The Lindenwood wrestling team competed in the MIAA conference championship on Sunday hosted by Nebraska-Kearney. The Lions came away with five placers including two champions.
Hunter Haralson shined at 133 pounds as he won three matches en route to capturing the title. He defeated both Daide Agnew of Central Missouri and Blake Dauphin of Central Oklahoma for the second time each this season. After he beat Dauphin in the semifinals, Haralson was set up for a rematch with Bryce Shoemaker from Nebraska-Kearney who defeated the Lion by a 3-2 decision earlier this season. However, Haralson avenged that loss with a 4-2 decision win for his 22nd victory of the season.
David Hamil achieved in his weight class as well. He took the 184-pound title after defeating Central Oklahoma's Caleb Hawes by a 5-2 decision in the semifinals followed by a revenge-victory over Zach Stodden from Nebraska-Kearney. Stodden defeated Hamil earlier this season by a sudden victory. After the tournament, Hamil improved his record to 18-5 on the year.
In his first conference tournament,
Carlos Jacquez placed second thanks to a technical fall over Conrad Cole from Fort Hays in the semifinals. Jacquez faced his toughest opponent for the second time this season in Dustin Reed of Newman in which the 125-pounder competed hard until the end. However, Reed prevailed with the 6-2 decision.
Dillon Archer finished third in the 197-pound flight when he pinned three opponents including his consolation final against Dalton Weidl of Newman. Archer fell to one of the best 197-pound wrestlers in Division II – Jon Inman of Fort Hays – by a 7-3 decision in the semifinals.
Jake Borgmeyer ignited a fourth-place finish after reaching the semifinals by a 7-0 decision win over Thor Balavage of Newman. He then ended up in the consolation finals when he won by technical fall over Chase Miller of Central Missouri. He would lose to Christian Lance by a close decision in the third-place match.
The Lions will be back in action in two weeks when they travel to Moorhead, Minn. for the Super Regional tournament on February 24.
