California Baptist University
South Dakota State University
CBU Battles #14 South Dakota State in Brookings
1/23/2026 6:07:00 PM | Wrestling
BROOKINGS, SD--- The California Baptist University wrestling team battled its toughest opponent of the season on Friday night as they faced off against the #14 South Dakota State Jackrabbits in Brookings.
The Lancers hung in early in the majority of the matches, but Paul Kelly would be the only victor of the dual as the Lancers fell 36-3 to the Jackrabbits on the road. South Dakota State came in ranked #3 in the NWCA Mid-Major Rankings and #14 overall, making it the highest-ranked opponent CBU has faced thus far this season.
The dual would begin at 174lbs with Mason Espinoza taking on Moses Espinoza-Owens. The match was very defensive early on, but Espinoza-Owens would collect a few late takedowns and put three on the board early for the Jackrabbits with a 10-3 decision. The Jackrabbits would secure back-to-back major decisions in the ensuing two matches, including a 14-4 victory from 2025 All-American Bennett Berge at 197lbs.
South Dakota State would earn bonus points in three of the next four matches to put the dual out of reach for CBU. Paul Kelly would secure the Lancers' only points of the dual at 149lbs as he battled Colin Dupill. Kelly secured his takedown early and would fend off multiple quality shots from Dupill during the remainder of the bout. Kelly would bookend his victory with a takedown as the clock expired in the third period to give him an 8-2 decision over Dupill. Kelly's win makes it seven straight dual victories for the Poway native.
The lone ranked matchup came at 157lbs as #29 Drayden Morton battled #18 Cael Swensen of South Dakota State. Swensen, a two-time NCAA qualifier, would put the first points on the board with a second-period escape as the two wrestlers battled hard into the third period. Morton would put the pressure on Swensen with a reverse in the third period; however, Swensen would answer with a reverse of his own, and they would ride out Morton for the duration of the third period, resulting in a 3-2 decision victory. South Dakota State would secure four more points to end the dual at 165lbs to close out the dual win 36-3.
RESULTS:
CBU 3 SDSU 36
174: #18 Moses Espinoza-Owens (SDSU) over Mason Espinoza (CBU) by decision 10-3
184: Brock Fettig (SDSU) over David Alonso (CBU) by major decision 14-4
197: #6 Bennett Berge (SDSU) over Eli Sheeren (CBU) by major decision 14-4
HWT: Micah Hach (SDSU) over Tristan Kemp (CBU) by decision 5-0
125: Daniel Guanajuato (SDSU) pins Cooper Shore (CBU) (Fall 3:30)
133: Cale Seaton (SDSU) over Mitchell Neiner (CBU) by technical fall (TF 19-4 6:24)
141: #23 Julian Tagg (SDSU) over Jesse Vasquez (CBU) by major decision 15-5
149: Paul Kelly (CBU) over Colin Dupill (SDSU) by decision 8-2
157: #18 Cael Swensen (SDSU) over #29 Drayden Morton (CBU) by decision 3-2
165: #26 Marcus Espinoza-Owens (SDSU) over Timothy Cowan (CBU) by major decision 14-4
NEXT: The Lancers will head to Fargo, North Dakota, to battle the Bison of North Dakota State for a BIG 12 dual on Sunday, January 25 at 11 AM PT.
Players Mentioned
