[Men's Wrestling] No. 6 Wildcats Collect Three First Place Finishes at Missouri Valley Invitational

MARSHALL, Mo. – Taking a break from dual competition, the Baker men’s wrestling team travelled to the Missouri Valley Invite on Friday and Saturday, where three different Wildcats took home individual first place.

Emmanuel Browne was the team’s first Champion as he won the 125-pound weight class. Putting together a strong two days, Browne was able to go 5-0 on the tournament. After receiving a bye in the first round, Browne then won by a 23-6 tech fall over Benedictine’s David Boucher.

Browne then won his next two matches by an 11-4 decision and a 7-4 decision to head to the semifinals where he faced, Montana Moon of Oklahoma City. After a 9-3 decision, Browne took down Lucas Nelson of Brewton-Parker by a 3-1 decision to take home the 125-pound championship.

At 133 pounds Zane Baugh posted a record of 6-2 on the day, highlighted by a pin in just 51 seconds over Monte Zufelt of Eastern Oregon to finish seventh in the tournament. Moving onto 165 pounds, Isaiah Luellen put together four consecutive wins to earn a spot in the semifinals. After a loss in the semifinals, Luellen defeated Andrew Null of Northwester to advance to the third place match. Luellen lost by fall to finish in fourth place at 165 pounds.

Once again, Lucas Lovvorn kept his undefeated season alive as he went 6-0 on the tournament with back-to-back pins to start the day. After a tech fall in his third match and a 3-0 decision in the quarterfinals, Lovvorn took on Nathan Walton of Cumberlands in the semifinals. Lovvorn then put together a strong 11-3 major decision followed by a 12-0 major decision in the finals over Chase Vincent of Oklahoma City to win the 174-pound weight class.

In the 184-pound weight class, Jacob Smith was able to win his first three matches of the tournament to reach the quarterfinals, after a 8-2 loss, Smith won his next two  matches by decision but a loss in the consolation semis sent Smith to the fifth place match. Smith then won that match by medical forfeit to earn a fifth place finish at the Missouri Valley Invite.

Rounding out the first place finishers for the Wildcats was David Dow at 197 pounds. Dow also posted a perfect 5-0 record, winning by injury default and two major decisions to reach the semifinals. Down then had to battle with Jacob Wiley of Morningside where he came away with a 5-2 decision to head to the finals. Dow then defeated Owen Braungardt of Missouri Baptist by a close 7-6 decision, earning Baker’s third first place finish of the tournament.

The No. 6 Baker men’s wrestling team will be in action again on Thursday, Jan. 23, when they travel back to Marshall, Mo., for a dual with Missouri Valley College at 7 p.m.

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