Cowley wrestling finishes with five All-Americans, placing seventh nationally as a team
With the duo of Colt Collett and Evan Rodriguez finishing as national runners-up, the Cowley College wrestling program achieved its highest-ever national finish, placing seventh at the NJCAA Division 1 Men’s Wrestling Championships held Friday and Saturday in Council Bluffs, IA.
Other Tiger All-Americans at the national meet were David Sample, placing fourth at 184 pounds, Jaxon "Scout" Trotter, finishing seventh at 175 pounds, and Jason Osgood, placing seventh at 197 pounds.
Before this season, Cowley's top national finish was 13th at the 2020-2021 national tournament.
"We wrestled really well while earning five All-Americans and having several other guys lose in heartbreaking fashion," Cowley head coach Justice Circle said. "It is a really tough tournament, and finishing in the top seven is hard to do. I am really happy for the guys."
Rodriguez capped his Tiger career by being named a two-time All-American at 141 pounds, while he, Ryker Agee (149 pounds), Toby West (165 pounds), and Keenan Smith (285 pounds) each had their final matches in a Cowley singlet.
Other sophomores on the squad were Braxton Hummel, Cam Kiser, Dylan Reed, Brannigan Reyes, and AB Stokes.
"These guys were a part of the program that broke all the barriers and believed in our vision," Circle said. "They were a huge part of our success."
The Tiger wrestling team accomplished many things during the season, including winning conference and district titles for the first time in program history. Cowley will return 16 wrestlers for next season, including four All-Americans.
"Returning four All-Americans is not something you see very often at the Junior College level, so with them and the other freshmen we return, our goal is clear, and that is to win a national title," Circle said.
Top-10 team scores: Indian Hills, 201.5; (2) Western Wyoming; 188; (3) Iowa Central, 145.5; (4) Southeast Nebraska, 131.5; (5) Clackamas, 128.5; (6) North Idaho, 112.5; (7) Cowley, 108.5; (8) Northwest, 84; (9) Pratt, 80.5; (10) Iowa Western, 80.
Cowley results:
*125 pounds – Colt Collett (CC) defeated Spencer Crawley (Lackawana) 12-5; defeated Ryan Tschetter (Rochester) by tech fall; defeated Brandon Baustert (SN) 10-7; defeated Stockton Allen (WW) by tech fall; lost to Muhammad Bilal (IC) 7-2 in the national championship match.
*133 pounds – Louden Wolfe (CC) lost to Kaden Lapaugh (SM) 6-1; defeated Salvatore Randazzo (UNIO) 18-5; defeated Owen Kulb (CCCC) 13-6; lost to Matt Long (Pratt) 10-0.
*141 pounds –Evan Rodriguez (CC) won by tech fall over Dante Gismondi (CCCC); won by fall over Alexander Barajas (BB); won 14-6 over Hudson Palmer (IW); won 6-5 over Zachary Covolo (NORT) 6-5; lost to Gavyn Whitehead (IH) 14-7 in the national championship match.
*149 pounds – Ryker Agee (CC) lost by tech fall to Reggie Ralz (CLAC), won by tech fall over Ryan Gonzales (NJ); defeated Dvin Grossman (NORT) 8-2; defeated Thawbaan As-Sidiq (ANDR) 3-0; lost to Alden Gillings (NIAG) 3-0.
*157 pounds – Greyson Zellers (CC) won by tech fall over Jay Brown (ANDR); lost a 3-0 decision against Aaron Concepcion (CLAC); defeated Gavin Pych (SUSS) 3-0; lost to Kadence Roop (NO) 3-2.
*165 pounds – Toby West (CC) lost to Banks Norby (WW) 3-0; won by tech fall over Waleed Khairi (NO); defeated Dayveon Rupert (SM) 7-2; defeated Landyn Philpott (SO) 10-5; lost by tech fall to Silas Foster (SN).
*174 pounds – Jaxon "Scout" Trotter (CC) defeated Anthony Valasquez (NASS) 3-0; won by tech fall over Pablo Hernandez (CLAC); lost a 4-1 decision to Cinsere Clark (IH); won by tech fall over Nate Jean (MS); lost to Francisco Ayala (WW) 3-2; defeated Billy Brenton (NJ) 12-0 in seventh place match.
*184 pounds –David Sample (CC) defeated Jarred Goodman (RIDG) 3-0; won a 16-6 major decision over Lusiano Lopez (CLAC); lost to Asadbek Fayzullaev (NORT) 5-4; defeated S-Ron Hill (Barton) 8-3; defeated Matteo Monteiro Furtado Tres 12-0.
*197 pounds – Jason Osgood lost 11-3 to Elijah Josey (CLAC); defeated Andy Warren (ANCI) 8-1; won by forfeit; defeated Jason Brown (ANDR) 11-2; defeated Jacob Stephenson (NIAG) 8-2; lost to Josey (CLAC) 11-4; defeated Anthony Evangelista (CCCC) 10-2 in the seventh-place match.
*285 pounds – Keenan Smith (CC) lost to Kort Wilkinson (WW) 7-0; defeated Avant Jackson (NORT) 16-10; lost by tech fall to Tafari Parker (ELLS).
