California Baptist University
West Virginia University
CBU Upsets #18/13 West Virginia on the Road Behind a Top 10 Upset from Griffin
12/15/2024 3:49:00 PM | Wrestling
NEW CUMBERLAND, WV--- The California Baptist University wrestling team completed a 2-0 weekend of wrestling with a gritty 18-15 road win over #18/13 West Virginia on Sunday afternoon, handing the Mountaineers its first loss of the season.
The win was one of the biggest of the DI era for the Lancers program and marked the second time they have defeated a ranked opponent since joining the BIG 12 as an affiliate member in 2022. The critical road victory also gave CBU a 2-0 start in conference play for the first time in program history after defeating Air Force in the opener in late November.
The dual began at 174lbs, with the Mountaineers gaining the early 3-0 lead with a 4-2 decision victory by Brody Conley. Nathan Haas would even the dual up moments later with his own decision victory by securing a pair of clutch takedowns in the third period. The Mountaineers would regain the lead at 197lbs, with Austin Cooley collecting another three points for West Virginia. At heavyweight, Tristan Kemp would grapple with two-time National Qualifier Michael Wolfgram but surrendured a late takedown in the third period to give the Mountaineers the 9-3 advantage. Another win at 125lbs would give the ranked Mountaineers a commanding 12-3 lead, but that is when CBU mounted its comeback.
The scoring run for CBU began with an entertaining bout at 133lbs between true freshman Richard Murillo and 2024 National Qualifier Jett Strickenberger. Strickenberger was all over Murillo at the outset of the match, registering two takedowns in the first period. As the clock was winding down in the opening frame, Murillo would get on top of Strickenberger to inch within one point of the West Virginia wrestler and gain momentum on his side. Murillo would take the lead in the second period with another takedown, but two escape points from WVU would even the score again heading into the third period. Murillo would earn his escape point, but Strickenberger had built up over one minute of riding time to force sudden victory. Strickenberger came out extremely aggressive with several effective shots on Murillo, but the freshman was not rattled and got the 2024 national qualifier to his back to give CBU life with six points via the fall.
With the score at 12-9 in favor of WVU, the most anticipated matchup of the afternoon was on deck, with #33 Elijah Griffin facing off against two-time National Qualifier and top-ten ranked wrestler Jordan Titus. The only output through two periods was over a minute of riding time by Griffin. In the third period, the action ramped up as the two ranked wrestlers battled at 141 lbs. As the clock winded down in the third period, Titus leaped over Griffin, hoping to secure the highlight-reel takedown, but Griffin fended off the attack and flipped the script for a takedown of his own with under ten seconds to secure the 5-0 win and three more points for CBU. For Griffin, it was his second ranked victory of the season and the second time in his career he has defeated a top-10 wrestler in a dual.
With the momentum leaning toward the visitors, true freshman Paul Kelly was up for the Lancers against Sam Hillegas with the score now tied at 12 apiece. Kelly surrendered an early takedown but nearly offset it with a crucial reversal to keep the score close. Kelly would get another reversal in the third period, which led to Kelly giving CBU the first lead of the afternoon with a 6-3 decision win. Jeremy Ginter Jr. was the third true freshman to compete for the Lancers in the dual, and he would be the one to secure at least a tie for the Lancers with a 14-9 decision win over Sasha Gavronsky. The win for Ginter Jr. completed a 2-0 weekend for the freshman and gave CBU the 18-12 advantage. DRayden Morton would ensure the Lancer victory by not surrendering a fall at 165lbs to two-time All-American and four-time National Qualifier Peyton Hall to result in the 18-15 final score.
"This Lancer team came to fight tonight," remarked Head Coach Derek Moore. "They did not give up anything easy and wore out their opponents. True Freshman Murillo was key this evening with his overtime pin over a National Qualifier. That and Griffin's win over the #10 ranked wrestler shifted the momentum in our favor. This was a massive team win, validating the hard work of these young men. They believed in themselves and each other, and they are an incredibly close group of guys that I could not be prouder of."
RESULTS:
CBU 18 West Virginia 15
174: Brody Conley (WVU) over Carter Schmidt (CBU) by decision 4-2
184: Nathan Haas (CBU) over Ian Bush (WVU) by decision 7-2
197: Austin Cooley (WVU) over Eli Sheeren (CBU) by decision 4-1
HWT: #29 Michael Wolfgram (WVU) over Tristan Kemp (CBU) by decision 4-1
125: Jace Schafer (WVU) over Mitchell Neiner (CBU) by decision 8-1
133: Richard Murillo (CBU) pins Jett Strickenberger (WVU) (7:41)
141: #33 Elijah Griffin (CBU) over #10 Jordan Titus (WVU) by decision 5-0
149: Paul Kelly (CBU) over Sam Hillegas (WVU) by decision 6-3
157: Jeremy Ginter Jr. (CBU) over Sasha Gavronsky (WVU) by decision 14-9
165: #3 Peyton Hall (WVU) over Drayden Morton (CBU) by decision 5-1
NEXT: The Lancers will continue its road stretch next week as they travel to San Luis Obispo, California, to take on the Cal Poly Mustangs on Thursday, December 19 at 5:30 PM.
Players Mentioned
