KEARNEY, Neb.  Western Colorado headed to the Midwest with its 16th-ranked wrestlers, competing in the 2024 University of Nebraska Kearney Younes Hospitality Open on Saturday.

Devin Gomez, Vincent Cabral and Walker Heckendorf highlighted the trip for Western.

Gomez took his opening two matches in the 133-pound bracket, earning a wild 18-12 decision to start his morning, followed by a third-period pin in the second round.

His stay in the Championship bracket ended in the quarterfinals, but he dominated his first consolation round match, pinning his opponent in the first round. His day ended in the next match though, with a 9-1 loss.

Cabral dropped a narrow 8-5 decision in the second round of the 157 Championship bracket, after a first-round bye, but he won a 4-1 decision to open his appearance on the consolation side of the bracket.

He worked for a 5-4 decision in the next round to advance but surrendered an 11-2 loss in his next match to close out his day.

Heckendorf had one of the two most dominating Mountaineer wins in the first round of the Championship 165-pound bracket, earning a 16-0 technical fall in less than four minutes.

He was bumped to the consolation bracket with a second round 8-4 loss by decision but responded with the other of the two dominant wins on the day for Western, a 15-0 tech fall just before the end of the second period.

Heckendorf advanced with a 13-2 major, then pushed forward one more round with a 14-6 major before suffering a heartbreaking 2-1 decision on a riding time point.

Other first-round winners in their championship brackets were Roberto Estrada (125) and Sage Harrison (197).

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The Mountaineers return to Paul Wright Gym for their next match, a December 4 non-conference match against Colorado Mesa University.