Eagles to host AMC Championships

WBC Sports
Shane Stolz, Sports Information Director

WALNUT RIDGE – The American Midwest Conference has sponsored the sport of wrestling for two years now, and after holding the inaugural AMC Wrestling championship at Hannibal-LaGrange University, Williams Baptist College earned the bid to host the second one.

The wrestling matches will begin at 9 a.m., on Saturday, January 28, with the final round beginning at approximately 6 p.m. The event will be held at the Southerland-Mabee Center in Walnut Ridge.

There are six teams who compete in wrestling in the AMC. Central Baptist College, Hannibal-LaGrange University, Lindenwood University-Belleville, Lyon College, Missouri Baptist University, and Williams Baptist College will be looking to hold up the trophy at the end of the day.

Williams comes into the tournament as the only team ranked in the NAIA Coaches Top 20 poll. They are ranked in a tie for ninth. Two teams will arrive in Walnut Ridge receiving votes in the poll. Lindenwood received seven and Lyon received 2 votes in the latest poll.

WBC leads the way with eight individually ranked wrestlers. Tyler Fraley leads the way as the top ranked wrestler in the 141 lb. division. Also ranked for the Eagles are Demetrius Thomas (8), Zach Revier (8), Jeffrey Haley (11), Keion McVay (13), Josh Chiles (13), Tanner Irwin (14), and Patrick Grigsby (15).

LU-B enters the event with two nationally ranked wrestlers. Marcelo Sierra (141 lb.) comes in at nine and Darius Lewis (197 lb.) is ranked 13th.

Connor Webber (165 lb.) is the lone ranked wrestler for Lyon, as he comes in at 14 in his weight class.

WBC is looking to repeat as conference champions, after a dominant performance in 2016, winning by 35.5 points over second place Missouri Baptist University.

Fans can watch the event live for free via the links at www.wbceagles.com.