WREST Meet Preview: SAC Men’s Wrestling Championships (Feb. 21)

WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. (2/19/26) – The Williams Baptist University wrestling team will compete in the Sooner Athletic Conference Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21 in Fort Worth, Texas.

The championships will be held inside Sid Richardson Arena on the campus of Texas Wesleyan University.

Williams is in search of its first conference championship since the 2020-21 season, and first championship as an associate member of the Sooner Athletic Conference.

Ezekiel Gasca, Clay Smith, Landon Holmes, Caiden Saavedra, Clay Crane, Tevin Minney, James Opitz, Matthew Russell, Micah Oltmanns, and Roman Corrall will all represent Williams in the event.

Saavedra leads the Eagles with two tournament wins this season at the Viking Open and Missouri Valley Open.  Saavedra was named SAC Wrestler of the Week on Feb. 4 after taking gold at the Missouri Valley Open.

As a team, the Eagles were ranked fourth in the Sooner in the final NAIA conference ratings.  Ezekiel Gasca was fourth in the 133 followed by Clay Smith.  Landon Holmes took the third spot in the 141 rankings, and Saavedra was ranked third in the 149. Matthew Russell was ranked third in the 184 rankings.

"I am beyond excited to get the guys back out on the mat this weekend," said WBU Head Coach Erik Cooley.  "I know we are prepared to go out and compete.  Everything we have done this season has ramped up to this time of the year."

The SAC/AMC grouping will have 15 total allocations into the NAIA National Championship, held March 5-7 at the Heartland Credit Union Arena in Wichita, Kan.  The allocations include two wrestlers in the 125, 149, 157, 165, and 184 lb. weight classes, with one bid in the remaining classes.

The tournament is set for a 10 a.m. start time on Saturday inside Sid Richardson Arena.  Both mats will have their own live feed streamed for free on the Urban Edge Network.  Fans will also be able to follow live results via Track Wrestling.