GREAT FALLS, Mont. – Led by a 3-0 day by
James Bennett, the 11th-ranked Indiana Tech wrestling team went 3-1 at the Battle of the Rockies duals on Friday, hosted by the University of Great Falls (Mont.).
The Warriors opened the day with a 38-6 win over No. 16 Dickinson State (N.D.) winning eight of 10 weight classes, including four via pin.
Mitchell Pawlak, Adam Fahs,
Taylor DeLong and
Andre Dunn all won via pin, each earning six points. Sixth-ranked Fahs defeated seventh-ranked Sean Elkins at 149-pounds, while DeLong defeated ninth-ranked Lane Oversen at 184-pounds.Bradon Sunday also had an upset, defeating the 14th-ranked wrestler at 197-pounds in Skyler Carroll.
In their second dual of the day, Tech defeated eighth-ranked Simpson (Calif.) 23-18, getting a pin from Bennett at 165-pounds, a forfeit at 133-pounds and a tech fall by
Travis Barroquillo at 141-pounds. Barroquillo, who's ranked eighth at 141, defeated fifth-ranked Anthony Vega while No. 8 Bennett pinned Chan Chao in 1:03. The Orange and Black won five of the 10 matches.
In their toughest test of the season, the Warriors lost to No. 2 Montana State – Northern, 31-12. Tech won two of the 10 matches, both via pin as Pawlak defeated Douglas O'Hara in 0:54 at 133-pounds and Dunn won over Jorrell Jones in 1:59 at 285-pounds. Fahs lost a tough decision, 10-9, to 13th-ranked Hunter Azure and at 125-pounds, third-ranked
Kristopher McKinley lost to top-seeded individual Aaron La Farge, 9-4.
In the final dual, Tech defeated the sixth-ranked hosts, University of Great Falls (Mont.), 24-23. The Orange and Black won just four of the 10 matches, but three came via the pin and Sunday won at 197-pounds via forfeit. Barroquillo pinned Justin Whitman at 141-pounds, Bennett took 2:18 to pin fourth-ranked Shawn Lau at 165-pounds and Dunn won over 15th-ranked David Lopez at 285-pounds.
The Warrior grapplers return to action on Saturday, Dec. 14, when they host the Warriors Duals. The junior varsity wrestlers will be in action tomorrow, Dec. 7 as they take part in the Little State Invitational.
