belonged to the Spartan as Smith secured a takedown and four back points to take a 6-2 lead heading into the third and final period. Knowing he needed bonus points, Smith chose neutral and began to pick apart Longar securing two takedowns and a pair of back points to claim the major decision victory, 12-3, giving the Spartans a 22-12 lead. Knowing the Trojans will receive forfeit victories at the 197 and 285-pound weight classes the score is essentially 22-24 in the Trojans favor putting lots pressure on the next two bouts.
 
Also moving up a weight class, Trentin Helton faced off against Shawn Gates (HLGU) at 174-pounds. Gates proved to be too much for Helton as he secured two takedowns and four back points before securing the fall ending the Spartans' hope of winning the dual.
 
Avante Williams went to work early up a weight class in the 184-pound matchup, securing a takedown and six back points to take an 8-0 lead into the second period. The freshman from Houston, Texas picked up three more takedowns along with a pair of back points while only surrendering two escapes to take a commanding 16-2 lead by the end of the second period. In the third period Aaron Payne (HLGU) chose to wrestle from the top position. Needing only one point to pick up the tech fall, Williams earned his escape to end the bout, 17-2 putting the Spartans up 27-18.
 
HLGU received forfeits at the 197 and 285-pound weight classes earning them their first ever dual victory over Missouri Baptist, 30-27.
 
The MBU men's wrestling team won't compete again until after Christmas break as they head to Fontbonne University for a dual on January 26, 2022. The dual is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM.
 
Missouri Baptist 15, Lincoln College 34
125 Gabe Spencer (LC) dec. Dillon Witt (MBU), 6-1; 3-0
133 RJ Marrero (LC) forfeit (MBU); 9-0
141 Dominic Tenayuca (LC) dec. E.T Rodgers Jr. (MBU), 5-4; 12-0
149 Steven Weathers (MBU) pinned Devaughn Blevins (LC), 0:14; 12-6
157 Austin Smith (MBU) dec. Anthony Sartori (LC), 6-4; 12-9
165 Andrew Sims (LC) dec. Trentin Helton (MBU), 15-6; 16-9
174 Avante Williams (MBU) forfeit (LC); 16-15
184 Thomas Culp (LC) forfeit (MBU); 22-15
197 Jackson Creasy (LC) forfeit (MBU); 28-15
285 Austin Daniels (LC) forfeit (MBU); 34-15
Records: Missouri Baptist (1-1, 0-1), Lincoln College (3-0, 2-0)
Date: Dec. 10, 2021
 
Missouri Baptist 27, Hannibal-LaGrange 30
125 Dillon Witt (MBU) pinned Doc Miller (HLGU), 1:17; 6-0
133 Jonathan Sessions (HLGU) forfeit (MBU); 6-6
141 E.T Rodgers Jr. (MBU) pinned Brayden McFarland, 0:26; 12-6
149 Steven Weathers (MBU) pinned Humberto Pintor (HLGU), 2:09; 18-6
157 Gavin Morawitz (HLGU) forfeit (MBU); 18-12
165 Austin Smith (MBU) maj dec. Evan Longar (HLGU), 12-3; 22-12
174 Shawn Gates (HLGU) pinned Trentin Helton (MBU), 2:13; 22-18
184 Avante Williams (MBU) tech. Aaron Payne (HLGU), 17-2; 27-18
197 Cole Allen (HLGU) forfeit (MBU); 27-24
285 Luis Ortiz (HLGU) forfeit (MBU); 30-27
Records: Missouri Baptist (1-2, 0-2), Hannibal-LaGrange (1-3, 1-1)
Date: Dec. 10, 2021