Derek Moore wants underdogs.  

Guys willing and wanting to embrace that role as they battle Division I wrestling giants. 

That’s how Moore, in his fourth year as California Baptist’s head coach, wants to build his program — just eight years after it transitioned from Division II to Division I. 

“Just the closeness of our team,” Moore said, “it’s what attracts some of the top-level recruits that we have been able to start to land. Just a great group of individuals that are looking to embrace the underdog role of going out and taking on Goliaths and being successful.” 

The success could continue in 2025-26 on a team with five returning starters as CBU’s dual slate begins at 3 p.m. PT Saturday when it hosts #23 Stanford.  

“Every year as our recruiting picks up and picks up, higher-level mentality athletes are stepping into the room,” Moore said. “So I think that has been one of our keys to our success as each of these guys are trying to do something that hasn’t been done before.” 

The Lancers established success a season ago with back-to-back top 20 dual wins over Cal Poly and West Virginia. Hunter Leake, in his senior year, became CBU’s first two-time DI NCAA Championships qualifier. 

CBU boasted eight placers at Iowa State’s Cyclone Invitational this past weekend as Cooper Shore (125), Drayden Morton (157), Mason Espinoza (174) and Eli Sheeren (197) led the way with third-place finishes. 

“Coming off this weekend very encouraged for sure — to have eight placers and four guys take top three,” Moore said. “Three of them were one point or so away from being in the finals.” 

Trail Blazer

A goal means more when someone sets the standard. 

Leake did. 

Leake, a 133-pounder who graduated in the spring, became CBU’s first two-time Big 12 placer as he finished sixth at the 2025 Big 12 Championships.  

He then went 1-2 at the NCAA Championships, including a first-round 3-2 loss to eventual national champion Lucas Byrd of Illinois. 

In 2024-25, Leake became CBU’s first DI NCAA Championships automatic qualifier. All for a program that joined the Big 12 as an affiliate member in the 2022-23 season. 

Now those remaining in the room want more. 

Wanting to become the program’s first Big 12 champion. The first DI All-American.  

“So, when we have guys that accomplish it and they do it kinda grass grassroots,” Moore said.  “Nothing about flashy about Hunter Leake. You’re not gonna look at him and say he’s a phenom. He is just a hard-working, tough individual who went out and wrestled 100 percent every single time.” 

The belief exists and a season awaits. 

“The standard that (Leake) set was really key in moving forward and guys believing that it can be done here,” Moore said. “Now we have got a room full of individuals chasing that All-American podium.” 

Fantastic Freshmen

Moore recently established a pattern of landing top recruits.  

Though, not all those who commit stay. 

CBU landed two top-20 prospects from FloWrestling’s 2022 Big Board in #17 MJ Gaitan and #18 Mitchell Mesenbrink. 

Gaitan flipped to Iowa State and Mesenbrink, the reigning 165-pound national champion, transferred to Penn State after a redshirt freshman year with the Lancers.  

Still, CBU continued to land Big Boarders, including Paul Kelly (#42 in 2024) at 149, now a sophomore. 

CBU’s 2027 class ranks 20th nationally, thanks to Oklahoma prep standouts #70 Cason Craft and #74 Legend Ellis. 

Key freshmen such as two-time Fargo champion Adonis Bonar II (184), Richie Clementi (141), Luke James (165), Caio Aron (125) and Gabe Ramirez (125), join the group. 

“A couple of guys (Bonar and Clementi) who you are probably going to see in the lineup this year quite a bit,” Moore said. “Just went out and scrapped incredibly hard. Richie has been putting a lot of work in on top and went out and right away is getting tech falls against Big 12 opponents and individuals. Adonis, he is really young for his age but just has the heart of a lion.” 

Bonar and Clementi finished sixth at the Cyclone Invitational. 

Richard Murillo, a redshirt freshman at 141, earned fifth. Kelly also took fifth at the Cyclone Invitational 

Aron, a U20 Pan American Champion, will miss the season with a torn ACL, Moore said. 

Transferring Success

It happened a season ago. The pattern remains this season. 

CBU’s 2024-25 starting lineup featured three grad transfers.  

Moore added to that this season with junior Shore (125), senior Gabe Schumm (165) and fifth-year Jesse Vasquez (149).  

Shore, who spent the past two seasons at Campbell, joined CBU and grabbed the 125 starting role. 

“Really excited about (Shore),” Moore said. “High-offense guy. Has got some big moves.” 

Schumm joins CBU after four seasons with North Dakota State. 

Vasquez, who Moore said enters the season with a “renewed sense of purpose” spent four seasons with Arizona State and entered college as one of four four-time California high school state champions. 

Watch California Baptist home duals this season live on Flowrestling.