16th-Ranked Grapplers Handle Adams State 26-10
It may have taken awhile, but the University of Northern Colorado wrestling team was more than happy to secure its first dual win of the season Friday night with a 26-10 defeat over Adams State at Butler-Hancock Hall. The 16th-ranked Bears won seven of the night's 10 matchups to improve to 1-4-1 overall. Adams State dropped to 0-6 on the season.
The Bears jumped out of the gates quickly, notching victories in the first three matches of the night. Freshman Ryan Guillaume got things started at 184 pounds. The Ft. Collins native posted a 10-4 win over Walter Scherar to improve to 8-8 on the season. At 197 pounds, freshman Jason McMillan scored a technical fall with a 15-0 shutout win over Manny Martinez in four minutes, 25 seconds. Sophomore Tony Schunke continued the strong start for UNC with a 10-4 win at heavyweight. After three matches, the Bears had an 11-0 lead.
Adams State got on the board when Adam Mars defeated eighth-ranked Jason Romero of UNC. The 6-3 loss dropped Romero's overall record to 2-3. The Grizzlies made it two in a row when Jimmy Melek won a major decision over Jon Nider (10-0) at 133 pounds.
After the intermission, UNC junior Simon Hoepfner tallied a 5-3 win over Shane Barnes at 141 pounds and senior Marshall Hahn followed that up with a 5-2 win at 149 pounds. The third-ranked Hahn improved to team-best 17-6 on the season.
Brody Olson, ranked no. 4 in the nation at 157 pounds, earned an 8-6 decision over Travis Koppenhafer to build the Bears' advantage to 20-7 and clinch the team victory. Junior Brian Hufford put the exclamation point on the win for UNC as he pinned ASC's Phil Allen in 3:54 at 165 pounds. In the night's final match, the Grizzlies' Don Ortega defeated Shad Stagl 4-2 at 174 pounds.
The Bears return to action tomorrow evening when they host no. 14 Western State. That match is scheduled to begin at 7 pm. Adams State travels to Chadron State tomorrow.
