ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The New Mexico Highlands wrestling team (1-0) overcame a pair of six-point deficits to knock off NAIA #14 Wayland Baptist 32-18 (1-5) Sunday afternoon (Jan. 5) at La Cueva High School in Albuquerque, N.M.
Trailing 18-15, senior
Igor Gomzin (5-6) at 184 started a strong finish to the match for the Cowboys.
After a pair of takedowns, Gozmin stuck his opponent in only 2:22 to put Highlands in the lead for good.
Junior
Justin Rockhill (5-3) clinched the match at 197 with a 17-2 tech fall win. Rockhill came out and threw a haymaker in the first period against the Pioneers' Nik Gates, tallying 10 points against only two escapes for his opponent. Up 2-1 after a takedown, Rockhill threw an eight-point move with a takedown and a pair of near fall threes. With the riding point after a pair of takedowns and a near fall two in the final two periods, Rockhill claimed the tech fall and gave Highlands a 26-18 edge heading to heavyweight.
Redshirt freshman
Cody Marquez (8-5) closed out the dual with a thrilling pin at 285. Wayland Baptist's Francisco DeLeon took a 2-1 lead after one period, but Marquez got the fall in the second with a thrilling 48 seconds of wrestling. DeLeon started down, but Marquez quickly took the lead when he titled his opponent for three points. DeLeon countered with a reversal and two back-points, but Marquez reversed him and put DeLeon on his back for the pin in 3:48.
The Cowboys recorded four pins in the match compared to only one for Wayland Baptist.
Highlands was forced to take a forfeit in the first match of the day at 125, but quickly tied the dual at six. At 133, redshirt sophomore
Tre Humphrey (2-4) gave up a takedown but escaped and took his opponent to the mat to take a 3-2 lead. In only 2:18, Humphrey stuck his opponent to tie the match.
Wayland Baptist claimed victories at 141 and 149 to retake a six-point lead, but Highlands countered with a victory at 157 and a fall at 165 to take its first lead. A stalling point and a takedown gave sophomore
Pierce Stowman (9-6) the lead after the first period at 157. Riding out Bernie Gonzalez in the second period, Stowman put the exclamation on the match with a takedown and the riding point to claim the 6-1 win. At 165, redshirt junior
Mariano Montoya (1-2) was in a 1-0 battle with the Pioneers' Wyatt Hardy. Montoya pinned Hardy in 5:52. Highlands led 15-12.
The Pioneers were not done and flipped the score on the Cowboys at 174. Freshman
Easton Hargrave (8-7) took a 5-0 lead after one period and chose down in the second. Wayland Baptist's Mitch Napier reversed Hargrave and got the pin in 3:48 to put the visitors up 18-15 before the Cowboys fantastic finish.
Redshirt sophomore
Anthony Munoz kicked off the match in exhibition at 133, claiming an 8-4 win over Marcus Romo.
The New Mexico Highlands wrestling team is back in action Thursday (Jan. 9) when it travels to Santa Fe, N.M., to battle Embry-Riddle. First match of the dual is set for 7 p.m.
Results:
125: Justin Williamson (WBU) - Forfeit (NMHU) WBU 6-0
133:
Tre Humphrey (NMHU) Won by Fall over Andrew Porras (WBU), 2:18 Match is Tied 6-6
141: Chris Hart (WBU) won by decision over
Orlando Guerra (NMHU), 11-6. WBU leads 9-6
149: Andrew Cosper (WBU) won by decision over
Jesse Martinez (NMHU), 9-8. WBU leads 12-6
157:
Pierce Stowman (NMHU) won by decision over Bernie Gonzalez (WBU), 6-1. WBU 12-9
165:
Mariano Montoya (NMHU) won by fall, Wyatt Hardy (WBU), 5:52. NMHU 15-12
174: Mitch Napier (WBU) won by fall over
Easton Hargrave (NMHU), 3:48 WBU 18-15
184:
Igor Gomzin (NMHU) won by fall over Manuel Rocha (WBU), 2:22. NMHU 21-18
197:
Justin Rockhill (NMHU) wins by tech fall Nik Gates (WBU) 17-2. NMHU leads 26-18
285:
Cody Marquez (NMHU) wins by fall Francisco DeLeon (WBU), 3:48 NMHU wins 32-18
Exhibition 133:
Anthony Munoz (NMHU) won by decision over Marcos Romo (WBU), 8-4
