The Barton Community College wrestling team concluded a challenging two-day slate Saturday morning at the NJCAA Coaches Duals in Miami, Oklahoma. Competing with a limited lineup, the Cougars faced a heavy nationally-ranked field throughout the event.
Barton concluded the two-day event 0-6, with five of the six duals coming against nationally ranked opponents, including four top-25 matchups during Friday's pool play.
The Cougars opened the event Friday in Pool B, falling to Northeastern Junior College (38-16) before facing ranked opponents in their final four tilts against No. 4 Clackamas (54-0), No. 24 Hawkeye Community College (35-21), conference foe No. 17 Fort Hays Tech Northwest (41-18, and host No. 10 Northeast Oklahoma College (60-0). Lineup shortages played a major role throughout the day, as Barton was forced to leave multiple weights open, including 149 and 197 in four of the five duals, along with additional opens at 165 and 184 in the final tilt.
Saturday's bracket draw again featured a ranked opponent, as the Cougars faced No. 20 Carl Albert State, falling 55-6 after spotting 24 team points due to four open weights at 149, 165, 184, and 197.
Individually, Shane Todd led the Barton lineup across the two-day event. Competing at 133 pounds, Todd finished 4-2, earning all four victories by fall against Northeastern, Hawkeye, Fort Hays Tech Northwest, and Carl Albert State. His only setbacks came against nationally ranked opposition, including a loss to No. 6-ranked Logan Crawford of Northeast Oklahoma.
S'Ron Hill (184) also delivered another steady weekend, finishing 3-1. Hill opened with a 2:50 fall over Rene Perez of Northeastern, added an 11-6 decision against Hawkeye's Gianni Sutherland, and collected an open-weight win versus Fort Hays Tech Northwest. His lone loss came in a competitive 8-4 decision against Clackamas' Pablo Hernandez.
At 125 pounds, Kike Yanez posted a 2-4 record, highlighted by a 1:26 fall against Hawkeye and an open-weight win versus Fort Hays Tech Northwest. Derek Truman (174) fashioned Barton's biggest victory of the weekend, upsetting No. 7-ranked Austin Pfantz of Hawkeye with a 2:32. Teron Kraft (197) accounted for the Cougars' other victory, delivering an open-weight win in the opening dual against Northeastern.
The Cougars quickly turn their focus to conference action Tuesday night, traveling to No. 9 Pratt Community College for a 7:00 p.m. matchup in the Battle of Highway 281.