YORK, Neb. –
Alex Pena won all but one of his seven matches when the Wayland Baptist men's wrestling team opened its season with three duals and the York Open here Friday and Saturday.
Pena, ranked 11
th in the NAIA at 133 pounds, finished first at the York Open, winning all four of his matches – two by fall (including in the championship), once by decision and once by sudden victory.
Pena, last year's Sooner Athletic Conference Wrestler of the Year and Most Outstanding Wrestler, won two of his three dual matches Friday, falling only to sixth-ranked Daniel Vargas of Doane by 9-4 decision. His two victories came over Tyler Johnson of Avila by major decision (17-7) and over Caleb Freeman of York by fall (1:18).
In those duals, Wayland – ranked the equivalent of 26
th in the NAIA – fell to Avila, ranked the equivalent of 50
th, 45-7; to York, ranked the equivalent of 36
th, 42-15; and to No. 6 Doane, 55-0.
Back at the York Open, Gavin Amijo, Malakai Owens,
Aidan Medina and
Jaykob Mills also placed, with Amijo taking second place at 149. Amijo twice won by decision and once by fall before falling in the championship to Quentyn Frank of Doane, 7-0.
Meanwhile, Owens placed fourth at 165, Medina was fifth at 141, and Mills took sixth at 174.
"We are a green team with a lot of potential," first-year coach
Stryder Davis said. "They wrestled with heart and toughness, which are things you can't teach. Lots of potential. I'm excited to see their improvement by the end of the year."
The next competition for the Pioneers comes Saturday in Wichita, Kan., at the Falcon Invitational hosted by Friends University.
(RV) Avila (Mo.) 45, (RV) Wayland Baptist 7
125: Ethan Moses (Av) over
Joseph Galvan (WBT) (Fall 3:35)
133:
Alex Pena (WBT) over Tyler Johnson (Av) (MD 17-7)
141:
Aidan Medina (WBT) over Luke Ward (Av) (Dec 15-10)
149: Logan Johnson (Av) over
Levi Wilson (WBT) (Fall 2:15)
157: Karter Brink (Av) over
Dominic Navarro (WBT) (Fall 1:33)
165: Brad Mahoney (Av) over Malakai Owens (WBT) (Fall 0:41)
174: Jake Callahan (Av) over
Jaykob Mills (WBT) (Dec 4-0)
184: Daryus Webb (Av) over (WBT) (For.)
197: Corbin Katamura (Av) over
Brandon Chapin (WBT) (Fall 3:24)
285: Griffin Qualls (Av) over (WBT) (For.)
(RV) York (Neb.) 42, (RV) Wayland Baptist 15
125: Harley Williamson (YONE) over
Joseph Galvan (WBT) (Fall 1:41)
133:
Alex Pena (WBT) over Caleb Freeman (YONE) (Fall 1:18)
141:
Aidan Medina (WBT) over Julian Marrufo (YONE) (Dec 7-4)
149: Brayden Smith (YONE) over Zach Pena (WBT) (Fall 2:25)
157: Dayton Fraser (YONE) over
Dominic Navarro (WBT) (Fall 0:30)
165: Malakai Owens (WBT) over (YONE) (For.)
174: Isaiah Santana (YONE) over
Jaykob Mills (WBT) (Fall 3:51)
184: Dakwan Cash (YONE) over (WBT) (For.)
197: Marce Vasquez (YONE) over
Brandon Chapin (WBT) (Fall 0:15)
285: Americo Fuentes (YONE) over (WBT) (For.)
No. 6 Doane (Neb.) 55, (RV) Wayland Baptist 0
125: Hunter Bennett (Doane) over
Joseph Galvan (WBT) (Fall 2:36)
133: Daniel Vargas (Doane) over
Alex Pena (WBT) (Dec. 9-4)
141: Baagi Boldmaa (Doane) over
Aidan Medina (WBT) (Tech Fall 31-16)
149: Tristan Zamilpa (Doane) over Gavin Amijo (WBT) (Fall 6:28)
157: Nate Lendt (Doane) over
Dominic Navarro (WBT) (Fall 0:32)
165: Benjamin Dobler (Doane) over Malakai Owens (WBT) (Fall 1:05)
174: Michael Scarponi (Doane) over
Jaykob Mills (WBT) (Tech Fall 15-0)
184: Garrett Comwell (Doane) over (WBT) (For.)
197: Bradley Antesberger (Doane) over
Brandon Chapin (WBt) (Fall 2:34)
285: Brandon Antesberger (Doane) over (WBT) (For.)
