Recap: Four champions for @UNCBearsWrestle at the Cowboy Open

Saturday, November 4

Laramie, WY

All Day

University of Northern Colorado

Cowboy Open

11/4/2017 9:24:00 PM | Wrestling

Rico Montoya, Tyler Kinn, Jacob Seely, and Jordan Robison top their weight-classes

By: Matthew Kushar, UNCBears.com

LARAMIE, Wyo.— Northern Colorado wrestling started its 2017-18 season at the Cowboy Open and four Bears will be returning to Greeley as champions. Along with the four champions, UNC placed three wrestlers in the elite bracket. The all-day competition was at the University of Wyoming on Saturday.

For the second straight year, Rico Montoya won the 133 lb weight class in the elite bracket. Montoya defeated Wyoming's Montorie Bridges by decision 9-8 in the finals. He also won his quarter-final match by fall at the 4:19 minute mark over Wyoming's Max Stevens. In his semifinal match, Montoya earned a 6-2 win by decision over Luis Gurule.

Tyler Kinn would be UNC's second champion on the day, with a 5-2 win by decision over Air Forces' Dane Robbins in the 157 lb weight class. Kinn had a strong performance in Laramie with a 14-3 major decision over Nickalas Babock from Nebraska-Kearney, along with an 8-2 win by decision over Montana State-Northern's Brandon Weber.

Jacob Seely would give UNC three champions at the Cowboy Open with a 3-1 decision over Air Forces' Anthony McLaughlin in the 197 lb weight class. Seely won by technical fall in his semi-final match against Logan Searle (16-1).

Freshman Jordan Robison competed unattached at the Cowboy Open and won the 157 lb weight class in the amateur bracket.

Three wrestlers placed for UNC at the Cowboy Open, with Keilan Torres losing in the 165 lb weight class finals to Branson Ashworth from Wyoming. Torres was defeated 6-1 by decision, but recorded three pins to advance to the finals. Kinn was not the only UNC wrestler who placed in the 157 lb weight class, with Macoy Flanagan placing fourth. Flanagan lost in the quarter-finals to Dan Robbins from Air Force by a 7-4 decision. After the loss, Flanagan won three matches, before losing to Wyoming's Archie Colgan for third. Jimmy Fate placed third in the 149 lb weight class after losing to Wyoming's Sam Turner, who placed second in the weight class. Fate would defeat Nebraska-Kearney's Jacob Wasser by major decision(8-0) and Wyoming's Ben Hornickle by decision(5-1) to earn third place.

Coach's Thoughts
"Overall, I felt like we wrestled well today. Rico Montoya continued his winning ways, while Jacob Seely came back from nearly a year off the mat for his first tournament title. Very proud of Tyler Kinn, who was able to bring home a Championship in a very tough weight class that included a 2017, NCAA round of 12 wrestler in Archie Colgan of Wyoming. Jordan Robison also impressed in the amateur division winning a title as well. Moving forward, we will get back to work on Monday as we prepare for our first home competition of the year with the Northern Colorado Open."-Troy Nickerson, Head Coach

Up Next
UNC will host the Northern Colorado open next Saturday, November 11th at Bank of Colorado Arena and the competition will be all day.

Season tickets are now on sale for Northern Colorado's 2017-18 wrestling season! The schedule this season features eight exciting home matches including national powers Oklahoma State, Duke and West Virginia. Tickets are just $50 for adults and $25 for youth and are available on-line or by calling the UNC Athletics Ticket Office M-F 10-5 at 970-351-4849.