BATESVILLE, ARK. – Dillon Witt led the way for the Spartans at the AMC Duals on Saturday, upsetting the 2021 125-pound AMC Champion to cap off his 3-0 day.
 
The freshman from Sullivan, Mo. received a forfeit in the dual against Central Baptist College, before pinning Austin Creamer (Lyon College) during the first period Iin MBU's second dual. In the third dual against Williams Baptist, Witt was handed a tall task against 2021 AMC Champion, Robert Fairchild. Fairchild worked for an early takedown and proceeded to control the match early riding out Witt during the first period. Fairchild chose to wrestle from bottom to start the second period and was in for more than he bargained for. Witt rode Fairchild for the entirety of the second period picking up back points along the way to take the lead. In the third period Witt decided to stick with what was working and chose to continue wrestling from the top position. After picking up a few more back points and locking up riding time Witt closed the match out winning 8-2.
 
Competing at 149-pounds for the Spartans was senior Steven Weathers. Weathers worked for the second period fall against his opponent from CBC before grinding his way to a major decision against Lyon College's Harry Rodriguez, 13-4. Weathers gave 2021 AMC Champion Nick Souder all he could handle during the third and final dual. Souder went to work early securing a takedown and adding significant time to his riding time. Weathers would not go away as he earned a handful of late match takedowns and a pair of back points to take the lead 8-7. The match was essentially 8-8 as Souder had the riding time point locked away. Weathers decided to cut Souder making the score 8-8 and worked for yet another takedown. Weather secured the takedown to take the 10-8 lead but needed to ride out his opponent to secure the victory. With time winding down Souder worked his way into a reversal scoring two points tying things at 10 and finished the match on top. With the riding time point added Weathers would fall just shy of victory 11-10.
 
At 165-pounds freshman Zachary Achterberg went 1-2 on the day picking up his lone win by pinning Raul Gonzalez halfway through the second period. Achterberg hung tough in his other two bouts falling via major decision in both but refusing to quit.
 
Avante Williams went 2-1 on the day at 174-pounds. After a forfeit victory against CBC, Williams worked for the major decision against Ariston Bartley (Lyon College), 17-7. In his final match of the day, Isaiah Sellers of Williams Baptist proved to be too much, pinning Williams late in the first period.
 
Although MBU lost all three duals due to giving up so many forfeits, they split the head-to-head matches at one apiece with CBC and won all four head-to-head matches via pin against Lyon.
 
MBU men's wrestling will be in Marshall, Mo. next weekend on Saturday, Feb. 5^th as they will use the Missouri Valley Open to polish up their craft before heading into the postseason.