York University Open Results for Wayland Baptist
Open 125
Joseph Galvan's place is unknown and has scored 0.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 - Osvaldo Ocampo (Iowa Lakes Community College) won by fall over Joseph Galvan (Wayland Baptist (Texas)) (Fall 5:00)
- Cons. Round 1 - Logan Schroeder (Northwestern (Iowa)) won by fall over Joseph Galvan (Wayland Baptist (Texas)) (Fall 1:36)
Open 133
Alex Pena's place is 1st and has scored 19.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 - Alex Pena (Wayland Baptist (Texas)) won by fall over Caleb Freeman (York (Neb.)) (Fall 1:30)
- Quarterfinal - Alex Pena (Wayland Baptist (Texas)) won by decision over Devin Avedissian (Doane University) (Dec 3-1)
- Semifinal - Alex Pena (Wayland Baptist (Texas)) won in sudden victory - 1 over Ayden Rader (Iowa Lakes Community College) (SV-1 13-11)
- 1st Place Match - Alex Pena (Wayland Baptist (Texas)) won by fall over Tristen Brown (Doane University) (Fall 1:08)
Open 141
Aidan Medina's place is 5th and has scored 13.5 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 - Aidan Medina (Wayland Baptist (Texas)) won by fall over Daniel Hinds (Northwestern (Iowa)) (Fall 1:09)
- Quarterfinal - Chris Ferguson (Iowa Lakes Community College) won by decision over Aidan Medina (Wayland Baptist (Texas)) (Dec 9-6)
- Cons. Round 2 - Aidan Medina (Wayland Baptist (Texas)) won by medical forfeit over Jonny Burnette (Northwestern (Iowa)) (MFF)
- 5th Place Match - Aidan Medina (Wayland Baptist (Texas)) won by fall over Jose Hinz (Northwestern (Iowa)) (Fall 4:04)
Open 149
Gavin Armijo's place is 2nd and has scored 15.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 - Gavin Armijo (Wayland Baptist (Texas)) won by decision over Eric Cain (Colby Community College) (Dec 10-9)
- Quarterfinal - Gavin Armijo (Wayland Baptist (Texas)) won by fall over Eddy Ndayikengurukiye (Iowa Lakes Community College) (Fall 1:56)
- Semifinal - Gavin Armijo (Wayland Baptist (Texas)) won by decision over Noah Parmelee (Northwestern (Iowa)) (Dec 8-4)
- 1st Place Match - Quentyn Frank (Doane University) won by decision over Gavin Armijo (Wayland Baptist (Texas)) (Dec 7-0)
Open 149
Zach Pena's place is unknown and has scored 0.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 - Andy Rojas (Hastings (Neb.)) won by fall over Zach Pena (Wayland Baptist (Texas)) (Fall 1:00)
- Cons. Round 1 - Zach Pena (Wayland Baptist (Texas)) received a bye () (Bye)
- Cons. Round 2 - Devin Padilla (Northwestern (Iowa)) won by decision over Zach Pena (Wayland Baptist (Texas)) (Dec 9-6)
Open 149
Levi Wilson's place is unknown and has scored 3.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 - Noah Parmelee (Northwestern (Iowa)) won by decision over Levi Wilson (Wayland Baptist (Texas)) (Dec 8-1)
- Cons. Round 1 - Levi Wilson (Wayland Baptist (Texas)) received a bye () (Bye)
- Cons. Round 2 - Levi Wilson (Wayland Baptist (Texas)) won by fall over Eric Cain (Colby Community College) (Fall 3:32)
- Consolation 1st - Devin Padilla (Northwestern (Iowa)) won by fall over Levi Wilson (Wayland Baptist (Texas)) (Fall 6:22)
Open 157
Dominic Navarro's place is unknown and has scored 0.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 - Dominic Navarro (Wayland Baptist (Texas)) received a bye () (Bye)
- Quarterfinal - Ignacio Velasco (Colby Community College) won by medical forfeit over Dominic Navarro (Wayland Baptist (Texas)) (MFF)
- Cons. Round 2 - Jason Gross (Avila) won by forfeit over Dominic Navarro (Wayland Baptist (Texas)) (FF)
Open 165
Malakai Owens's place is 4th and has scored 11.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 - Malakai Owens (Wayland Baptist (Texas)) won by decision over Ky Bandy (Northwestern (Iowa)) (Dec 13-8)
- Quarterfinal - Malakai Owens (Wayland Baptist (Texas)) won by fall over Enrique Brasuell (Iowa Lakes Community College) (Fall 2:11)
- Semifinal - Jett Merlo (Avila) won by fall over Malakai Owens (Wayland Baptist (Texas)) (Fall 1:24)
- 3rd Place Match - Aj Salinas (Doane University) won by decision over Malakai Owens (Wayland Baptist (Texas)) (Dec 12-6)
Open 174
Jaykob Mills's place is 6th and has scored 9.5 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 - Jaykob Mills (Wayland Baptist (Texas)) won by fall over Juan Carlos (Colby Community College) (Fall 4:44)
- Quarterfinal - Jarin Gomez (Central Christian College (KS)) won by decision over Jaykob Mills (Wayland Baptist (Texas)) (Dec 14-8)
- Cons. Round 2 - Jaykob Mills (Wayland Baptist (Texas)) won by fall over Austin Filliez (Doane University) (Fall 4:30)
- 5th Place Match - James Thomas (Colby Community College) won by decision over Jaykob Mills (Wayland Baptist (Texas)) (Dec 11-10)
Open 197
Brandon Chapin's place is unknown and has scored 0.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 - Brandon Chapin (Wayland Baptist (Texas)) received a bye () (Bye)
- Quarterfinal - Josiah Bundt (Iowa Lakes Community College) won by fall over Brandon Chapin (Wayland Baptist (Texas)) (Fall 1:58)
- Cons. Round 2 - Jamar Toston (Colby Community College) won by fall over Brandon Chapin (Wayland Baptist (Texas)) (Fall 2:41)
