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The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
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The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
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1 wrestler advances

Janelle Kesterson
Caleb Copeland, sophomore of Bennett, Colorado, 174-pounds, works to pin Juan Ortiz, sophomore of Newman University, in the first round of the tournament Feb. 27 at the NCAA D-II West Super Regional Tournament in Pueblo, Colorado. Copeland succeeded, clamping Ortiz in 2:28 of the first period. —Photo by Jordyn Hulinsky
Caleb Copeland, sophomore of Bennett, Colorado, 174-pounds, works to pin Juan Ortiz, sophomore of Newman University, in the first round of the tournament Feb. 27 at the NCAA D-II West Super Regional Tournament in Pueblo, Colorado. Copeland succeeded, clamping Ortiz in 2:28 of the first period. —Photo by Jordyn Hulinsky

Caleb Copeland, sophomore of Bennett, Colorado, 174-pounds, earned a trip to the NCAA D-II National Wrestling Tournament in St. Louis after earning fourth place at the Colorado State University-Pueblo hosted West Super Regional tournament.

Copeland won four of his six matches at the two-day regional tournament, fighting to the top of the consolation bracket to earn the fourth place finish.

At the national tournament, Copeland was seated against Joey Davis, junior of Notre Dame College of Ohio, South Euclid. Davis has never lost a collegiate wrestling match and is the No. 1 ranked wrestler at 174-pounds. Copeland’s second opponent was the No. 6 ranked wrestler, Payne Hatter, freshman of Ouachita Baptist College, Arkadelphia, Arkansas.

“Copeland was just out-matched in both of his matches (at nationals),” Hunter said. “It was his first time being there and it showed in some situations. I am very proud.”

Both opponents defeated Copeland. Davis won 14-5 and Hatter scored a tech-fall. Copeland ended the season with a 25-18 record.

Two other Chadron State wrestlers competed during Saturday’s consolation rounds, but both Taylor Summers, sophomore of Plymouth, 133-pounds, and Chance Helmick, freshman of Beatrice, 165-

Taylor Summers, redshirt sophomore of Plymouth, 133-pounds, weeps after a match in the heartbreak round where he was pinned, Feb. 28. —Photo by Jordyn Hulinsky
Taylor Summers, redshirt sophomore of Plymouth, 133-pounds, weeps after a match in the heartbreak round where he was pinned, Feb. 28. —Photo by Jordyn Hulinsky

pounds, failed to advance to the National Tournament.

Summers fell to Eric Hughes, senior of Colorado State University-Pueblo, 10-6 in the consolation semifinals. In the fifth place match, Summers defeated Tre Humphrey, redshirt junior of New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas, New Mexico, with a 20-3 tech-fall.

Since Summers won his fifth place match and Zach Shank, redshirt sophomore of Western State Colorado University, Gunnison, lost the third place match, Summers wrestled Shank for true fourth. However, Shank pinned Summers in the first period, sending Summers home and advancing himself to the National Tournament.

Summers finished the tournament fifth with a 2-3 record for the two-day tourney after losing the true-fourth match. Helmick also posted a record of 2-3, ending with a sixth place finish.

Chance Helmick, freshman of Beatrice, 165-pounds, wrestles to keep down Juan Alvarado, redshirt junior of New Mexico Highlands University, Feb. 27. —Photo by Jordyn Hulinsky
Chance Helmick, freshman of Beatrice, 165-pounds, wrestles to keep down Juan Alvarado, redshirt junior of New Mexico Highlands University, Feb. 27. —Photo by Jordyn Hulinsky

Robert Ozuna, freshman of Omaha, 125-pounds; Dylan Fors, senior of Roseburg, Oregon, 184-pounds; and Jake Weber, sophomore of Rapid City, South Dakota, 285-pounds; finished the tournament with a 1-2 record; and Zach Denney, redshirt freshman of North Platte, 144-pounds; Jacob Anderson, sophomore of Central City, 149-pounds; Reed Burgener, sophomore of Douglas, Wyoming, 157-pounds; and Devan Fors, senior of Roseburg, Oregon, 197-pounds; finished 0-2.

“When it came to Regionals there were some good and some bad things,” Hunter said. “We had some individuals shine at the tournament and some that didn’t wrestle to their ability.”