FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Despite what Coach
Aaron Meister called a trip he'd like to forget due in large part to bus breakdowns and injuries, the Wayland Baptist wrestling teams performed well at the NWCA Multi-Divisional National Duals held here Thursday and Friday, including a fifth-place finish by the women's team.
"This trip's kind of been Murphy's Law," Meister said, explaining that a couple of injuries left his men's team shorthanded and a couple of bus malfunctions resulted in the team arriving into and leaving Fort Wayne late.
"I wanted to get here a day earlier to make sure we had our weights and had time to relax," Meister said.
Due to the first bus failure, however, the team checked into its motel around midnight before having to wake up at 5:30 that morning to begin the competition.
The Pioneers – two men down because of injuries, including one to senior
Mich Napier suffered early in the opening match – lost its initial outing to Concordia, Neb., 36-7. It was a match-up of teams tied for 11
th in the NAIA Coaches' Top 20 Poll.
Wayland bounced back to defeat Lindenwood-Belleville (Ill.), ranked the equivalent of 32
nd, 28-19.
"We pulled out a pretty dominant win against those guys," Meister said.
The Pioneers then took it on the chin to No. 13 Campbellsville (Ky.), 44-3. That loss ended WBU's tournament.
"Considering all the circumstances and adversity we had to fight through, I was pretty proud of how those guys handled everything," Meister said.
He was even prouder of the seventh-ranked WBU women, who also endured the bus breakdowns and managed to win four of their five matches and claim fifth place out of 16 teams, their second-best finish ever.
The Pioneers opened with a 29-16 victory over No. 16 Emmanuel (Ga.), a team Wayland defeated in Plainview a month earlier, 47-3.
"We were a little flat in that first dual, and Emmanuel has improved since we wrestled them at home," Meister said.
Wayland then took on second-ranked McKendree (Ill.), putting up a strong challenge but ultimately falling to the Bearcats, 24-19.
"McKendree is very good, and we dang near beat them. One match goes our way and we win," Meister said. "At least now our girls know they can wrestle against McKendree. They deserve respect, but we're not going to bow down to anybody. I think the next time we face them our girls will have a little bit more confidence in themselves."
McKendree went on to finish second in the 16-team competition, falling to King (Tenn.) in the championship. Campbellsville was third and Oklahoma City fourth, just in front of WBU.
A Wayland win over McKendree would have guaranteed the Pioneers a third-place team finish, which would have eclipsed the program's previous-best place of fourth. Instead, WBU did the next best thing by winning all of its Friday matches to take fifth.
WBU started Friday by defeating Southern Oregon, a second-year program ranked tied for No. 10, 33-15, then downed 14
th-ranked Jamestown (N.D.), 33-13.
In the fifth-place match, Wayland went up against No. 6 Cumberland (Tenn.), a team ranked one spot ahead of the Pioneers. WBU doubled up the Phoenix, 30-14.
"The girls went out there and got after it and really wrestled well," Meister said.
Individually, the coach singled out a number of wrestlers, starting with newcomer
Rozlynn Vasquez, who in her first competition since getting cleared to compete went 4-1 in the 101-pound division. She won her first four matches before falling to a wrestler from Cumberland ranked third.
"She just got eligible and did a great job," Meister said.
In 116s,
Leah Olguin won all three of her matches Saturday. "She got some key wins," Meister said. "Leah has stepped up a lot from last year and is starting to find her stride. We like the way she's developing."
He also praised
Brittany Marshall, who avenged a pair of losses from this season in 170s.
"That was good to see," Meister said.
He added that, "This is the best team I've ever had at Wayland. The girls are coming together and believing in what we're doing. We're going to keep moving forward and try to be the best we can be."
The WBU women host their final competition of the season Jan. 18 against Oklahoma City. The Pioneer men are next in action Wednesday in Goodland, Kan., against Northwest Kansas Technical, a team the Pioneers defeated in Plainview in the season-opener Nov. 1, 31-19.
