A dozen Wayland Baptist wrestlers are in Fort Wayne, Ind., for this weekend's National Duals, where head coach
Aaron Meister feels the revamped team will have a solid performance.
"We're looking for another good showing," Meister said of the team event.
Meister said he's anxious to see how the fifth-ranked Pioneers fare after the addition of a couple of Californians to the roster.
"I'm excited to see what we do with Tam (Tillman) and
Nahiela Magee in the lineup for the first time scoring points," the coach said.
Tillman, a 123-pound sophomore from Santa Fe Springs, Calif., sat out the fall semester while Magee, a 170-pound freshman from Lancaster, Calif., became eligible at the start of the new semester. Tillman isn't currently ranked, Meister said, "but I strongly feel when the next rankings come out that she'll be in the top four."
Magee also is expected to enter the rankings, probably fourth, Meister said. "We expect some good things out of her. She's only lost this year to the No. 2-ranked girl from Oklahoma City."
Meister also is expecting big things from
Vanessa Smith, who was third individually last year in 101s. "She's ranked third in the country but on a good day is good enough to win the national championship."
Other WBU wrestlers with rankings are junior
Michele Guerrero, seventh in 109s, and junior
Tarkyia Mensah, fourth in 130s.
"Michele has wrestled well this year," Meister said.
Mensah will alternate with
Jordan Smith between 130s and 136s. "We'll switch them back and forth," Meister said.
Jesse Von Behren dropped from 123s to compete at 116s along with Mayra (Franco) Ramirez. "It'll be exciting to see them wrestle at that weight for the first time," Meister said.
Rounding out Wayland's lineup are
Rachel Bates at 143s,
Rhina Lopez at 155s and
Kierra Boyce at 191s.
"We're looking forward to her getting back on board," Meister said of Boyce.
Wayland, which finished fourth here last year and is seeded seventh this weekend, opens the duals by taking on 15
th-ranked Missouri Valley College at 4 p.m. Friday. The winner will take on No. 2 Oklahoma City University at 6 p.m. while the loser gets a bye. The competition continues on Saturday with the finals set for 4:30 p.m.
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