3 wrestlers earn gold at Laramie

Following the season opener at the Cowboy Open Tournament Saturday at the University of Wyoming, Terrance McKinney, sophomore of Spokane, Washington, 149-pounds, earned D2Wrestle.com National Wrestler of the Week, RMAC Wrestler of the Week, and Super Region Four Wrestler of the Week. McKinney scored a 14-3 major decision in his first match, pinned his next three opponents and received a forfeit in the finals.

Along with McKinney, the Eagles had two other gold medalists at the Cowboy Open.

This was only the second time The Eagles have had more than one champion at the Cowboy Open and the first time they have had more than two champions in the same year.

The CSC gold medalists were Shane Rodenburg, freshman of Kent City, Michigan, 184-pounds; Luke Zeiger, sophomore of Glasgow, Montana, 133-pounds; and McKinney. Rodenburg and Zeiger were in the amateur, or younger, division and McKinney was in the elite, or older, division.

Zeiger pinned all five of his opponents, four of them in the first period; Rodenburg pinned three of his four foes and won an 11-3 major decision in the remaining match.

“The competition was solid, had an opportunity to wrestle some kids in D-I,” Rodenburg said.

Taylor Summers, sophomore of Plymouth, placed third winning four of five matches at 133-pounds in the elite division. Summers recorded a decision win over his first opponent, 8-4, and a major decision in his second round, 15-2. Summers won his last two matches by decision and forfeit.    

Conner Myers, freshman of St. Paul, Michigan, and Chance Helmick, sophomore of Beatrice, placed fourth in the amateur division. Myers is a 157-pound wrestler and Helmick competes at 165. Myers recorded a tech fall win over his first opponent.  Myers finished with a record of 6-2 for fourth place. Helmick finished with a record of 5-2, placing fourth.

The CSC wrestlers will be host their annual intersquad dual, the Black and Cardinal Classic, 6 p.m., Friday in the NPAC.