NWCA Multi-National Duals
Women
Match #1 Champ. Round 1: Wayland Baptist defeated Emmanuel College 29-16
101 - Roslynn Vasquez (Wayland Baptist) over Alouette Gonzalez (Emmanuel College) Fall 3:52
109 - Maria Vidales (Emmanuel College) over
Mayra Ramirez (Wayland Baptist) Dec 6-4
116 - Victoria Gutierrez (Emmanuel College) over
Leah Olguin (Wayland Baptist) Fall 2:53
123 -
Tarkyia Mensah (Wayland Baptist) over Ahlana Williams (Emmanuel College) Fall 1:12
130 -
Breanna Dudoit-Vasquez (Wayland Baptist) over Sadie Tackett (Emmanuel College) TF 10-0
136 - Charline Hagemaster (Emmanuel College) over
Brittany Bates (Wayland Baptist) Fall 5:17
143 - Abigail Nette (Emmanuel College) over Marina Briceno (Wayland Baptist) Dec 11-2
155 -
Tamyra Mensah (Wayland Baptist) over Mia Leon (Emmanuel College) TF 10-0
170 -
Brittany Marshall (Wayland Baptist) over Ophelia Lara (Emmanuel College) Fall 0:59
191 -
Kierra Boyce (Wayland Baptist) over Kayla Wade (Emmanuel College) TF 10-0
Match #2 Quarterfinal: McKendree defeated Wayland Baptist 24-19
101 - Roslynn Vasquez (Wayland Baptist) over Coellet Rangel (McKendree) TF 10-0
109 - Vanessa Ramirez (McKendree) over
Mayra Ramirez (Wayland Baptist) Fall 3:20
116 - Theresa Rankin (McKendree) over
Leah Olguin (Wayland Baptist) Fall 1:00
123 -
Tarkyia Mensah (Wayland Baptist) over Brianna Bogdan (McKendree) TF 10-0
130 - Megan Black (McKendree) over
Breanna Dudoit-Vasquez (Wayland Baptist) Fall 1:45
136 - Alexia Ward (McKendree) over
Brittany Bates (Wayland Baptist) TF 10-0
143 - Jasmine Bailey (McKendree) over Marina Briceno (Wayland Baptist) Dec 8-8
155 -
Tamyra Mensah (Wayland Baptist) over Alexandria Glaude (McKendree) TF 11-0
170 -
Brittany Marshall (Wayland Baptist) over Brandy Lowe (McKendree) Dec 10-2
191 -
Kierra Boyce (Wayland Baptist) over Janelle Fuamatu (McKendree) Dec 1-1
Match #3 Cons. Round 2: Wayland Baptist defeated Southern Oregon 33-15
101 - Roslynn Vasquez (Wayland Baptist) over Jade Martin (Southern Oregon) TF 14-3
109 -
Evelynn Simmons (Wayland Baptist) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf
116 -
Leah Olguin (Wayland Baptist) over Nikki Jeanson (Southern Oregon) Fall 0:47
123 -
Jathiya Isaac (Wayland Baptist) over Anesia Ramirez (Southern Oregon) Dec 12-4
130 - alejandra rodriguez (Southern Oregon) over
Breanna Dudoit-Vasquez (Wayland Baptist) Fall 3:23
136 - Gladdys Palma (Southern Oregon) over
Brittany Bates (Wayland Baptist) Dec 9-7
143 - Desiree Zavala (Southern Oregon) over Marina Briceno (Wayland Baptist) Fall 2:46
155 -
Tamyra Mensah (Wayland Baptist) over Kalynn Schwartz (Southern Oregon) Fall 0:58
170 -
Brittany Marshall (Wayland Baptist) over Jasmine Ivey (Southern Oregon) Fall 3:19
191 -
Kierra Boyce (Wayland Baptist) over Trysten Boyden (Southern Oregon) Fall 2:49
Match #4 Cons. Semi: Wayland Baptist defeated Jamestown 33-13
101 - Roslynn Vasquez (Wayland Baptist) over Kim Cardenas (Jamestown) Dec 16-11
109 - Haley Hedgecock (Jamestown) over
Evelynn Simmons (Wayland Baptist) TF 12-1
116 -
Leah Olguin (Wayland Baptist) over Trica Martin (Jamestown) Fall 1:45
123 - Amy Fearnside (Jamestown) over
Tarkyia Mensah (Wayland Baptist) Dec 8-7
130 -
Breanna Dudoit-Vasquez (Wayland Baptist) over Caitlyn Kaz (Jamestown) TF 10-0
136 -
Brittany Bates (Wayland Baptist) over Josylyn Pachecko (Jamestown) Fall 2:08
143 - Marina Briceno (Wayland Baptist) over Cara Romeike (Jamestown) Fall 0:48
155 -
Tamyra Mensah (Wayland Baptist) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf
170 -
Brittany Marshall (Wayland Baptist) over Myranda Velazquez (Jamestown) TF 10-0
191 - Diana Lopez (Jamestown) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf
Match #5 5th Place Match: Wayland Baptist defeated University of the Cumberlands 30-14
101 - Roslynn Vasquez (Wayland Baptist) over Sarah Allen (University of the Cumberlands) Fall 3:19
109 -
