California Baptist University
Big 12 Championships
The Lancers Earn Two Placers to Wrap the BIG 12 Championships
3/10/2024 3:35:00 PM | Wrestling
TULSA, OKLA--- The California Baptist University wrestling team concluded a strong showing at the BIG 12 Championships with two placers and an NCAA Qualifier on Sunday afternoon.
🚨Qualifier🚨
— California Baptist Wrestling (@CBUwrestling) March 10, 2024
Hunter Leake becomes the first NCAA qualifier in program history!! 🔥😤#LanceUp⚔️ @NCAAWrestling pic.twitter.com/TpaKlwmKac
Hunter Leake and Elijah Griffin were the lone wrestlers competing on the second day of action from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Leake competed in the consolation semifinals, and Griffin in the 7th Place Match.
Griffin began the day against a familiar foe in Stevo Poulin of Northern Colorado. Poulin, the reigning BIG 12 Champion in the 125lb weight class, and Griffin dueled in early January in Riverside, where Griffin upset Poulin in a 7-4 decision. Poulin was ranked #3 in the nation at the time, marking the highest-seeded wrestler a Lancer wrestler has defeated.
In the 7th Place Match, Poulin got revenge on Griffin in a tight match that went the distance. Poulin got an early takedown on Griffin and tacked on a reversal later in the match. Griffin would answer with a reversal of his own, but Poulin would hold on for the victory and add on a riding time point for the 7-4 win. Despite the loss, Griffin became the first Lancer to place at the BIG 12 Championships, earning an 8th place finish, and he will have a shot at an at-large bid to Nationals.
REVERSE for 2⃣ by Griff. 🔄🔥#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/vAiwwwmVG8
— California Baptist Wrestling (@CBUwrestling) March 10, 2024
Leake was up next on the day, starting off against #4 Derrick Cardinal of South Dakota State. Cardinal got an early takedown on Leake, but would Leake would be unable to continue the match after suffering a lower-body injury at the end of the first period. Leake would have to medically forfeit the 5th Place Match but would still walk away as a BIG 12 placer. Leake walked away as the 6th place finisher, earning CBU its second of the weekend.
BIG 12 Championships Session 3- Consolation Semifinals & Placing Matches
Tulsa, OK
7th Place 125: Stevo Poulin (N.Colo) over Elijah Griffin (CBU) by decision 7-5
Cons. Semis 133: Derrick Cardinal (SDST) over Hunter Leake (CBU) (Inj.1:19)
5th Place 133: Jace Koelzer (Okla.) over Hunter Leake (CBU) (MFFL)
NEXT: The Lancers will await news on Griffin's qualifying status for NCAA's and possibly join Hunter Leake in Kansas City, Missouri, for the NCAA Championships. The Championships begin on Thursday, March 21, and run through the 23rd.
Players Mentioned
