California Baptist University
Air Force
The Lancers Secure First Ranked Win in Program History over #19 Air Force
2/3/2024 2:34:00 PM | Wrestling
COLORADO SPRINGS--- The California Baptist University wrestling team secured their first conference dual win of the season with a 21-15 victory over #19 Air Force on Saturday afternoon.
The win marked the second in the program's young history in the BIG 12 after defeating Wyoming last season in Laramie. The victory also ended a five-match slide to the Falcons and was the Lancer's third road dual victory of the season. The win was also the first ranked win in program history for CBU, with the Falcons coming into the dual #19 according to FloWrestling.
CBU won six of the ten matches in the dual, earning bonus points in two of them to secure the narrow victory. The dual featured four ranked wrestlers total, with three for Air Force and one for CBU. The Lancers started strong at 157 lbs, with Chaz Hallmark securing five quick points for CBU by defeating Brooks Gable by technical fall. Hallmark earned 1:22 of riding time and secured multiple takedowns to spot the Lancers five early points.
The Falcons would respond by winning the next three matches by decision and claiming the lead 9-5 through four bouts. Eli Sheeren got CBU back on track with an 11-0 major decision over Calvin Sund of Air Force to knot the dual at nine apiece. #2 Wyatt Hendrickson gave Air Force the lead back in the heavyweight match with his NCAA-leading 11th pin to continue his perfect 16-0 start to the season.
Facing a six-point deficit, the Lancers leaned on their two highest-ranked wrestlers #27 Elijah Griffin and Hunter Leake. Griffin and Leake each secured a narrow decision for CBU and tied the dual at 15 heading into the final two matches. Darren Green broke the stalemate with an 8-5 win in overtime. Green registered a takedown in the first overtime over Garrett Kuchan to reclaim the lead 18-15.
The match would come down to the 149lb weight class, where Dayne Morton faced off against Joe Fernau of Air Force. Morton dominated the match, registering multiple takedowns and nearly two minutes of riding time to secure the dual for the Lancers 21-15.
CBU 21 Air Force 15
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
157: Chaz Hallmark (CBU) over Brooks Gable (Air Force) by technical fall 22-5 (6:04)
165: Giano Petrucelli (Air Force) over Carter Schubert (CBU) by decision 5-0
174: Noah Blake (Air Force) over Justin Phillips (CBU) by decision 4-2
184: Sam Wolf (Air Force) over Nathan Haas (CBU) by decision 7-0
197: Eli Sheeren (CBU) over Calvin Sund (Air Force) by major decision 11-0
285: Wyatt Hendrickson (Air Force) pins Christopher Island (CBU) (1:38)
125: Elijah Griffin (CBU) over Tucker Ownes (Air Force) by decision 6-4
133: Hunter Leake (CBU) over Bubba Wright (Air Force) by decision 2-1
141: Darren Green (CBU) over Garrett Kuchan (Air Force) by sudden victory (SV-1 8-5)
149: Dayne Morton (CBU) over Joe Fernau (Air Force) by decision 12-5
NEXT: The Lancers will be back in action at home on Friday, February 9, at 6 PM against #18 Northern Iowa.
Players Mentioned
