Not only did the Wayland Baptist Pioneer men pick up its first-ever dual win at home, but they did it in convincing fashion, smashing Central Baptist College 43-9 on Friday evening at Hutcherson Center. Five of the eight Pioneers who wrestled recorded falls. CBC actually captured just three points off WBU with the other six points coming on a forfeit.
Wayland coach Johnny Cobb was very pleased with his team's debut performance in front of the home crowd.
"I think it is obvious that our wrestlers enjoy competing in front of their friends and family. They all really stepped it up. It was an exciting night for everyone concerned."
After forfeiting the 165-pound match, Cobb sent national qualifier Jose Alvarez out to the mat. The 174-pound freshman got three takedowns and held a 6-3 lead when he pinned freshman Chase Mann with three seconds left in the first round to improve to 12-3 on the season.
True freshman Jacob Stock won on a forfeit at 184 pounds to put the Pioneers up 12-6.
The 197-pound bout between two sophomores, WBU's Manuel Rocha and John Lopez of Central Baptist, was scoreless after one. Rocha scored the first point of the match with an escape to start the second period. Mann tied it up in the third, also on an escape, and then took the 3-1 win in overtime with a takedown.
The two freshman heavyweights neutralized each other in the first two rounds. Pioneer Markese Christian and Mustang Kurland Parks were tied at one going into the final two-minute period. Christian got another point on an escape in the third and then scored two takedowns on his rapidly tiring opponent before getting the pin with 15 seconds left in the bout.
The action speeded up considerably in the next match, featuring Wayland senior Richard Leal and Devonte Miller, a sophomore, in the 125-pound division. The more experienced Leal dominated from start to finish in the bout, jumping out to an 8-1 lead on three takedowns and a near fall before ending with a pin early in the second period.
Donovan Vanderbilt, a redshirt freshman from Wayland, got behind early in his 133-pound match, but came back to take a 3-2 lead at the end of one. He made it 5-2 early in the second, and led 7-3 before taking down talented freshman Antonio Rivera with 19 seconds left in the period.
Freshman Victor Thomas used two takedowns and over four minutes of riding time to defeat his opponent, junior David Overy, 5-2, in the 141-pound class.
Another true freshman, John Mark Avila, trailed in his bout 4-1 after the first three minutes, but came back strong in the second to jump ahead 10-7. He eventually won the 149-pound match over Henry Reyes with a fall at the 5:52 mark.
The final bout of the evening featured a rematch of a bout held three weeks ago at the CBC Invitational in Conway, Ark. Mustang junior Joe Goosbly defeated WBU redshirt freshman Bernie Gonzalez to take third place in the 157-pound weight class. On Friday night, Gonzalez fell behind 2-0, but came roaring back to take an 11-2 major decision victory.
"Bernie lost to that same guy a few weeks ago, and avenged that loss decisively tonight," said Cobb. "Overall, we got behind in a few matches, but showed tremendous character and heart by coming back. That kind of attitude is our number one priority when it comes to looking for future Pioneer wrestlers."
The Wayland men play host in a quad dual on two mats Saturday at The Courts in Amarillo. The other teams participating are York College of Nebraska, Bacone College of Oklahoma, and Central Baptist. The Pioneers and York will meet at 10 am, followed immediately by WBU and Bacone. WBU and CBC will conclude the day's festivities with a match beginning at noon.
Wayland Baptist 43,
Central Baptist 9
125: Richard Leal, WBU, pinned Devonte Miller, 4:09
133: Donovan Vanderbilt, WBU, pinned Antonio Rivera, 4:44
141: Victor Thomas, WBU, dec. David Overy, 5-2
149: John Mark Avila, WBU, pinned Henry Reyes, 5:52
157: Bernie Gonzalez, WBU, maj. dec. Joe Goosbly, 11-2
165: Tony Mongno, CBC, by forfeit
174: Jose "Chino" Alvarez, WBU, pinned Chase Mann, 2:57
184: Jacob Stock, WBU, by forfeit
197: John Lopez, CBC, dec. Manuel Rocha, 3-1 (OT)
285: Markese Christian, WBU, pinned Kurland Parks, 6:41
