Barajas tabbed GPAC wrestler of the week
SEWARD, Neb. – Junior Enrique Barajas became the third Bulldog grappler this season to be named GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Wrestler of the Week, as announced by the league on Tuesday morning. Barajas joins freshman Austin Fehlhafer and junior Emilio Rivera as the other teammates to collect weekly recognition.
In a light week for second-year head coach Dana Vote’s squad, Barajas notched the team’s most impressive win in the dual loss at Hastings on Feb. 13. The 149-pounder from Hayward, Calif., earned the victory by scoring a third-period takedown for a 5-3 decision over Blake Fruchtl, who is ranked 12th nationally at 141 pounds.
“It was a big match for Enrique,” Vote said last week. “He gutted it out. They were tied going into the third period. A takedown wins the match and he got a nice shot in. He stuck with it and won it.”
Barajas moved to 14-12 overall (four pins) on the season. He is ranked 14th in the NAIA and fourth in the North region at 149. He has won five of his last seven matches.
Barajas will be one of 12 Bulldogs who will compete on Saturday at the North Group Qualifying Tournament hosted by Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, S.D. The top four finishers in each weight class earn trips to the national championships. There will also be 15 at-large selections out of the North.
Junior Enrique Barajas