Baylor Uses Strength At End To Defeat Bradley Wrestlers

Red Raiders Still Unbeaten After 35-18 Victory Over Bears

  • Tuesday, December 9, 2014
  • John Hunt

The Bradley Bears gave the Baylor Red Raiders a real run for their money in a wrestling match at Baylor’s Jimmy Duke Arena Tuesday night, but the Bears ran out of bullets before the fight was over.

Bradley won six of the 14 matches and had a lead most of the way, but by the time Baylor got to the strength of its lineup, it was all over but the shouting as Baylor remained unbeaten after eight matches with the 35-18 victory.

The match was much closer than that final score might lead you to believe.

Bradley ended the match with one technical fall, two major decisions and three regular decisions, which would add up to 22 points, but Bradley assistant coach Travis Creagan cost the Bears a penalty point for an incident in the 132-pound match and he cost them three more when he got ejected from the gym five matches later.

But on a night when there were really some close individual battles, the difference was basically bonus points.

Both had three regular decisions and two majors, but the Bears were unable to get a pin.  Baylor, on the other hand, got pins in three of the final four matches to offset the technical fall by Bradley’s T.J.

Hicks at 106.

“It was a lot closer than the final score as this was a great atmosphere for a wrestling match tonight,” said Bradley’s Ben Smith after the Bears had lost for only the second time in seven matches.

“I feel like we can wrestle with anybody.  There were some really close matches and we have to learn how to win some of those, but our fight was good and I feel like we looked better than we did against McCallie last week,” he said, referring to Thursday’s 33-30 win over the Blue Tornado.

“We got bonus points in three of our six wins, but none of them were pins.  We had some kids on their back, but we need to be able to close the deal when we get in that situation.  And I don’t want this match to have a black eye over what happened to coach Creagan.  I’ve had the same thing happen to me when I was an assistant, but mine came before the championship match at the State Duals,” Smith recalled that unfortunate incident that took place in 2011.

“This was a great meet for us.  Baylor brought it to us in the upper weights, but there were a lot of positives for us.  I hope that as the season progresses, we’ll benefit from having wrestled a match like this in a hostile environment,” he added.

The match began at 285 pounds where Baylor’s Cooper Reiniche used a reversal in the final period as the difference in a 4-3 decision as the Red Raiders went up 3-0.

Hicks’ technical fall at 106 gave Bradley the 5-3 lead before Toribio Navarro extended it to 9-3 with a 15-4 major decision at 113.

Ryan McElhaney dropped a 10-3 decision at 120 before Knox Fuller got a major at 126.  Hunter Parker and Stephen Scott then posted back-to-back regular decisions to make Bradley’s lead 18-6.

Michael Murphy’s 12-2 major decision at 145 cut the Bears lead to 18-10 before Caleb Adkins won by decision at 152 for a 21-10 difference.

Baylor then won the next five matches to capture the overall victory.

Riley Westlake got the ball rolling with a regular decision at 160 and Ryan Parker had an 11-0 major decision at 195. 

Blake Sutherland, Cayman Seagroves and Jon Schmissrauter all won with pins, including the last two in the first period, to save the day for the Red Raiders.

If Baylor coach Ben Nelson was the least bit nervous while his team was trailing, he never showed it and he never admitted to it.

“I knew what was coming at the end,” he answered the question about being nervous at all.

“This was a fun dual meet and there were no pins until we got to the better than average part of our lineup.  We knew they’d be tough in those lower weights and we were just hoping to get at least one win there and we did.

“But this was our toughest competition of the season so far and I’m sure that Bradley will be in the thick of things before the season ends,” Nelson concluded.

Bradley will be at home on Thursday to host the Hixson Wildcats while Baylor returns to action on Saturday at the ever-tough Cleveland Duals.

WALKER VALLEY was victorious on the road as the Mustangs defeated East Hamilton, 58-18.

BAYLOR 35, BRADLEY 18

(Match started at 285 Pounds)

106 – T.J. Hicks (Brad) won by technical fall over Hayden Hartline, 5:42;

113 – Toribio Navarro (Brad) won by major decision over Trev Milling, 15-4;

120 – Jack Reynolds (Bay) dec. Ryan McElhaney, 10-3;

126 – Knox Fuller (Brad) won by major decision over Mason Reiniche, 8-0;

132 – Hunter Parker (Brad) dec. Alex Atchley, 6-2;

138 – Stephen Scott (Brad) dec. Jesuse Arciniega, 6-0;

145 – Michael Murphy (Bay) won by major decision over Donnie Beyer, 12-2;

152 – Caleb Adkins (Brad) dec. Caleb Canada, 7-4;

160 – Riley Westlake (Bay) dec. Jack Bandy, 4-0;

170 – Blake Sutherland (Bay) pinned Corey Gatlin, 3:08;

182 – Cayman Seagroves (Bay) pinned James Elkins, 1:07;

195 – Ryan Parker (Bay) won by major decision over Brett Brown, 11-0;

220 – Jon Schmissrauter (Bay) pinned Tripp Storrs, 1:02;

285 – Cooper Reiniche (Bay) dec. David Adams, 4-3.

WALKER VALLEY 58, EAST HAMILTON 18

(Match started at 138 Pounds)

106 -- Chandler Davis (WV) won by forfeit;

113 -- Gitapun Jur (WV) won by forfeit;

120 -- Grant Lundy (EH) pinned Tyler Womac;

126 -- Tyler Wampler (WV) won by forfeit;

132 -- Joseph Munoz (WV) dec. Matthew Meeks, 9-2;

138 -- Edward Johnson (WV) dec. Michael Locklear, 2-0;

145 -- Austin Gregory (WV) pinned Tristan Kepler;

152 -- Mikel Gregory (WV) major dec. Andrew Sturdivant, 14-2;

160 -- Dionte Richardson (WV) pinned Noah Eads;

170 -- Ben Gates (WV) pinned Mathew Sailors;

182 -- Peyton Spalding (EH) pinned Matt Pankey;

195 -- Corey Tucker (EH) won by injury default over Taylor Martin;

220 -- Ric Kennett (WV) pinned Dustin Reed;

285 -- C.J. Schwark (WV) pinned Ethan Greenwood.

(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@comcast.net)

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