University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Saturday, November 2
Laramie, Wyo.
All Day
University of Northern Colorado
at
Cowboy Open
Photo by: Anna-Lee Marie
Freshman, Veterans Claim Titles at Cowboy Open
11/2/2019 8:42:00 PM | Wrestling
Northern Colorado had six champions and six placers in Laramie on Saturday
LARAMIE, Wyo. – Hibernation is indeed over for Northern Colorado wrestling, as the team posted six champions at the Cowboy Open. UNC made a statement in its first competition of the year, claiming half the titles in the elite bracket and upsetting three ranked Wyoming wrestlers along the way.
"Everybody competing today has bought into what were teaching," head coach Troy Nickerson said. "They go out and compete to the last whistle, win or lose. [Freshman] went out did what we have always thought they would. The veterans went out and kept competing. It was great to see Jimmy [Fate] back in the lineup and be successful. Alan [Cothier] coming in as transfer and showing in this first tournament.."
Andrew Alirez proved the hype was real, cruising to the 149-pound title with a 14-5 major decision win over Wyoming's Jaron Jensen in the finals. On his way to first, Alirez pinned Jacob Greenwood(Wyoming) at 2:11 and Teontae Wilson(Nebraska-Kearny) at 1:29. The Greeley native defeated Trevor Jeffries(Wyo.), with a 12-5 decision for his first career win.
Theorius Robison, wrestling unattached, pulled off the win of the tournament, upsetting No. 7 Montorie Bridges in the finals with a 3-2 decision. Bridges was an All-American in 2018. Robison earned a 10-4 decision win over Raymond Evans(unattached) in his first career match. The Arvada, Colo. native defeated Isaiah Delgado(Utah Valley) in a 12-8 decision, followed by a 9-5 decision win over Colin Poynter(Air Force)
Jimmy Fate returned to the mat for the first time since March, 2018 and won the 157-pound title. Fate defeated teammate Ethan Leake with a 12-0 major decision in the finals. The redshirt-junior started the day with a fall over Air Force's Brandon Konecny, followed up by a pair of decision wins over Marcus Amico(5-1) and Casey Bobson(6-4).
Chris Sandoval carried over the momentum from his first NCAA Championship appearance to win the 141-pound bracket. Sandoval defeated Gabriel Tagg(unattached-North Carolina) in the final match, 7-4 by decision. The redshirt-sophomore pinned JD Rader(Nebraska-Kearney) to start the day, then won with a 24-9 technical fall over Chris Mesa(unattached-Providence). He would also score a 10-4 decision win over Nebraska-Kearney's Wesley Dawkins.
Alan Clothier had quite a debut for the Bears after transferring from Appalachian State in the offseason, winning the 184-pound division. Clothier won his first match in the blue and gold against Western State's Ruger Wyneken, 20-8 by major decision. The Lawrence, Kan. native then got the fall over Steeler French(unattached-MSU-Northern) at 4:55. Clothier defeated No. 18 Tate Samuelson in the finals with a 3-2 decision for the third ranked Wyoming wrestler beaten by UNC.
Nathan Moore made it three freshman champions in Laramie, winning the 157-pound title in the amateur bracket. Moore, wrestling unattached, defeated Kevin Kearns(Colorado School of Mines) in the finals with a 6-4 decision. The Buckley, Wash. Native recorded falls over Dylan Raieri(Colorado Mesa) at 2:04 and Brock Bushfield(UM-Northern) at 0:54. In his first college match, Moore defeated Peyton Ringling(Western Wyoming), 15-1 for the major decision. He defeated Logan Pleninger(Mines), 6-1 by decision.
Jace Koelzer placed second in the 125-pound bracket, going 2-1 on the day. Before Robison's win, Koelzer had the match of the tournament with a 6-4 decision win over No. 14 Cole Verner. In the finals, Koelzer battled tough against No. 21 Sidney Flores(AF), but came up short in a 9-4 decision.
Billy Higgins placed second in the 174-pound bracket, winning three matches. Higgins earned three decision wins, before dropping the finals match to No. 15 Hayden Hastings(Wyo.).
Jacob Seely started his 2019-20 campaign with three wins, including a fall and major decision. Seely faced Wyoming's Cale Davidson in the finals, losing the match 7-5 to the No. 19 ranked wrestler.
Before losing to Fate in the finals, Ethan Leake started off his redshirt-freshman season with three impressive wins. Leake recorded a fall, major decision and decision on Saturday.
Dalton Robertson and Robert Winters Jr. would meet in the third-place match in the heavyweight bracket. Robertson won by injury default over Winters Jr. at 4:28. Robertson went 3-1 in Laramie, with two falls and a major decision. After dropping his first match of the day, Winters Jr. won three-straight decisions to reach the third-place match.
"It was a great day for our team, but we have a long way to go," Nickerson added. "Now we get back to work and continue to improve as a team."
