University of Northern Colorado Athletics
@UNCBearsWrestle Celebrates 2018-19 Season at Banquet
4/14/2019 10:15:00 AM | Wrestling
Northern Colorado wrestling hosted its annual banquet to hand out post season awards and highlight the team's accomplishments
On Saturday evening, the 2018-19 Northern Colorado wrestling team celebrated its season at the team's annual banquet and handed out post-season awards. The Bears two seniors, Rico Montoya and Dante Rodriguez, were also honored for their contributions to the program.
Head coach Troy Nickerson spoke to audience about the highlights and challenges of the season. Nickerson expressed how proud he was of this young team for stepping into roles and working for each other.
Jacob Seely was honored as the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Year after qualifying for the NCAA Championships for the second consecutive season. Seely maintained his health during the season and posted a 14-12 record, including six wins over ranked opponents. Seely placed eighth at the Big 12 Championships and fifth at the Southern Scuffle.
Dalton Robertson earned the Most Improved award, after becoming UNC's regular starter at 184 lb. Robertson finished the year with a 12-12 record and 8-6 in dual matches. For the season, Robertson had two falls and one tech fall for the Bears, scoring a team-high 32 dual-match points for the Bears.
The Rookie of the Year award went to Chris Sandoval, after he automatically qualified for the NCAAs. Sandoval became the first freshman to qualify for the NCAAs since UNC returned to the division I ranks. On his way to qualifying, Sandoval made UNC history when he upset the No.1 seed, Josh Alber, at the Big 12 Championships. It was the program's first win over a No. 1 seed at the Big 12's, as Alber was ranked as high as No. 4 in the nation at 141 lb. Sandoval started the season wrestling at 133 lb, but moved up to 141, posting an 8-12 overall record.
Trenton Schultz was honored with the 11th man award after wrestling at multiple weight classes for UNC this season. Schultz finished with a 5-9 record with one fall and one tech fall. In dual matches, Schultz wrestled at both 174 lb and 197 lb.
Rico Montoya was honored with the Tough Guy award in his senior season after cutting weight to move to 125 lb. Montoya qualified for the NCAAs for the third consecutive season, after placing fifth at the Big 12s. Along with placing at the Big 12s for the third-straight year, Montoya became UNC's first ever finalist at the Southern Scuffle in January. Montoya showed his promise at 125 lb early, winning the championship at the Northern Colorado Open.
Montoya was also honored for his final season wrestling at UNC. He capped of his senior year in the blue and gold with a 16-11 record, going 6-4 in dual matches.
"Rico will go down as one of the best Bears ever," Nickerson said of Montoya. "He was my first recruit when I took the job. He really bought into what we are building here."
The Academic award was given to Jimmy Fate, who excelled in the classroom during his redshirt-sophomore year.
Dante Rodriguez was honored for spending his final collegiate wrestling season here in Greeley. Rodriguez transferred to UNC from Iowa State, where he had been recruited by Nickerson. During the season, Rodriguez tallied three falls in dual meets, including one, wrestling up a weight, against Wyoming's Jed Loveless. Nickerson described Rodriguez time here at UNC as "electric."
Some of the other highlights of the season Nickerson noted were the team's performance at the Southern Scuffle. UNC finished 11th at the tournament, improving by one spot from the 2017-18 season.
The Bears also had four placers at the Big 12 Championships, matching a program record set at the 2017 championships. UNC had nine placers at the Northern Colorado Open, the most in program history.
Nickerson also talked about two dominating road trips to the east and west coasts this season. UNC defeated VMI 35-9 and Hofstra 21-13 in early December. On the west coast, the Bears took apart Cal Poly 28-13 and earned the first win over CSU-Bakersfield, 17-16.
At the end of the banquet, Nickerson discussed the 2019-20 season, noting that he believed "very special things were about to happen."
UNC is bringing in the No. 4 recruiting class in the nation, highlighted be the No. 1 overall prospect, Andrew Alirez. Trackwrestling.com minted Alirez the top pound-for-pound wrestler after he won his fourth straight State Championship in February. Alirez became the 23rd wrestler in Colorado to be a four-time champion. Along with Alirez, the top 100 prospects includes two more Bears commits, with Mosha Schwartz(No. 66) and Therious Robison(No. 89).
