OTTAWA, Kan. - The #12 Ottawa Braves will dual Avila University on Thursday in Kansas City, Missouri.
Ottawa went 3-0 at the Spire Duals on November 18th. The Braves defeated Northwestern, 28-19, Missouri Valley, 28-24, and Jamestown, 49-0.
Ottawa is ranked #12 in the latest NAIA Poll. Nine Braves are currently ranked individually in their respective weight classes.
Benjamin Pope is #23 in the 125lb weight division,
Braden Ledford is #24 in the 133lb weight division,
Brandon Kidd Jr. is #20 in the 149lb weight class,
Francis Morrissey is 15th in the 157lb weight division,
Dayton Hill is #12 in the 165lb weight class,
Braden Anderson is 12th in the 174lb,
JD Perez is #1 in the 184lb and
Jordan Lomeli is 20th in the 184lb weight class and
Tucker Tomlinson is 10th in the 197lb weight division.
Ottawa has faced off against Avila twice in program history. OU is 2-0 against Avila and last defeated in 2022, 27-12. In 2022,
Benjamin Pope started the dual with a forfeit victory to put the Braves up 6-0. Pope would eventually see some action, wrestling up at 133lb and winning by fall over Avila's Elijah Gunnels in an extra match.
Bobby Robinson and
Hunter Wagner earned close wins by decision at 141lbs and 149lbs respectively. Wagner's win was against one of Avila's three nationally ranked wrestlers, Logan Johnson at 149lbs. Following the 149lb bout, the Braves strung together three major decisions to open the team's lead to 24-3.
Brandon Kidd Jr. finished with an 11-3 major decision at 157lbs.
Dayton Hill took down another nationally ranked wrestler in Jett Merlo with an 11-3 major decision at 165lbs.
Jordan Lomeli followed up with a 19-5 major decision at 174lbs. The bout at 184lbs featured two nationally ranked wrestlers,
JD Perez of Ottawa and Daryus Webb of Avila. Perez mounted a third period comeback to claim a close 13-12 decision in the most exciting match of the night.
Results will be posted on www.ottawabraves.com.
