Vikings split duals in California

Sophomore heavyweight Travis Ewart (right) won twice during the Vikings' split of two matches at the California Baptist Duals. (Chris Allen/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- While the folks back home were slipping and sliding through the snow Tuesday, the Missouri Valley College men's wrestling team was basking in the California sun.

The sixth-ranked Vikings probably would be in a sunnier frame of mind had they been able to win both of their matches in the California Baptist Duals, but a late rally by No. 8 Menlo (Calif.) gave it an 18-13 upset in the first contest. Valley came back to beat the 12th-rated Lancers, 27-15.

The Vikings got off to a good start against Menlo, with top-ranked junior Brian Graham leading the whole way during a 12-5 decision over junior Mike Righi at 149 pounds.

The Lancers reeled off three straight wins to take the lead. Junior Joshua Emmett held off a late charge by sophomore D.W. Bradshaw (157 pounds) of Marshall to claim an 8-4 victory, senior Sabas Cruz downed red-shirt freshman Jacob Guernsey (165) by virtue of a third-period takedown and senior Robert Davis nipped another former Owl -- sophomore Alex McKinney (174) -- by a 7-6 score.

That was a tough loss for Valley, since it unsatisfactorily ended a tremendous match which went two overtimes --a late reversal by Davis providing him a momentarily two-point lead before McKinney escaped with 25 seconds remaining.

McKinney had been ahead early, 2-0 and 3-2 during the first frame, but Davis held a 5-4 edge before McKinney slipped away early in the third period.

Trailing 9-6, the Vikings went on their own three-bout roll. Fifth-ranked freshman Jesse Alter (184) defeated senior Gary Nelson, 9-2, and No. 8 sophomore Charlie Gibbs (197) cruised to a 12-1 major over junior Al Kinslow.

Sophomore heavyweight Travis Ewart gave Valley a 13-9 lead with a 4-2 decision over senior Nick Berry, putting him on the mat with 1:02 left in the contest for the winning points.

That was Valley's last win, though. All-America senior Billy Exline (125) was taken down with 12 seconds left in the first period by senior Jose Hernandez and was unable to catch up during a 5-2 loss in a clash between the second- and third-ranked grapplers in the NAIA.

In another upset, Menlo sophomore Eric Garcia defeated No. 7 senior Jon Gerhold (133), 5-0. The Vikings' last chance to pull out the match went by the wayside when sophomore Jesse Hulett (141) was unable to get ahead of freshman Christian Martinez during a 7-3 loss.

The Oaks (5-3) would beat California Baptist in a later tilt, 27-9.

Valley won seven of 10 bouts against the host Lancers, a first-year program. Two of Baptists three wins were by fall, No. 8 junior Lamar Reed over Bradshaw and fifth-ranked freshman Andrew Collins stopping Gerhold.

Exline also suffered another tough loss to a ranked opponent, No. 5 junior Chauncey Philipps scoring a takedown with five seconds remaining in the final set for a 5-3 victory.

Most the of the Vikings' wins weren't close.

Graham disposed of sophomore Jarell Price, 8-2, to begin the match and McKinney pinning freshman Jarid Price in the first period for a 12-6 lead.

In the preceding bout, Guernsey came back from a 2-0 deficit 36 seconds into his tilt with freshman C.J. Knowland to win on a reversal with 1:11 to go in the third period.

Alter dominated freshman David Skane with eight takedowns for a 19-7 major decision, Gibbs rebounded from a one-point deficit after one set with three reversals and a takedown for a 13-9 win and Ewart leading the whole way of his 12-4 major over freshman Dylan Berg.

Hulett finished off California Baptist (5-3) in style with two near-falls of fifth-ranked junior Ethan Hall for the Vikings' third major decision, 10-2.

Valley (2-1) will stay out west for a meet in the Biggest Little City in the World, taking part in the Reno (Nev.) Invitational today.