Men’s wrestling opens season in CO

By BreAnne Benson

The CSC men’s wrestling team kicked off the regular season and attended the Mines Rookie Open on Sunday in Golden, Colorado. 

18 teams across the RMAC and beyond were represented. Chadron brought 20 young wrestlers, six of whom placed sixth or higher in the tournament. 

“I thought our young guys did a good job,” CSC Head Men’s Wrestling Coach Brett Hunter. “The majority of them have never wrestled a collegiate match going into that open tournament so I know the nerves were definitely there.” 

Cyrus Wells, freshman of Merna, at 149 lbs, and Logan Berger, freshman of Hartsville, South Carolina, at 165 lbs, were Chadron’s highest placing competitors, both earning runner-up in their respective weight classes. 

Wells’s only loss was in the finals to a freshman of Colorado School of Mines. He won his first four matches against two Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference wrestlers, a junior college opponent, and one club member.

Berger made the finals after winning two decisive matches against junior college competitors, then in decision over an Air Force Academy cadet. He lost in the finals to another cadet, ending his day.

Darwin Hull, sophomore of Schertz, Texas, at 184 lbs, Colton Gehlhausen, freshman of Pinedale, Wyoming, at 157 lbs, Bryan Zutavern, junior of Dunning, at 197 lbs, and Nate Meza, freshman of Gilbert, Arizona at 285 lbs, all finished within the top six of their weight classes. 

The Eagles will return to the mat in varsity competition when they travel to Laramie, Wyoming, for the UW Cowboy open on Nov. 12.