University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Friday, December 2
Las Vegas, NV
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Cliff Keen invitational
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/ Wrestling
Andrews Places For Third Consecutive Year at Cliff Keen Invite
12/3/2016 6:43:00 PM | Wrestling
Las Vegas, Nev. – Trey Andrews [125] and Timmy Box [141] both placed at the Cliff Keen Invitational this weekend, with 4th and 6th place finishes. As a team, Northern Colorado tied for 14th place with Purdue University, which is the highest team finish in program history.
How It Happened:
Andrews is no stranger to success at this tournament, with this being the third consecutive year he has come away with a plaque. This puts Andrews in an elite club, as he is the lone wrestler in Division I program history to place three times at the Cliff Keen Invitational. This is also the second time Andrews has finished in fourth place, as he earned the same placing in 2014, followed up with a seventh place finish in 2015. In addition to placing three straight seasons, Andrews is also the first wrestler in Division I program history to reach the semifinals at the Cliff Keen Invitational as well.
This historic day for Andrews started in the semifinals against Jose Rodriguez of Ohio State. Andrews lost to the eventual second place finisher in Rodriguez, but managed to bounce back in his next match. In the consolation semifinals, Andrews wrestled against Noah Gosner of Eastern Michigan. It was a hard fought battle, and Andrews won via decision 8-5 over Gosner, sending him to the consolation finals.
In the third and fourth place match, Andrews fell to Sean Russell of Edinboro 7-1.
Traditionally Andrews has always brought his best performances in the month of December, as he seems to find his groove at this tournament. Andrews will need to keep this success rolling into the Southern Scuffle, in order to accomplish his goal of reaching the podium at the NCAA Championships.
Timmy Box had another solid day of wrestling, as he managed to come away as a sixth place winner. His first match of the day was another victory over another Top 25 opponent in No. 5 seed and No. 18 ranked Tyler Smith of Bucknell University. Box came out of the gates strong with the first takedown, and never let that momentum go, as he edged out a 7-6 win over Smith. Up next was Kyle Ayersman of Purdue, and Box dominated Ayersman with an 8-1 victory.
The next two matches were tough for Box, as he lost both. Box dropped matches to Cal State Bakersfield's Russell Rohlfing and Logan Everrett from Army.
Box had an impressive tournament with two wins over Top 20 opponents. His progression has been evident as the year goes on, and Box will aim to keep that progression rolling as the backside of the season approaches.
The other wrestler to compete in day two of the invite was Dylan Gabel, who dropped his only match of the day to Steven Schneider of Binghamton.
As a team, the Bears tied for 14th place, which is also a Division I program first as well. In 2014, the Bears finished 15th, with two place winners as well. Northern Colorado continues to get better each and every time they step on the mat, and they continue to prove why they are a program on the rise. Competing well at a tournaments like the Cliff Keen Invitational is a big step in the right direction for UNC Wrestling to become legitimate contenders in the Big 12, and nationally as well.
The next month will be slow for the Bears, but will allow for some much needed recovery and training time before they compete in the Southern Scuffle January 1-2 in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
In their Words:
Head Coach, Troy Nickerson:
"As a whole, I feel our team wrestled really well this weekend. Coming away with two place winners in the Cliff Keen Invitational is a good step in the right direction. Trey Andrews continues to step up in December. Timmy Box had another great showing this weekend as well, defeating multiple Top 25 ranked opponents, which should put him in prime position to qualify for the NCAA Championships come March. Moving forward, we will head home and revaluate where we need to improve. We will get some much needed time between now and the Southern Scuffle to continue getting better, and get back to full health as well."
How It Happened:
Andrews is no stranger to success at this tournament, with this being the third consecutive year he has come away with a plaque. This puts Andrews in an elite club, as he is the lone wrestler in Division I program history to place three times at the Cliff Keen Invitational. This is also the second time Andrews has finished in fourth place, as he earned the same placing in 2014, followed up with a seventh place finish in 2015. In addition to placing three straight seasons, Andrews is also the first wrestler in Division I program history to reach the semifinals at the Cliff Keen Invitational as well.
This historic day for Andrews started in the semifinals against Jose Rodriguez of Ohio State. Andrews lost to the eventual second place finisher in Rodriguez, but managed to bounce back in his next match. In the consolation semifinals, Andrews wrestled against Noah Gosner of Eastern Michigan. It was a hard fought battle, and Andrews won via decision 8-5 over Gosner, sending him to the consolation finals.
In the third and fourth place match, Andrews fell to Sean Russell of Edinboro 7-1.
Traditionally Andrews has always brought his best performances in the month of December, as he seems to find his groove at this tournament. Andrews will need to keep this success rolling into the Southern Scuffle, in order to accomplish his goal of reaching the podium at the NCAA Championships.
Timmy Box had another solid day of wrestling, as he managed to come away as a sixth place winner. His first match of the day was another victory over another Top 25 opponent in No. 5 seed and No. 18 ranked Tyler Smith of Bucknell University. Box came out of the gates strong with the first takedown, and never let that momentum go, as he edged out a 7-6 win over Smith. Up next was Kyle Ayersman of Purdue, and Box dominated Ayersman with an 8-1 victory.
The next two matches were tough for Box, as he lost both. Box dropped matches to Cal State Bakersfield's Russell Rohlfing and Logan Everrett from Army.
Box had an impressive tournament with two wins over Top 20 opponents. His progression has been evident as the year goes on, and Box will aim to keep that progression rolling as the backside of the season approaches.
The other wrestler to compete in day two of the invite was Dylan Gabel, who dropped his only match of the day to Steven Schneider of Binghamton.
As a team, the Bears tied for 14th place, which is also a Division I program first as well. In 2014, the Bears finished 15th, with two place winners as well. Northern Colorado continues to get better each and every time they step on the mat, and they continue to prove why they are a program on the rise. Competing well at a tournaments like the Cliff Keen Invitational is a big step in the right direction for UNC Wrestling to become legitimate contenders in the Big 12, and nationally as well.
The next month will be slow for the Bears, but will allow for some much needed recovery and training time before they compete in the Southern Scuffle January 1-2 in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
In their Words:
Head Coach, Troy Nickerson:
"As a whole, I feel our team wrestled really well this weekend. Coming away with two place winners in the Cliff Keen Invitational is a good step in the right direction. Trey Andrews continues to step up in December. Timmy Box had another great showing this weekend as well, defeating multiple Top 25 ranked opponents, which should put him in prime position to qualify for the NCAA Championships come March. Moving forward, we will head home and revaluate where we need to improve. We will get some much needed time between now and the Southern Scuffle to continue getting better, and get back to full health as well."
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