California Baptist University
Indiana University
Griffin Shines in CBU's Opener Against #30 Indiana
11/2/2024 12:47:00 AM | Wrestling
RIVERSIDE--- California Baptist University wrestling opened its 2024-25 season with a BIG 12/BIG 10 clash with #30 Indiana in the Fowler Events Center on Friday night, falling to the Hoosiers 34-4.
The Hoosiers competed six ranked wrestlers in the dual, including a pair of top 16 athletes. The BIG 10 squad finished last season 7-5 overall and 3-5 in the highly-touted conference schedule. CBU came into the dual with two returning national qualifiers and one ranked wrestler in #27, Nathan Haas, at 184 lbs.
The night began at 141lbs, with Elijah Griffin competing in his first-ever dual at that weight class. Griffin, a recently-minted NCAA qualifier and BIG 12 placer, competed for the last three seasons at 125 lbs before making the jump up this season to 141.
Griffin and the Lancers started strong, with Griffin getting aggressive early and collecting an early three points on a takedown of #33 Henry Porter. Griffin would compound the takedown with back points, collecting four swipes from the referee to take a 7-0 lead. Porter would make things interesting in the third period with a takedown of his own to bring the score to 8-5. However, Griffin would halt the momentum there and register an escape before dealing the crushing blow to Porter on his second takedown of the bout. Griffin would cut Porter before collecting another takedown to walk away with the 16-7 major decision and four early points for CBU.
The Hoosiers would respond quickly with bonus points in the next match off a pin and collect three more via decision in the 157lb match. Drayden Morton would push #16 Tyler Lillard to the brink in one of the more entertaining battles of the evening at 165lbs. Morton and Lillard would grapple and exchange shots throughout three periods of exciting wrestling to send the match to sudden victory. Neither wrestler was able to collect the match-ending takedown, which would send the bout to tiebreakers. Lillard would finally get the long south after a takedown in tiebreakers after nearly ten minutes of competition.
CBU would fall in a pair of tight decisions at 174 and 184 lbs before the Hoos collected more bonus points in the 197lb-bout to give them a commanding 24-4 lead in the dual. Tristan Kemp would go toe-to-toe with #16 Jacob Bullock of Indiana at heavyweight, surrendering nothing to the ranked wrestler until the final 16 seconds of the third period. Bullock would escape with the 4-3 decision win over Kemp and give the Hoos another three points on the team score. The Hoosiers would carry its momentum into the final two matches and ultimately take the dual by a score of 34-4.
NEXT: The Lancers will gear up for a pair of road duals in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, as they take on Buffalo and Campbell on Saturday, November 9.
Players Mentioned
