Eagles take one of three at home
CSC wrestlers come away with one win in three home duals.
The Eagles’ wrestling team went 1-2 in conference duals at the Chicoine Center after defeating New Mexico Highlands 31-5, Thursday, losing 22-14 against CSU-Pueblo, Saturday and 27-9 to Colorado School of Mines, Sunday.
Wade French, senior of Herriman, Utah, was the lone wrestler to win all three of his matches. Against Highlands, the No. 10 197-pounder earned a 17-2 tech fall against Denzell Morrow, senior of Wasilla, Alaska, an 11-6 decision against Pueblo’s Ben Gould, freshman of Canyon County, California and a 10-8 overtime decision against Colorado Mines’ Nolan Funk, sophomore of Broomfield, Colorado.
“Although I was the only one to win all three matches this last week, the whole team really showed some amazing heart and determination throughout every match. I had some tough opponents throughout the weekend and had never wrestled any of the three, so I didn’t know what to expect going into them. I just stuck to my style of wrestling and came out on top in all three matches.” French said in a message to The Eagle.
Sunday, against Colorado Mines, the Eagles fell 18-0 in the dual’s first four matches and only Clasen, French and Watt won their matches by decision.
Eagles who went 2-1 in the duals include 157-pounder Chase Clasen, senior of Moses Lake, Washington, 165-pounder Tate Allison, senior of Moorcroft, Wyoming, 184-pounder Terry Winstead, freshman of Harrah, Oklahoma and 285-pounder Mason Watt, freshman of Broomfield, Colorado.
Saturday, against Pueblo, tensions rose between Winstead and Jayson Davis, freshman of Pueblo, Colorado, as the wrestlers kept competing after the referee blew his whistle in the first and second periods. “Terry was fine on Saturday, that’s a pretty normal thing to happen in matches. Terry is a high emotional kid and it looked like his opponent from CSU-Pueblo was as well,” Hunter said in a message, “Terry kept his composure and there was nothing that was said or done in a negative manner so that shows that Terry has shown growth and understands the importance of keeping his composure.” Winstead earned the 10-0 major decision over Davis.
As of Jan. 22, the 4-9 Eagles fell out of the NCAA Div. II Wrestling Coaches Association top-25 rankings and sit at the bottom of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference with a 1-5 conference.
Changing weight classes over Christmas break, Joe Taylor, freshman of Glenrock, Wyoming, grew from 133 to 141 pounds and started for the Eagles in its last six duals.
The Eagles travel to Kearney for the UNK Midwest Duals against Newman University, Fort Hayes State University and Northwest Kansas Technical College, Saturday.