Arkansas Wrestle (All images via lrtrojans.com)
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Little Rock concluded the Davidson Duals with two more team wins to bring the outing to a perfect 4-0, moving to 9-4 on the season in the process. With the ninth win, the Trojans have effectively doubled their program win total in just this season alone.
Going into the 2023-24 season, Little Rock held a record of 9-41 throughout the program’s history. This week on the East Coast, the Trojans surpassed the total they brought in last year (5), and then brought the program total to 18. The best part? They still have seven duals left on the schedule.
“It’s a great feat for us and something that wasn’t imaginable for a few years,” admitted head coach Neil Erisman. “We’ve set a new standard for our program. That’s been the main theme since day one, having to raise the bar and do new things, and this is just one step in the right direction toward our goals. But it can’t be understated how cool it is to reach this mark.”
Even with a forfeit at 157 pounds in both of day two’s matches at the Davidson Duals, Little Rock still scored at least 40 team points between the pair of matches. Over the entire event, the Trojans put up 176 team points to their opponents’ 23 and won 35 of the 40 bouts. Read more about how day one went at the the two-day Davidson Duals here.
The results this week were not a given, but they were expected by Coach Erisman. “If we had some slip-ups or didn’t wrestle well, we could’ve came out of there with some losses. But we focused on scoring points and I’m proud that I saw us make a decision change for the better a few times.”
Two Trojans now are tied for the program’s most falls collected in a single season: Tyler Brennan and Josiah Hill. The duo collected their eighth respective pins of the year over the past two days as Brennan added two and Hill went three in a row following the first dual. Notably, the pair were also tied for the previous high, seven, set in the 2021-22 season.
In addition, Hill’s feats led to sharing the most individual points scored on the team (22). He was matched by Stephen Little and his two falls and two technical falls. The ranked redshirt freshman now has seven tech falls and four pins on the season.
Several Trojans finished the event undefeated in all four duals: Jeremiah Reno, Joseph Bianchi, Brennan, Triston Wills, Little, and Hill. Nasir Bailey went 3-0 while Reid Nelson bumped up a weight class to step in during the final dual.
Those victories also did well to help the starters reach career-high win totals and elevate win percentages. Bailey leads the group with a 16-2 record, while Brennan, J. Bianchi and Hill each have put up 15 wins apiece with records of 15-2, 15-6, and 15-7, respectively. Joining them in double digits are Wills at 12-5 and Little at 12-2, while Jeremiah Reno and Matty Bianchi share an 11-3 record.
The coaches have recruited hard, but the team has also shown development over the years – seven of the starters this weekend were in the lineup last year, and two have been on the roster since day one.
“You have to give credit to the older guys for continuously getting better,” said Coach Erisman. “That’s a hard thing to do when you have nobody else to look up to on a daily basis. But that’s also a credit to our young guys that brought new energy and prove that you can win now, that you don’t have to wait. That combination, with our team coming together and challenging each other, has elevated the intensity in our room.”
Now, Little Rock looks to focus that energy toward conference competition – and a homecoming. Following two months of wrestling on the road, the Trojans will return to the Jack Stephens Center next week for a 7 p.m. Pac-12 home opener against Arizona State on Friday, January 19. Veterans, first responders, and military personnel will receive free admission.
Little Rock 40, Lock Haven 11
125: Jeremiah Reno (Little Rock) win by forfeit
133: Nasir Bailey (Little Rock) TF Gable Strickland (Lock Haven),18-3
141: Wyatt Henson (Lock Haven) TF Cael Keck (Little Rock), 22-5
149: Kyle Dutton (Little Rock) TF Ty Linsenbigler (Lock Haven), 15-0
157: James Hogan (Lock Haven) win by forfeit
165: Joseph Bianchi (Little Rock) DEC Avery Bassett (Lock Haven), 10-5
174: Tyler Brennan (Little Rock) win by forfeit
184: Triston Wills (Little Rock) MD Colin Fegley (Lock Haven), 15-2
197: Stephen Little (Little Rock) TF Cael Black (Lock Haven), 19-4
285: Josiah Hill (Little Rock) F Ethan Miller (Lock Haven), 2:52
Little Rock 50, Presbyterian 6
125: Jeremiah Reno (Little Rock) F Trent Dominguez (Presbyterian College), 2:05
133: Reid Nelson (Little Rock) TF Brayden Adams (Presbyterian College), 15-0
141: Cael Keck (Little Rock) F Rey Ortiz (Presbyterian College), 2:26
149: Kyle Dutton (Little Rock) TF Trent Donahue (Presbyterian College), 17-2
157: Elijah Holiday (Presbyterian College) win by forfeit
165: Joseph Bianchi (Little Rock) TF Michael Ramirez (Presbyterian College), 17-2
174: Tyler Brennan (Little Rock) F Joshua Roe (Presbyterian College), 2:20
184: Triston Wills (Little Rock) TF Caleb Roe (Presbyterian College), 16-0
197: Stephen Little (Little Rock) F George Hopkins (Presbyterian College), 0:18
285: Josiah Hill (Little Rock) F Morvens Saint-Jean (Presbyterian College), 0:44
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