Wrestling Teams Battle in Home Debuts

PLAINVIEW, Texas - Wayland Baptist wrestling coach Johnny Cobb knew going in that his men's and women's teams would have some trouble in their home-opening duals with Oklahoma City University on Thursday, and he was right as the Stars swept the Pioneers, 43-0 in the women's competition and 48-6 in the men's.

"The Oklahoma City women are the defending national champions and the men are ranked #16, but I was so very pleased with our kids. They gave the best effort that they knew how to give.

"Everybody has to start somewhere, and this is our starting line. The kids know that we're a long way away from the finish. They got in there tonight and battled, and battled, and battled some more."

On the women's side, the Pioneers were working short-handed due to a cold and flu bug that has struck hard. WBU spotted OCU 20 points on forfeits in the first three matches of the night and in the 63kg weight class.

Bethany Courkamp got things rolling for the Wayland women. The junior from Amarillo got the first two points in the 55kg match and took the first period 2-1. Her opponent from OCU came back to take the second, 3-2, and then got Courkamp in a fall at the 26 second mark of the third.

After Jeneisha Woods, a freshman from Amarillo, took her opponent at 59kg to the second period before being penned, freshman Tarah Brewer lost 8-4, 4-0 in a decision at 67kg.

Freshman Marc Backus of Amarillo got the only points of the night for either Wayland team. The Randall High graduate, competing as a 157 pounder, held a 12-4 lead after two periods. He had a take down, two near falls, and a reversal in the first, a reversal and a near fall in the second. Then just 19 seconds into the third, Backus got the pen.

Two of the Pioneer men took their matches into overtime. Freshman Jacob Bevington of Amarillo went up 2-1 with a take down in the first period of his 165 pound bout. In the second, the Tascosa High graduate recorded an escape for a 5-2 advantage, but his opponent tied it in the third to force overtime and then won it with a takedown.

The final match of the evening was perhaps the most exciting. Wayland's Andy Garcia, a walk-on freshman, scored two points on a takedown as time ran out in regulation of the 125 pound bout to force overtime with the score tied at 10. The graduate of El Paso's El Dorado High School fell in the extra period, however, 12-10.

"I'm as proud as I can be of Andy Garcia," said Cobb. He came in as a walk-on and has just been thrown in the line-up and has certainly done the job.

"Overall , we had a lot of bright spots. We weren't getting dominated. There were a lot of close matches even in the pens. I can guarantee that next year, things will be way different."

 The WBU women have some time off to get well before their next meet, a Quad Dual in Amarillo. The Pioneer men return to action next week with two meets. On Wednesday, they travel to Oklahoma City to take on Ouchita Baptist University in a dual, and then on Saturday, they will compete in a tournament at the University of Northern Colorado.

OCU Dual Results

WOMEN

Oklahoma City 43, Wayland Baptist 0

44kg - Brianna Rahall, OCU, wins by forfeit 
48kg - Kristi Garr, OCU, wins by forfeit 
51kg - Mattie McIlwain, OCU, wins by forfeit 
55kg - Logan Rich, OCU, pinned Bethany Courkamp - 2-1, 2-3, 0:26 
59kg - Audrey Morehouse, OCU, pinned Jeneisha Woods - 2-0, 0:31
63kg - Samantha Phillips, OCU, wins by forfeit
67kg - Beatrize Martinez, OCU, decision over Tarah Brewer - 8-4, 4-0 
72kg - Brittany Goebel, OCU, pinned Kirsten Iruegas - 0:28 
82kg - Melissa Simmons, OCU, pinned Chelsie McMillion - 0:21 
95kg - Karon Scott, OCU, pinned Gloria Guerra - 1-0, 0:25