The Barton Community College wrestling team resumed its fall portion of the schedule Sunday at the annual FHSU Bob Smith Open, competing inside Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays, Kansas. Making their first appearance since the Thanksgiving break, the Cougars were led by sophomore S'Ron Hill, who battled through a deep 184-pound bracket to earn a 3rd-place finish behind a strong 4-1 performance.
As a group, Barton totaled a 15-33 overall mark on the afternoon, as nine Cougars recorded at least one victory on the mats and three delivered multi-win performances.
Hill opened his run with a bye before rolling to a 20-4 tech fall over Otero's Jordan Harris, later adding a 9-2 quarterfinal decision against Colorado State University-Pueblo's RJ Didrickson to reach the semifinals. After dropping a tight 4-0 bout to eventual runner-up Timber Parlin of Colorado School of Mines, Hill rebounded in emphatic fashion making short work of Fort Hays State's Cameron Shultz in 26 seconds in the consolation semifinals and securing third place with a 13-10 victory over Colorado Mesa's Logan Noble.
At 133 pounds, freshman Shane Todd produced Barton's next best showing with a 3-2 afternoon. Following an opening-round setback, Todd strung together three straight consolation victories, highlighted by a 16-0 tech fall, a 13-5 major decision, and a 2:17 fall before bowing out in the Consolation Round 5 to Nebraska-Kearney's Brenyn Delano.
Freshman Clayton Considine added Barton's third multi-win effort, turning in a 2-2 day at 141 pounds. Considine notched back-to-back falls in the consolation side, pinning Colorado State's Tristan Spiegler in 1:13 and Fort Hays State's Tacoma Augustine in 6:19 before bowing out in the Consolation Round 3.
Additional Barton victories came from Jamal Garrett (125), Kike Yanez (125), Julian Orrantia (125), Joshua "AJ" Almanza (133), Brennen Pfannenstiel (149), and Isaac Fall (157). Garrett (2:26), Yanez (4:06), Pfannenstiel (6:15), and Fall (1:58) each delivered wins by fall, while Orrantia secured a high-scoring 14-12 decision, and Almanza added a 14-7 consolation victory.
Barton will close out the semester next Sunday, hosting the third annual Cougar Open at Great Bend High School's PAC Center, with action scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m.