The Barton Community College wrestling team closed its season Friday at the NJCAA Wrestling Championships held at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa, highlighted by S'Ron Hill's run to the 184-pound blood round, finishing one victory shy of All-America honors.
Seeded ninth in the 36-man bracket, the Wichita native opened his day with a 6:50 fall over Max Adelizzi of Rowan Gloucester before being sent to the consolation bracket against eighth-seeded Alex Hicks of Muskegon, forced to take a medical forfeit during the bout due to lingering injuries.
Back on the consolation side, Hill quickly regained momentum. Building a commanding 19-8 lead, he secured a 6:26 fall over 9th ranked Drake Wood of Big Bend before advancing to the blood round with another quick finish, pinning 8th ranked Kenneth Phillips of Snow College in 1:31.
With All-America honors on the line, Hill held a 3-1 advantage against Cowley's David Sample before injuries resurfaced, ultimately falling by pin at the 2:27 mark to end the redshirt freshman's season one win shy of the podium.
Barton improved from last year, moving up four spots with 14.5 team points to place 33rd overall among the 55 teams represented. The Cougars went 5-10 against the field, with each of their opening-round losses coming to seeded competitors.
Among the consolation matches, Brennen Pfannenstiel (149) and Derek Truman (174) each recorded backside pins before dropping their third match to end their runs.
Pfannenstiel opened against seventh-seeded Logan Crowther of Iowa Western, taking an 18-3 technical fall loss to move into the consolation bracket. The Norton native stayed alive with a 5:58 fall over Kaiden Cue of Carl Albert State before his freshman season came to a close on a 21-4 technical fall loss to 10th ranked Iowa Central's Matthew Roche.
Truman drew one of the tournament's toughest opening matchups against second-seeded Charlie Foster of Onondaga, falling by 21-6 technical fall. The Valley Center native responded with a 3:42 fall over Camden County's Andrew Geisenhiemer before his Barton career concluded in the following round, pinned at the 3:49 mark by Southwestern Michigan's Trenton Mansfield.
Barton's remaining two entries also faced difficult opening competition, each competing in a pair of matches during their collegiate debut seasons.
At 125 pounds, Julian Orrantia dropped a 15-0 technical fall to 13th-seeded Jeremy Oani of Clackamas before concluding his season with a 1:37 fall to Owen Pritchard of North Idaho. At 133 pounds, Shane Todd encountered ninth-seeded Kelby Bernard of Clackamas, falling in 19 seconds before battling to a 4-1 decision loss against Triton's Keygan Jennings to close the Bird City freshman's season.