California Baptist University
NCAA Championships (Session I)
Historic Season Continues as Griffin Advances to Day 2 of the National Championships
3/21/2024 6:21:00 PM | Wrestling
TULSA, OKLA.--- A historic season for the California Baptist University wrestling team continued at the DI National Championships, with Hunter Leake and Elijah Griffin being the lone competitors in the prestigious tournament. Griffin advanced to day two of the Championships with two wins in the consolation bracket, including a pin over the #19 wrestler in the country.
Griffin and Leake became the first two Lancers to ever qualify for the Championship tournament after securing their bids at the BIG 12 Championships in early March. Griffin earned his way with an at-large bid and 8th place finish in the 125lb weight class, whereas Leake was an automatic qualifier in the 133 lb weight class and placed 6th in Tulsa.
Griffin began the day at the T-Mobile Center with a rematch of opening day, matching up with #3 Drake Ayala of Iowa. Ayala defeated Leake in the opener in early November 18-8 by a major decision, and that would be the case again in Kansas City. Ayala and Griffin were scoreless after one period, but Ayala would open up the scoring in the second period with a quick escape and subsequent takedown. Griffin would register a pair of escape points in the second period, but Ayala would ultimately secure the 10-2 major decision result.
Leake opened his day a few matches after Griffin in Session I with a bout against #3 Kai Orine of N.C. State. Orine, the 4th ranked wrestler in the country in the weight class, according to InterMat, would secure the major decision over Leake 10-0 to move on to the next round. Leake was active early, but Orine would secure a pair of takedowns and a reversal to avoid the upset.
In the wrestlebacks, Griffin made history for the Lancers as he bested Mike Joyce in a 7-3 decision to claim the first National Tournament win for the program. Griffin and Joyce were scoreless through most of the match, but a Griffin takedown at the beginning of the third period would prove to be the difference in the preliminary match. Leake would battle Cayden Rooks of Indiana in his preliminary match but could not secure the win, with Rooks eventually prevailing 10-3.
🚨History Made🚨
— California Baptist Wrestling (@CBUwrestling) March 21, 2024
Eli becomes the first Lancer to win a match at the @NCAAWrestling National Championships with a 7-3 decision over Mike Joyce. #LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/1xAdKSbYl4
Leake's impressive season concluded with him boasting 18 total wins and a team-best 10-4 dual record. Leake was the program's first-ever automatic qualifier for the National Tournament and was the highest placer at BIG 12's, with a 6th place prize in the 133lb weight class. Leake was ranked as high as 30th in the Coach's Poll and recorded bonus points in six matches on the season.
Griffin continued on after his win over Joyce with a consolation match against Jett Strickenberger of West Virginia. Strickenberger, the 19th-ranked wrestler in the weight class, was coming off a loss to Nico Provo of Stanford in the prelims. Griffin was hot early, snagging the first points of the game with a takedown in the first period. Strickenberger would answer right back with a reversal on Griffin, but Griffin would shut down any momentum by turning Strickenberger onto his back and generating the fall at 1:19 in the first period. The win secured day two wrestling for CBU, with Griffin advancing into the next round of the consolation bracket.
‼️TURN US UP ELI‼️ 😱
— California Baptist Wrestling (@CBUwrestling) March 22, 2024
Griff pins Strickenberger to punch his ticket to Day 2 in Kansas City!! 💣💣#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/ox5uTGJDZW
RESULTS:
2024 DI National Championships
Kansas City, MO- T-Mobile Center
Prelims:
125|| Drake Ayala (Iowa) over Elijah Griffin (CBU) by major decision 10-2
133|| Kai Orine (NC State) over Hunter Leake by major decision 10-0
Wrestlebacks:
125|| Elijah Griffin (CBU) over Mike Joyce (Brown) by decision 7-3
133|| Cayden Rooks (Indiana) over Hunter Leake (CBU) by decision 10-3
125|| Elijah Griffin (CBU) pins Jett Strickenberger (West Virginia) (1:41)
NEXT: Griffin will fave #20 Stevo Poulin of Northern Colorado for the third time this season in the consolation bracket in Session III of the National Championships from the T-Mobile Center. Session III will begin at 9 AM PT from Kansas City, Missouri.
Players Mentioned
