Broncos Wrestle at Missouri Valley Invite; Tobias Takes 4th
(Marshall, MO) – The men’s wrestling team competed at the Missouri Valley Invite in the two-day event that began on Friday.
(Marshall, MO) – The men's wrestling team competed at the Missouri Valley Invite in the two-day event that began on Friday.
Sophomore Jordan Tobias pinned Blake Velotta of Oklahoma Wesleyan in the first round at 157. He lost an 11-5 decision in his next match against Arizona Christian, then regrouped and won a 14-2 major decision over Truett-McConnell University in his first consolation match. He picked up a 16-1 tech fall over Missouri Valley and followed that up with a pin at the 4:51 mark over Campbellsville.
Tobias moved on with another win, this time by a 19-4 tech fall against Whit Nichols from William Woods, then advanced to the consolation quarterfinals with a forfeit win over Missouri Baptist. He got a pin 48 seconds into his next match against Eastern Oregon's Carlos Valdez and advanced to the consolation final with a medical forfeit victory in the consolation semifinals. Facing Easton Larson of Grand View in the third place match, Tobias got down 7-0 after the first, ending up losing an 8-0 major decision to take fourth.
At 133, junior Justin Rodriguez won a close 9-8 decision over 10th-ranked Roman De La Cruz from University of Saint Mary, coming back from a 7-2 deficit in the third with a couple of takedowns, including one with six seconds left. In his second match, he pinned Indiana Tech's Seth Aubin at the 4:18 mark.
Rodriguez lost in the round of 16 to Concordia in a 7-6 decision, but responded by winning a 3-2 decision over #24 Josiah Fernandez of Keiser. He triumphed in a 14-11 sudden victory over Blake Woolsey of Providence, then ended his run with a 11-4 decision loss to Braden Carson of Eastern Oregon in a match that would have put him in the consolation quarterfinals.
At 285, sophomore Koen Mattern defeated Waldorf's Andy Rodriguez via 15-0 tech fall in the first period, then pinned Megaeska Kalskett of Morningside in the second round before forfeiting his next two matches.
After a first round bye, freshman Aidan Rodriguez led 7-4 in his first match before pinning Gabriel Tellez from Southwest Miami in the third period at 125. He lost in the round of 16 to third-ranked Haden Hernandez from Missouri Valley by major decision, then fell in his first consolation match to Arizona Christian.
Junior Creel Weber was pinned to open his day against Midland at 125, then with his first consolation match against Simpson's Benjamin Peralta, he led 12-8 after one period and won the bout in a 19-13 decision. He ended his day with a tech fall loss to Indiana Tech.
Junior Nicholas Freeland began his day with a 12-5 decision loss to Arizona Christian at 157 before earning a pin against Hope International in his first consolation match. He lost his next match in a 6-1 decision to Southeastern.
Up next, Hastings will wrestle at the Sioux City Open on Saturday, Jan. 31 at 9am in Sioux City, IA.
