Results FREMONT, Neb. – The No. 18 Wayland Baptist men's wrestling team traveled to Nebraska to wrestle in the Bacone Warrior Duals on Friday night and left with a 2-1 record.
Coach
Aaron Meister thought the team "got us off to a great start" by defeating Jamestown (N.D.) in a rout, 38-9. The Pioneers won four consecutive matches and only gave up two matches in the dual.
The Pioneers' next dual was against the host team, the No. 12 Midland College (Neb.) Tigers. Wayland took the lead in the fourth match when 157-pound senior
Victor Thomas earned a decision over Tyler Willis. After two major decisions and a fall from Midland, Wayland never got the lead back and fell, 30-17.
"That was the one that we knew would be the toughest challenge," Meister said.
The Pioneers had one last dual against the Waldorf College (Iowa) Vikings and made it count. Wayland went on a huge run out of the gate to lead 21-0 until the Vikings received points in the fifth match. The Pioneer men would sustain the lead and come out victorious, 30-18.
Meister said a combination of seniors – Thomas,
Markese Christian and
Kane Lovvorn – led the way for the Pioneers.
"Markese, Victor and Kane did an exceptional job and won all their matches," he said.
Meister also liked how well his team prepared for these duals.
"I'm happy with the team's preparation," he said. "We are consistently getting better. Each day we get a little better and are showing up every day. When you prepare that way, the outcome will show more in your favor for us."
Next for Pioneers will be the American Wrestler Southwest Open at 9 a.m. Sunday at the University of Texas at Arlington.
