Cobb Scholarship dedicated on Senior Day

It was Senior Day and Wayland Baptist's women's wrestlers produced a dominant victory on the mat, but that's not what made Saturday so special for the Pioneer wrestling program.
 
Following the Pioneers' dual against Bacone College, Wayland dedicated an endowed scholarship in honor of former Wayland wrestling coach Johnny Cobb.
 
"It was very fulfilling to see two years worth of work, planning and fund-raising come to fruition," said Wayland coach Aaron Meister, who was Cobb's assistant prior to his retirement in 2014. "It was nice to honor Coach Cobb for everything that he's done in his career."
 
While it takes an average of 10 years to fund a $25,000 endowed scholarship at Wayland, the wrestling program was able to do it in two. The Pioneers student-athletes and coaches raised money by selling wristbands, delivering books across town, and working tables at wrestling tournaments, among other things.
 
Meister said it was an "easy sell" to convince people to donate money.
 
"Coach Cobb is someone people want to support, an on top of that it benefits kids," Meister said. "People will give when they know it's going to a good cause."
 
Meister said Dr. Claude Lusk, Wayland's vice-president of enrollment management, "gave an incredible talk" about Cobb, who then graciously accepted a plaque celebrating the endowed scholarship.
 
Meister said the Pioneers will continue to add money to the scholarship.
 
"We want to be able to help as many people with this as we can and continue to honor Coach Cobb," he said.
 
Prior to the ceremony and prior to the dual against Bacone, four senor women – Kierra Boyce, Tamyra Mensah, Tarkyia Mensah and Mayra Ramirez – and five senior men – Jose Alvarez, Romen Correa, Drake Lovvorn, Mich Napier and Abraham Rodriguez – were recognized.
 
Then, on the mats, Wayland's seventh-ranked women dominated No. 16 Bacone, 45-2, while the 13^th-ranked Pioneer men were knocked off by the Warriors, ranked the equivalent of No. 32, 24-14.
 
"The women dominated today with a 45-2 victory. Every match was won by tech fall or by pin within the first period," Wayland assistant coach Colton Schmitz said. "We are really excited to see what we will do at nationals next weekend."
 
For the WBU men, assistant coach Chad Cook called the loss "a humbling experience. "But it's a great wake-up call of things we need to improve on moving toward regionals."
 
Cook called Abraham Rodriguez's win over an opponent who had previously beaten him "a bright spot," and said Riley Williams (197) "overcome adversity of being sick to get a gritty win against a tough opponent.
 
"We look forward to making the necessary adjustments to reach our goals in the coming weeks at regionals and nationals."
 
The women next compete Feb. 10 and 11 at WCWA Nationals at Oklahoma City University, while the men head to Ottawa, Kan., for NAIA regionals Feb. 18.
 
Women
Wayland Baptist 45, Bacone 2
101—Rozlynn Vasquez (WBU) win forfeit
109—Mayra Ramirez (WBU) tech fall Precious Mason (BC) 10-0
116—Leah Olguin (WBU) pins Christy Satterfield (BC) 1:11
123—Tarkyia Mensah (WBU) pins Star Chase (BC) 1:17
130—Breanna Dudoit-Vasquez (WBU) tech fall Mireya Hernandez (BC) 12-1
136—Brittany Bates (WBU) pins Tatiana Velasquez (BC) 1:25
143—Marina Briceno (WBU) tech fall Aglamenta St. Jacques (BC) 12-1
155—Tamyra Mensah (WBU) tech fall Erika Aguila (BC) 10-0
170—Brittany Marshall (WBU) tech fall Cynthia Perez (BC) 10-0
191—Kierra Boyce (WBU) forfeit
 
Men
Bacone 24, Wayland Baptist 14
285—Fernando Herrera (BC) pins Tim McCutcheon (WBU)
125—Reid Pfeifer (BC) dec. Adelfo Valdez (WBU) 14-10
133—Brandon Vela (BC) dec. Demarco Speller (WBU) 9-8
141—Abraham Rodriguez (WBU) dec. Abel Villa Moreno (BC) 9-3
149—Tyler Bennett (BC) dec. Damarea Speller (WBU) 17-10
157—Courtney Shavers (BC) pins Logan Rock (WBU)
165—Romen Correa (WBU) major dec. Daniel Llamas (BC) 10-1
174—Drake Lovvorn (WBU) major dec. Dylan Hill (BC) 13-4
184—Felipe Nava (BC) dec. Mich Napier (WBU) 10-8
197—Riley Williams (WBU) dec. Jovan Virgen (BC) 3-2