Evelynn Simmons (Wayland Baptist) vs Arelys Valles (University of the Cumberlands)
116 -
Leah Olguin (Wayland Baptist) vs Makayla Bourbon (University of the Cumberlands)
123 -
Tarkyia Mensah (Wayland Baptist) over Kellyann Jimenez (University of the Cumberlands) TF 10-0
130 -
Breanna Dudoit-Vasquez (Wayland Baptist) over Ismileyna Valles (University of the Cumberlands) Fall 1:44
136 -
Brittany Bates (Wayland Baptist) over Kirstin Yamasaki (University of the Cumberlands) TF 10-0
143 - Hannah Gladden (University of the Cumberlands) over Marina Briceno (Wayland Baptist) Dec 7-4
155 -
Tamyra Mensah (Wayland Baptist) over Avery Sims (University of the Cumberlands) Fall 0:52
170 -
Brittany Marshall (Wayland Baptist) over Jessika Rottier (University of the Cumberlands) TF 10-0
191 - Jessika Rottier (University of the Cumberlands) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf
Wayland Baptist's team score was adjusted by 2.000 for adjust for freestyle
University of the Cumberlands's team score was adjusted by 6.000 for adjust for freestyle
Men
Match #1 Champ. Round 1: Concordia (Neb.) defeated Wayland Baptist 36-7
125 - Dmitri Smith (Concordia (Neb.)) over
Adelfo Valdez (Wayland Baptist) Dec 5-3
133 - Kodie Cole (Concordia (Neb.)) over
Demarco Speller (Wayland Baptist) Dec 8-3
141 -
Abraham Rodriguez (Wayland Baptist) over Cameron Devers (Concordia (Neb.)) Maj 11-3
149 - Foster Bunce (Concordia (Neb.)) over
Damarea Speller (Wayland Baptist) SV-1 5-3
157 - Jonathan Lado (Concordia (Neb.)) over
Romen Correa (Wayland Baptist) TF 18-3
165 - Kirk Kaliszewski (Concordia (Neb.)) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf
174 -
Jose Alvarez (Wayland Baptist) over Tommy Bailey (Concordia (Neb.)) Dec 6-0
184 - Joshua Nelsen (Concordia (Neb.)) over
Mich Napier (Wayland Baptist) Inj 0:12
197 - Ken Burkhardt Jr (Concordia (Neb.)) over
Riley Williams (Wayland Baptist) Maj 12-2
285 - Ceron Francisco (Concordia (Neb.)) over Tim McCutcheon (Wayland Baptist) Fall 5:26
Match #2 Cons. Round 1: Wayland Baptist defeated Lindenwood-Belleville 28-19
125 -
Adelfo Valdez (Wayland Baptist) over Jaln` Gomillia (Lindenwood-Belleville) Maj 15-3
133 -
Demarco Speller (Wayland Baptist) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf
141 - Marcelo Sierra (Lindenwood-Belleville) over
Abraham Rodriguez (Wayland Baptist) Maj 15-7
149 - Jose Intriago (Lindenwood-Belleville) over
Demarco Speller (Wayland Baptist) Fall 5:14
157 -
Romen Correa (Wayland Baptist) over Michael Chatman (Lindenwood-Belleville) Fall 4:00
165 - Almundo Conner (Lindenwood-Belleville) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf
174 -
Jose Alvarez (Wayland Baptist) over Joseph Robinson (Lindenwood-Belleville) Dec 4-0
184 -
Drake Lovvorn (Wayland Baptist) over Alex Miller (Lindenwood-Belleville) Dec 6-1
197 -
Riley Williams (Wayland Baptist) over Jeffrey Burzinksi (Lindenwood-Belleville) Fall 2:38
285 - Jordan Bills (Lindenwood-Belleville) over
Nik Gates (Wayland Baptist) Dec 4-0
Match #3 Cons. Round 2: Campbellsville defeated Wayland Baptist 44-3
125 - Adrian Camposano (Campbellsville) over
Adelfo Valdez (Wayland Baptist) Dec 8-4
133 - Aaron Rugnao (Campbellsville) over
Virley Session (Wayland Baptist) Maj 9-1
141 - Jayce Carr (Campbellsville) over
Abraham Rodriguez (Wayland Baptist) Fall 4:25
149 - david sparks (Campbellsville) over
Damarea Speller (Wayland Baptist) Fall 2:52
157 - Donnie Beyer (Campbellsville) over
Romen Correa (Wayland Baptist) Fall 2:56
165 - LJ Henderson (Campbellsville) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf
174 - justin brown (Campbellsville) over
Drake Lovvorn (Wayland Baptist) Dec 9-3
184 - charles sharon (Campbellsville) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf
197 -
Riley Williams (Wayland Baptist) over Tyler rowland (Campbellsville) Dec 10-7
285 - nate jackson (Campbellsville) over
Nik Gates (Wayland Baptist) Maj 14-3
