Tiger wrestling team has its highest-ever finish at national duals
With four wrestlers going undefeated and another three losing only one match, the No.13-ranked Cowley College wrestling team placed seventh out of 26 teams at the NJCAA Coaches Dual on Friday and Saturday in Miami, OK.
Cowley was without a pair of wrestlers and started the duals down 12-0. However, the Tigers advanced to the eight-team championship bracket with wins over Western Wyoming College (43-10), No. 10-ranked Carl Albert State College (24-19), Iowa Lakes Community College (32-24), and Colorado Northwestern (47-6).
After advancing to the championship bracket, Cowley lost 34-12 to Iowa Central and 29-23 to No. 5-ranked North Idaho College, before bouncing back to defeat No. 11-ranked Northwest Wyoming College 32-23 in the seventh-place match.
The Tigers were the only Jayhawk Conference school to finish in the top-8 of the NJCAA Coaches Dual.
"I am happy the rest of the guys stepped up and got bonus points to help us beat ranked teams with only eight guys," Cowley head coach Justice Circle said.
Cowley was led by sophomore Evan Rodriguez (141 pounds) and freshman Jaxon Trotter (174 pounds), both going 7-0 in their respective weight classes. Other Tigers that did not drop a match at the NJCAA Coaches Duals were Colt Collett (125 pounds) and David Sample (184 pounds).
"Evan and Jaxon had upset wins over the No. 3-ranked wrestlers in the country, and Colt wrestled really well on day two of the duals," Circle said. "We had a bunch of ranked wins individually and team-wise."
The Tigers will now prepare to host a triangular tournament, featuring Colby and Labette, on Thursday. After Colby and Labette wrestle each other at 4 p.m., Cowley will battle Colby at 5 and Labette at 6.
"I am happy where we are at heading into these next two Jayhawk duals," Circle said. "I like where we are at this point in the season."
Cowley results:
*125 pounds – Canaan Brummett (CC) went 4-1.
*125 pounds – Colt Collett (CC) went 2-0.
*133 pounds – Louden Wolfe (CC) went 2-1.
*133 pounds – Cam Kiser (CC) went 2-1.
*141 pounds – Evan Rodriguez (CC) went 7-0.
*149 pounds – Toby West (CC) went 3-2.
*149 pounds – Ryker Agee (CC) went 1-1.
*157 pounds – Greyson Zellers (CC) went 3-3.
*165 pounds – Ryker Agee (CC) went 0-2.
*174 pounds – Jaxon Trotter (CC) went 7-0.
*184 pounds – David Sample (CC) went 4-0.
*197 pounds – Jason Osgood (CC) went 4-2.
*285 pounds – Easton Malone (CC) went 0-3.