Bayer finishes sixth in opening tournament

The Northern Colorado wrestling team kicked off its 2011-12 season at the Michigan State Open where sophomore Nick Bayer finished sixth.

Bayer, wrestling at 197 pounds, won his opening round match over Andrew Tumlin from Findlay, 6-0. Bayer dropped his next bout to Michigan State's Nick McDiarmid, 6-5, but bounced back to win his next two by decision. In the fifth-place match, Bayer lost another close one, losing 6-4 to Northwestern's John Schoen.

Sophomore Charlie McMartin posted a record of 4-2 at 157 pounds with both losses coming to Harrison Hightower of Ohio by fall. Sandwiched in between, McMartin had a major decision and an injury default win as well as two decisions.

Junior Justin Gonzales, returning to the mat after a year off, went 2-2 at 149 pounds and had the team's only pin of the tournament, as he pinned Malcolm Martin of Central Michigan in just 44 seconds.

Sam Bauer (133 pounds), Casey Cruz (141 pounds) and Cody McAninch (184 pounds) all went 1-2 at the team's first tournament of the year, while Jesse Meis (125 pounds) and Jacob Milewski (157 pounds) both posted records of 0-2.

Next Saturday the Bears host their annual Old Chicago Open in Butler-Hancock.