Spires Shine at Missouri Valley Invite, Take 4th
The University of Saint Mary men's wrestling team delivered an outstanding performance at the Missouri Valley Invite. The Spires finished 4th overall with many strong performances.
Leading the charge was Hartwell Taylor, who claimed 1st place in the highly competitive 141-pound weight class. In the opening round, Taylor wasted no time showcasing his dominance, earning a 20-2 technical fall victory over Dalton Michael (Hastings). Taylor secured a pin at 4:34 over Caden Lopez (Graceland). He then earned a decision 5-2 against Drew Jones (Southeastern). The quarterfinals saw Taylor against Eli Peyton (Cumberlands) with a decision of 10-3, and in the semifinals, Taylor defeated Edrich Nortje (Dickinson State) by an 8-2 decision. In the championship match, Taylor competed for first with Creighton Baughman (Concordia) with a close decision of 3-2. Taylor's dominance throughout the tournament helped secure the Spires' solid finish.
Freddy Barajas also earned a podium finish, taking 2nd place in the 133-pound weight class. Barajas kicked off his tournament with a solid 17-8 major decision victory over Nat`aani Prado (Baker). Barajas earned a 3-1 decision over Grant Wells (Concordia). Round three was a major decision of 24-10 against Alex Tabor (Lindsey Wilson). In the quarterfinals, Barajas secured a 6-1 decision over Daryl Mills (Missouri Baptist University). In the semifinals, Barajas continued his dominant style, a 16-6 major decision over Adonis Boyd (Cumberlands). In the first-place match, Barajas fell short with a loss of 9-0 major decision against Sean Archuleta (Arizona Christian University) but secured 2nd place.
Other Notable Performances
Brody Gee added another standout finish for the Spires, placing 4th in the 125-pound weight class. The Spires also saw strong performances from Ryker Blackburn and Roman De La Cruz. Blackburn secured a 6th place finish in the 197-pound division, while De La Cruz matched his teammate's effort with a 6th place finish in the 133-pound weight class. The Spires look to build on this momentum as they prepare for the next chapter of their season.