KEARNEY, Neb. Western Colorado wrestling claimed individual titles in the 149- and 165-pound Elite brackets Saturday at the Nebraska Kearney Younes Hospitality Open. The Mountaineers also earned fourth-place finishes at 125 and 174, while adding another champion in the 184 Amateur bracket.
JUST THE FACTS
Event: Younes Hospitality Open
Host: University of Nebraska Kearney
Location: Buffalo County Fairgrounds, Kearney, Neb.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Jason Hanenberg, No. 9 in the NWCA rankings, was the first to claim an Elite title on Saturday, powering his way to the 149 championship. He opened his morning with consecutive first-period pins, then added a second-period fall in the quarterfinal round. He advanced past the semifinal round on a medical forfeit then dominated the championship bout in an 8-0 decision.
- Number 4 in the NWCA rankings at 165, Hunter Mullin added another Elite title to Western's day. Mullin scratched out a 5-2 opening-round decision before rolling through three matches with an 18-3 technical fall, a 12-3 major in the quarters and another major (14-4) in the semifinals. In the championship bout he surrendered the lead with a takedown with 10 seconds in the bout, but astoundingly registered a reversal before the horn to claim an 8-7 victory.
- At the 125 Elite bracket, Patrick Allis – ninth in NWCA rankings -- easily worked his way through the quarterfinal round before suffering a narrow 2-1 defeat in the semis. Allis worked his way back to the third/fourth-place match in the consolation bracket before suffering a 4-0 decision.
- Cole Hernandez at 174 followed the identical path as Allis, progressing into the semifinal round before defeat, then wrestling back to the third/fourth-place match in the consols. He, too, suffered the same fate, dropping a 5-0 decision to claim fourth place.
- Parker Gasser won the Amateur 184 bracket for the Mountaineers. He pinned four consecutive opponents in the first period before needing to go the distance in the championship match, earning the title with a 13-11 decision.
LOOKING AHEAD
Western will host Colorado Mesa University at Paul Wright Gym on December 1 in a non-conference match.
