Here is an article on the Wayland Baptist website regarding last night's dual:
AMARILLO, Texas --- The Wayland Baptist men's wrestling team hosted Baker University in NAIA dual action on Thursday evening at Randall High School. The school from Baldwin, Kan. defeated the Pioneers 40-3 with WBU's Marc Backus producing the only Pioneer points on the night.
"All the matches were pretty close," said Pioneer head coach Johnny Cobb. "Some of them could have gone either way, but once again Marc Backus came through for us like he has so many times this year."
The WBU men started out the dual down 18-0 after being forced to forfeit three weight classes. Several factors are hampering Cobb's squad during its inaugural season.
"We're trying to keep our chins up. We have several varsity wrestlers that aren't able to go right now. We knew it would be difficult in this first year, but our lack of collegiate experience, combined with injuries, illnesses, and ineligibility are just killing us."
Backus, who was wrestling up at 165, fell behind early in his match against sophomore Jakob Price, but came roaring back in the second period with two reversals and three near falls to take a 10-6 lead. Price narrowed the gap to 10-8 with an early reversal, but Backus pulled away late with another reversal followed quickly by a near fall. The freshman from Amarillo, who was the 2010 state finalist at Randall High, won the bout 18-11.
In another close match, WBU junior Richard Leal of Pampa, Texas got a reversal early in the third period to pull to within one at 3-2, but eventually dropped a 4-2 decision to freshman AJ Gassman.
Freshman Shane Wilkinson of Arlington, Texas, was the lone Pioneer to score first in a match. The 133-pounder got an early takedown before ultimately falling to Jordan McGuire by an 11-4 margin.
Francisco DeLeon of El Paso was shutout in the 285 pound class, 5-0, by senior Levi Calhoun. Freshman Paz Acosta of Amarillo's Palo Duro High dropped an 8-3 decision toPhillip Henes, a sophomore,at141 pounds; freshman Andrew Casper of Borger, Texas, lost the 149-pound division to sophomore Jarell Price, 13-3; and freshman Aaron Rios was penned at the 4:01 of his 157-pound match by senior Andrew Hurla.
