Competing in its last and third home dual in a row, the No. 10-ranked Lindenwood wrestling team needed the last match to edge out Fort Hays State on Friday night. It was also senior night featuring Alejandro Wajner,
Marcus Prosser,
Jake Landals, and
Terrel Wilbourn.
Losing their first two out of three matches, the Lions trailed 7-3 with
Hunter Haralson winning his match at 133 pounds by decision. With that victory, Haralson improved to 17-4 on the year, continuing his nine-match winning streak.
Then the senior who ranks No. 1 among the 157-weight class in Division II stepped up for the Lions. Wilbourn came through for his team one more time at home with a dominating 17-4 major decision victory, and cut the lead down to 11-7. Wilbourn's impeccable season consists of a 16-0 overall record with a team-leading 10 of them resulting from dual play. He also leads the team with 48 points earned, and sits in second place with four major decisions.
Kyle Jolas followed up with a close 5-2 decision at 165 pounds. As the third round neared conclusion, Jolas, who had a 3-2 lead, tangled up with his opponent. He then took his opponent down to ice the match, cutting the Tigers' lead down to one. It was Jolas's team-leading 22nd win of the season.
Awaiting the first pin of the match, the Lions had
Batchka Zulkhuu next up at 174 pounds. Zulkhuu came out aggressively as he posted a takedown until he pinned his opponent at the 2:26 mark. His sixth pin of the season, which leads the team, catapulted the Lions to their first lead of the dual by a score of 16-11.
The Tigers fired back with a major decision and a decision back-to-back to regain the lead 18-16 heading into the heavyweights, converting it into the dual-deciding match.
Jake Borgmeyer and his opponent battled in the first round, but neither scored a point. Borgmeyer would not be denied though as he took down his opponent and dominated the rest of the way. By winning a major decision, he clinched the match for the Lions by a final score of 20-18. It was Borgmeyer's 16th win and his first major decision of the season.
The Lions improve their dual record to 8-2 and MIAA record to 3-1 while Fort Hays fell to 5-4 overall and 0-3 in MIAA play. The Lions will hit the road to take on Nebraska-Kearney for another MIAA showdown on Saturday, February 6. The first match starts at 7 pm.
