SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Maryville wrestling team earned another mark in the win column Saturday afternoon in Springfield, Mo., defeating Drury 23-15 for its first Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) victory of the season. Six Saints recorded wins, with Cole Ritter returning to form with a tech fall and Jeremiah Larson adding a pin to account for Maryville's lone bonus points.
 
INS & OUTS
Elijah Almarinez continued to set the tone for the Saints, earning a 7-5 decision at 125. The scrappy freshman scored a first-period takedown and followed with a four-point near-fall in the second to secure the win. Two first-period takedowns were all Yashua Amen needed at 133, as he posted a 6-3 decision to give Maryville an early 6-0 lead.
 
The Panthers clawed back into the dual with a win at 141 and a major decision at 149 before Nick Zamora halted the momentum at 157. Zamora scored a clutch third-period takedown to earn his third straight dual victory and put the Saints back in front, 9-7. The Panthers responded with another major decision at 165, setting up a pivotal bout for Ritter at 174.
 
Ritter rose to the occasion, staying close in the first period before taking control in the second and third. He tallied two takedowns and two four-point near-falls to earn a 15-0 tech fall and swing the dual back in Maryville's favor. Evan Morris followed with a 9-7 decision at 184 to make it 12-11 for the Saints.
 
With a chance to put the dual out of reach, Larson delivered, scoring a third-period fall in a match that featured four combined takedowns. Drury added its third major decision of the night at heavyweight, but the outcome had already been decided in favor of Maryville.
 
MARYVILLE 23, DRURY 15
125: Elijah Almarinez (MU) over Bryson Humphries (DU) (Dec 7-5)
133: Yashua Amen (MU) over Dylan Roth (DU) (Dec 6-3)
141: Nathan Wishne (DU) over Caleb Carter (MU) (Dec 4-1)
149: Mason Knight (DU) over Leo Buchheit (MU) (MD 8-0)
157: Nicolas Zamora (MU) over Garrett Salt (DU) (Dec 5-3)
165: Gaven Bremenkamp (DU) over Javier Gutierrez (MU) (MD 9-1)
174: Cole Ritter (MU) over Jeremiah Halter (DU) (TF 15-0 6:44)
184: Evan Morris (MU) over Nathan Brower (DU) (Dec 9-7)
197: Jeremiah Larson (MU) over Cole Robertson (DU) (Fall 5:58)
285: Hunter Tennison (DU) over Orest Nazarchuk (MU) (MD 12-4)

UP NEXT
A trip to Warrensburg, Mo. is on the docket next for the Saints. The wrestling team will head west to the stomping grounds of the Mules Sunday, Jan. 18, with the action set to begin at 10 a.m.