McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Riding the wave of emotion that accompanied the first wrestling matches at Linfield in 37 years, the Wildcat men's and women's wrestling teams swept Pacific in convincing fashion before an elated crowd Thursday evening at Ted Wilson Gymnasium.
 
WOMEN
Linfield began the night with a 33-0 blanking of Pacific, highlighted by Ayana Medina's quick pin of the Boxers' Dahlia Leighton in the 130-pound weight class. The Wildcats' Brielle Brick and Alice Rickett followed with convincing 10-0 technical falls over the Boxers' Sagel Bush and Analeese McAllister, respectively.
 
Linfield claimed four more victories, all by forfeit, at the 123, 155, 170 and 191 classes.
 
MEN
Locking down three pins and a forfeit in the final four pairings, the Wildcat men overcame a sluggish start in the lower flights to cast aside the Boxers 36-19.
 
Football player-turned-wrestler Lance Van Hoose turned in an inspired effort in the 174-pound class, pinning Pacific's Francisco Endi at the 5:18 mark. Fellow rookie Price Pothier followed at 184 pounds with a pin of Andrew Zinn at 2:33, setting the stage for Darrius Walker's 197-pound pin of Michael Madden at 5:22.
 
Kellen Hanson began the Wildcats' turnaround at 149 pounds by pinning Aidan Lybarger at 3:21.
 
Jacob Barnes (285) and Josh Cox (157) each received forfeit wins when Pacific failed to enter opposing competitors.
 
NEXT
The Linfield men return to action Sunday inside Gill Coliseum in Corvallis when they battle Clackamas Community College at noon and Oregon State at 2 p.m. The Wildcat women are in Forest Grove on Sunday to participate in the Mike Clock Open at Pacific's Stoller Center.