Williams Baptist Wrestling Finishes Strong at Sooner Athletic Conference Championships
FORT WORTH, Texas – The Williams Baptist University wrestling team delivered a solid performance at the Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) Wrestling Championships, hosted by Texas Wesleyan University on Saturday. The Eagles secured a fourth-place finish, demonstrating their growing strength within the conference.
Eagles’ Performance and Key Standouts
Williams Baptist accumulated 79.5 points, surpassing Central Baptist’s 41 points and claiming fourth place. Oklahoma City dominated the championships, winning nine of the ten weight classes and earning 192.5 points to grab the team title.
Matthew Russell shone for the Eagles, achieving a second-place finish in the 184-weight class. Russell secured his spot with a default victory over the No. 1 seed, Dayne Stormer. Caiden Saavedra added to the team’s success with a third-place finish in the 149-weight class, winning his third-place match by fall against Alex Lopez of Central Baptist.
Micah Oltmanns as well earned a bronze medal, finishing third in the 197-weight class. James Opitz (174), Roman Corral (285) and Tevin Minney (165) each finished fourth in their respective brackets, while Ezekiel Gasca secured a fifth-place finish in the 133-weight class.
Looking Ahead: NAIA National Championships
The Eagles now await confirmation regarding potential qualifiers for the NAIA Men’s Wrestling National Championships. The national competition is scheduled to take place from March 5-7 at Heartland Credit Union Arena in Wichita, Kansas. The team’s performance at the SAC Championships will be a key factor in determining which wrestlers will advance to the national stage.
The Sooner Athletic Conference: A Growing Wrestling Powerhouse
The Sooner Athletic Conference has turn into increasingly competitive in recent years. Texas Wesleyan University hosted the championships, and earlier in the year, Wayland Baptist University overcame Texas Wesleyan to advance in the 2025 SAC Baseball Championships. Texas Wesleyan also led the conference in academic honors, with 217 student-athletes named to the Academic All-SAC list for the 2024-25 academic year.
FAQ
Q: Where were the SAC Wrestling Championships held?
A: The championships were hosted by Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth, Texas.
Q: Who won the team championship at the SAC Wrestling Championships?
A: Oklahoma City won the team championship.
Q: When and where are the NAIA Men’s Wrestling National Championships?
A: March 5-7 at Heartland Credit Union Arena in Wichita, Kansas.
Q: Which Williams Baptist wrestler finished in second place?
A: Matthew Russell finished in second place in the 184-weight class.
Q: How many points did Williams Baptist University earn at the SAC Championships?
A: Williams Baptist University earned 79.5 points.
Pro Tip: Staying updated on conference standings and individual wrestler performances can provide valuable insights into the evolving landscape of collegiate wrestling.
Stay tuned for updates on which Williams Baptist wrestlers will be competing at the NAIA National Championships. Explore more WBU Athletics news on wbueagles.com.
