ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Missouri Baptist Spartans wrestling team evened their duals record to 2-2 on the season with a 26-18 win over Westminster College.
The Spartans won four of the eight contested matches, but did so in an impressive fashion. Both teams took a forfeit in this one.
Newly-named American Midwest Conference Wrestler of the Week
Dillon Witt got things started at 133 pounds with a 15-0 tech fall over Isaac Gawronski at 4:52. The match was close early but near the end of the second period Witt was able to score a takedown and two near-falls to get the victory.
Following that up at 141,
ET Rodgers won by fall over Wyatt Cooley. It was a match in which Cooley was leading early in the second period before Rodgers put on a run of five consecutive points. The pin came at the 5:40 mark.
Freshman
Joel Campbell was locked in a tight match at 149 before his opponent, Michael Roberts had to medically forfeit with an injury. After the first three matches the Spartans had a commanding 17-0 lead.
Westminster accepted a forfeit at 157 pounds, but the Spartans weren't done building their lead. Senior
Trentin Helton jumped out to a big lead at 165 pounds but then had to hang on at the end against Westminster's Joey Fallon. Helton led 11-4 after the first period but was taken down five times over the next two periods. He still earned five points when Fallon would allow the escape, trying to trade two points for one. When the final horn sounded, Helton had prevailed 16-14.
Westminster's Jackson Beane won by decision over
Camden Meeks at 174. MBU's
Dominic Calvin took a forfeit at 184. The Spartans had mathematically secured the dual victory by taking a 29-9 lead.
The Bluejays would secure nine points in the final two matches. MBU freshman
Hunter Atwell fell to Montgomery Mills at 197, and Bluejays Heavyweight won a 4-3 decision over
Jacob Bader.
The Spartans will be back in action this weekend when they participate in a stacked Lindenwood Open in St Charles, Mo. That tournament starts Saturday morning and features many of the two NAIA programs as well as some Top-10 NCAA DI programs.