To stay up to date with Northern Colorado wrestling visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Twitter with @UNCBearsWrestle.
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Head coach Troy Nickerson spoke to audience about the highlights and challenges of the season. Nickerson expressed how proud he was of this young team for stepping into roles and working for each other.
Jacob Seely was honored as the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Year after qualifying for the NCAA Championships for the second consecutive season. Seely maintained his health during the season and posted a 14-12 record, including six wins over ranked opponents. Seely placed eighth at the Big 12 Championships and fifth at the Southern Scuffle.
Dalton Robertson earned the Most Improved award, after becoming UNC's regular starter at 184 lb. Robertson finished the year with a 12-12 record and 8-6 in dual matches. For the season, Robertson had two falls and one tech fall for the Bears, scoring a team-high 32 dual-match points for the Bears.
The Rookie of the Year award went to Chris Sandoval, after he automatically qualified for the NCAAs. Sandoval became the first freshman to qualify for the NCAAs since UNC returned to the division I ranks. On his way to qualifying, Sandoval made UNC history when he upset the No.1 seed, Josh Alber, at the Big 12 Championships. It was the program's first win over a No. 1 seed at the Big 12's, as Alber was ranked as high as No. 4 in the nation at 141 lb. Sandoval started the season wrestling at 133 lb, but moved up to 141, posting an 8-12 overall record.
Trenton Schultz was honored with the 11th man award after wrestling at multiple weight classes for UNC this season. Schultz finished with a 5-9 record with one fall and one tech fall. In dual matches, Schultz wrestled at both 174 lb and 197 lb.
Rico Montoya was honored with the Tough Guy award in his senior season after cutting weight to move to 125 lb. Montoya qualified for the NCAAs for the third consecutive season, after placing fifth at the Big 12s. Along with placing at the Big 12s for the third-straight year, Montoya became UNC's first ever finalist at the Southern Scuffle in January. Montoya showed his promise at 125 lb early, winning the championship at the Northern Colorado Open.
Montoya was also honored for his final season wrestling at UNC. He capped of his senior year in the blue and gold with a 16-11 record, going 6-4 in dual matches.
"Rico will go down as one of the best Bears ever," Nickerson said of Montoya. "He was my first recruit when I took the job. He really bought into what we are building here."
The Academic award was given to Jimmy Fate, who excelled in the classroom during his redshirt-sophomore year.
Dante Rodriguez was honored for spending his final collegiate wrestling season here in Greeley. Rodriguez transferred to UNC from Iowa State, where he had been recruited by Nickerson. During the season, Rodriguez tallied three falls in dual meets, including one, wrestling up a weight, against Wyoming's Jed Loveless. Nickerson described Rodriguez time here at UNC as "electric."
Some of the other highlights of the season Nickerson noted were the team's performance at the Southern Scuffle. UNC finished 11th at the tournament, improving by one spot from the 2017-18 season.
The Bears also had four placers at the Big 12 Championships, matching a program record set at the 2017 championships. UNC had nine placers at the Northern Colorado Open, the most in program history.
Nickerson also talked about two dominating road trips to the east and west coasts this season. UNC defeated VMI 35-9 and Hofstra 21-13 in early December. On the west coast, the Bears took apart Cal Poly 28-13 and earned the first win over CSU-Bakersfield, 17-16.
At the end of the banquet, Nickerson discussed the 2019-20 season, noting that he believed "very special things were about to happen."
UNC is bringing in the No. 4 recruiting class in the nation, highlighted be the No. 1 overall prospect, Andrew Alirez. Trackwrestling.com minted Alirez the top pound-for-pound wrestler after he won his fourth straight State Championship in February. Alirez became the 23rd wrestler in Colorado to be a four-time champion. Along with Alirez, the top 100 prospects includes two more Bears commits, with Mosha Schwartz(No. 66) and Therious Robison(No. 89).
To stay up to date with Northern Colorado wrestling visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Twitter with @UNCBearsWrestle.
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