Tiger wrestling team places 14th at national tournament

Getting wins from seven wrestlers at the NJCAA Division I Wrestling Championship held Friday and Saturday in Council Bluffs, IA, the Cowley College wrestling team placed 14^th out of 49 teams.

Clackamas Community College (OR) claimed its fourth consecutive title as the Cougars finished with a team score of 136.5 points.

The Tigers, which finished with 44 team points, were led by sophomore Ryan Smith placing fifth at 133 pounds and earning All-American honors for a second straight season.

"I am really proud of Ryan for achieving two-time All-American status," Cowley head coach Beau Vest said. "This was probably one of the toughest junior college national tournaments I have ever been a part of, but I thought our guys fought and wrestled hard."

Other Tiger wrestlers to pick up wins at the national tournament were all freshmen as Trenton Grant, Brandon Kidd, Makana Tapia, Mouhamadou Sene, Alexander Howard, and Dean Setticase combined for nine national tournament wins.

"The guys fought through a lot of hurdles this season to do well at the national tournament," Vest said. "We have the potential to return a lot of national tournament experience and will now be hitting the recruiting trail hard for next season."

Cowley results:

*125 pounds – Robbie Rosser went 0-2.

*133 pounds – Ryan Smith went 5-2 and placed fifth.

*141 pounds – Trenton Grant went 2-2.

*149 pounds – Brandon Kidd went 3-2.

*157 pounds – Beau Perez went 0-2.

*165 pounds – Alex Rodriguez went 0-2.

*174 pounds – Makana Tapia went 2-2.

*184 pounds – Mouhamadou Sene went 3-2.

*197 pounds – Alexander Howard went 1-2.

*285 pounds – Dean Setticase went 3-2.