Wrestlers finish eighth at Missouri Valley

Story by Baker Orange Staff

The No. 17 Baker University wrestling team finished eighth at the Missouri Valley College Invitational on Friday and Saturday in Marshall, Mo.

The 18-team bracket featured five nationally-ranked programs as well as NCAA Division II wrestlers. BU finished ahead of No. 19 Midland University but BU fell behind No. 1 Grand View University, No. 3 Missouri Valley College and No. 9 Indiana Tech.

Freshman Bryant Gullien, 174 pounds, led the Wildcats by fighting his way to the third-place match but eventually fell to Indiana Tech’s LJ Grayson.

Senior Johnathan Hambleton had a fifth-place finish in the 184-pound weight class after finishing the weekend with a 4-2 record. Heavyweight Beau Bennet also won his fifth-place match over Indiana Tech’s Andre Dunn on a 6-0 decision.

The Wildcats will have another difficult weekend ahead as the team competes in the Kansas Cup on Saturday in Hays. Baker is the highest ranked Kansas team in the NAIA but the tournament consists of NJCAA as well as NCAA Division II teams. BU finished second in the Kansas Cup in 2013. Some BU wrestlers are also scheduled to compete in the Central Baptist Open in Conway, Ark. on Saturday.