Next Up
Northern Colorado will be at home next weekend and host the Northern Colorado Open on Sunday, Nov. 10, with competition running all day.
"Everybody competing today has bought into what were teaching," head coach Troy Nickerson said. "They go out and compete to the last whistle, win or lose. [Freshman] went out did what we have always thought they would. The veterans went out and kept competing. It was great to see Jimmy [Fate] back in the lineup and be successful. Alan [Cothier] coming in as transfer and showing in this first tournament.."
Andrew Alirez proved the hype was real, cruising to the 149-pound title with a 14-5 major decision win over Wyoming's Jaron Jensen in the finals. On his way to first, Alirez pinned Jacob Greenwood(Wyoming) at 2:11 and Teontae Wilson(Nebraska-Kearny) at 1:29. The Greeley native defeated Trevor Jeffries(Wyo.), with a 12-5 decision for his first career win.
Theorius Robison, wrestling unattached, pulled off the win of the tournament, upsetting No. 7 Montorie Bridges in the finals with a 3-2 decision. Bridges was an All-American in 2018. Robison earned a 10-4 decision win over Raymond Evans(unattached) in his first career match. The Arvada, Colo. native defeated Isaiah Delgado(Utah Valley) in a 12-8 decision, followed by a 9-5 decision win over Colin Poynter(Air Force)
Jimmy Fate returned to the mat for the first time since March, 2018 and won the 157-pound title. Fate defeated teammate Ethan Leake with a 12-0 major decision in the finals. The redshirt-junior started the day with a fall over Air Force's Brandon Konecny, followed up by a pair of decision wins over Marcus Amico(5-1) and Casey Bobson(6-4).
Chris Sandoval carried over the momentum from his first NCAA Championship appearance to win the 141-pound bracket. Sandoval defeated Gabriel Tagg(unattached-North Carolina) in the final match, 7-4 by decision. The redshirt-sophomore pinned JD Rader(Nebraska-Kearney) to start the day, then won with a 24-9 technical fall over Chris Mesa(unattached-Providence). He would also score a 10-4 decision win over Nebraska-Kearney's Wesley Dawkins.
Alan Clothier had quite a debut for the Bears after transferring from Appalachian State in the offseason, winning the 184-pound division. Clothier won his first match in the blue and gold against Western State's Ruger Wyneken, 20-8 by major decision. The Lawrence, Kan. native then got the fall over Steeler French(unattached-MSU-Northern) at 4:55. Clothier defeated No. 18 Tate Samuelson in the finals with a 3-2 decision for the third ranked Wyoming wrestler beaten by UNC.
Nathan Moore made it three freshman champions in Laramie, winning the 157-pound title in the amateur bracket. Moore, wrestling unattached, defeated Kevin Kearns(Colorado School of Mines) in the finals with a 6-4 decision. The Buckley, Wash. Native recorded falls over Dylan Raieri(Colorado Mesa) at 2:04 and Brock Bushfield(UM-Northern) at 0:54. In his first college match, Moore defeated Peyton Ringling(Western Wyoming), 15-1 for the major decision. He defeated Logan Pleninger(Mines), 6-1 by decision.
Jace Koelzer placed second in the 125-pound bracket, going 2-1 on the day. Before Robison's win, Koelzer had the match of the tournament with a 6-4 decision win over No. 14 Cole Verner. In the finals, Koelzer battled tough against No. 21 Sidney Flores(AF), but came up short in a 9-4 decision.
Billy Higgins placed second in the 174-pound bracket, winning three matches. Higgins earned three decision wins, before dropping the finals match to No. 15 Hayden Hastings(Wyo.).
Jacob Seely started his 2019-20 campaign with three wins, including a fall and major decision. Seely faced Wyoming's Cale Davidson in the finals, losing the match 7-5 to the No. 19 ranked wrestler.
Before losing to Fate in the finals, Ethan Leake started off his redshirt-freshman season with three impressive wins. Leake recorded a fall, major decision and decision on Saturday.
Dalton Robertson and Robert Winters Jr. would meet in the third-place match in the heavyweight bracket. Robertson won by injury default over Winters Jr. at 4:28. Robertson went 3-1 in Laramie, with two falls and a major decision. After dropping his first match of the day, Winters Jr. won three-straight decisions to reach the third-place match.
"It was a great day for our team, but we have a long way to go," Nickerson added. "Now we get back to work and continue to improve as a team."
Next Up
Northern Colorado will be at home next weekend and host the Northern Colorado Open on Sunday, Nov. 10, with competition running all day.
Players Mentioned
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
HC Nickerson, Vinny Zerban, and AJ Heeg Post Dual Press Conference vs Cal Baptist 01/24/2025
Wednesday, May 21
Andrew Alirez Press Conference
Wednesday, May 21
Postmatch Press Conference - HC Troy Nickerson
Wednesday, May 21
Head Coach Troy Nickerson and Andrew Alirez Post Match Press Conference
Monday, February 24
