The Barton Community College Wrestling team finished runner-up on Saturday in Pratt, Kansas, in the NJCAA West/Central District Championships. The Cougars' 134 points were second only to the 171.5 points from defending national champion and No. 3 ranked Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and well ahead of the 98.5 points scored by No. 16 ranked Labette Community College. Barton put four in the championship matches earning two titles while grabbing three third places and three fifth places with five of the six coming via a Fall as nine of the ten wrestlers earned national tournament bids earning the Cougars' second straight Region VI Championship as well. Barton will next head to the NJCAA Championships in Council Bluffs, Iowa, held February 23-25 in the Mid-America Center.
Barton's two individual titles came in upset fashion as David Kelly pulled the day's biggest upset with a 12-10 sudden victory over the nation's top ranked Saul Ortiz of NEO in the 174 division. The victory, along with pins in Kelly's march to the finals, earned the Wichita freshman the Outstanding Wrestler of the Tournament award marking the second straight year a Cougar was voted the honor.
No. 8 ranked Brix Brickey gave the Cougars the final individual title putting on an 11-2 major decision victory over the nation's No. 2 in the 285 division. Like Kelly, Brickey was equally impressive in the title run dispatching his previous two opponents in just 2:50 of mat time, winning the first round with a 1:00 fall and the semifinal round with a 1:50 fall.
Two Cougars made a run for the title but coming up just shy in the championship match. Kendall Biddle made his way through the 165 division with a 32 second fall over Neosho County's Christian Fast before a hard fought 16-14 victory over Labette's Skyler Bloomer in the semifinals. Biddle's bid fell short in an 8-0 major decision to No. 6 ranked Wyatt Jordan of NEO. Ethan Dean's path in the 197 was similar to Biddle's, winning his first round by fall in 1:37 over Justin Skerce of Pratt before a tough 14-10 semifinal win over Neosho County's Josh Walker. Dean's title hopes were also dashed by a NEO wrestler, falling in forty-five seconds to No. 7 ranked Ruston Duke.
Barton's list of qualifiers are: Caysen Smith (133), Isaac Bailey (141), Sean Taborsky (149), Christian Rivas (157), Kendall Biddle (165), David Kelly (174), Devon Baker (184), Ethan Dean (197), and Brix Brickey (285).
Team Scores
1. Northeast Oklahoma 171.5
2. Barton 134.0
3. Labette Community College 98.5
4. Pratt Community College 86.5
5. Colby Community College 84.5
6. Neosho County Community College 59.0
7. Wentworth Military Academy 41.5
8. Arkansas Baptist College 19.0
NJCAA West/Central District Results for Barton
125 - Skylar Johnson (3-10) placed 5th and scored 8.00 team points.
Quarterfinal - Logan Terrill (Northeast Oklahoma ) 32-6 won by fall over Skylar Johnson (Barton) 3-10 (Fall 2:58)
Cons. Round 1 - Skylar Johnson (Barton) 3-10 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Semi - Dakota Jones (Labette Community College) 13-13 won by fall over Skylar Johnson (Barton) 3-10 (Fall 1:22)
5th Place Match - Skylar Johnson (Barton) 3-10 won by fall over Faifua Ipolito (Wentworth Military Academy) 6-13 (Fall 1:09)
133 - Caysen Smith (17-20) placed 5th and scored 8.00 team points.
Quarterfinal - Demone McClinton (Pratt Community College) 18-14 won in sudden victory - 1 over Caysen Smith (Barton) 17-20 (SV-1 5-3) Cons. Round 1 - Caysen Smith (Barton) 17-20 received a bye () (Bye) Cons. Semi - De`Khayle McFarland (Labette Community College) 13-12 won by decision over Caysen Smith (Barton) 17-20 (Dec 11-7) 5th Place Match - Caysen Smith (Barton) 17-20 won by fall over Alpha Diallo (Neosho County Community College) 5-19 (Fall 3:35)
141 - Isaac Bailey (10-17) placed 5th and scored 10.50 team points.
Quarterfinal - Mateo Soto (Neosho County Community College) 17-14 won by major decision over Isaac Bailey (Barton) 10-17 (MD 11-1)
Cons. Round 1 - Isaac Bailey (Barton) 10-17 won by fall over Bradley Loveland (Wentworth Military Academy) 5-19 (Fall 1:41)
Cons. Semi - Dy`Juan Carney (Pratt Community College) 18-17 won by major decision over Isaac Bailey (Barton) 10-17 (MD 14-5)
5th Place Match - Isaac Bailey (Barton) 10-17 won by fall over Cody Foos (Labette Community College) 11-16 (Fall 1:38)
149 - Sean Taborsky (17-8) placed 3rd and scored 14.50 team points.
Quarterfinal - Sean Taborsky (Barton) 17-8 won by decision over Andrew Voss (Colby Community College) 1-2 (Dec 6-0)
Semifinal - Bryan Burnett (Labette Community College) 11-6 won in tie breaker - 1 over Sean Taborsky (Barton) 17-8 (TB-1 6-5)
Cons. Semi - Sean Taborsky (Barton) 17-8 won by forfeit over Forfeit Forfeit () 1-2 (For.)
3rd Place Match - Sean Taborsky (Barton) 17-8 won by fall over Nicholas Davis (Wentworth Military Academy) 15-17 (Fall 2:09)
157 - Christian Rivas (17-15) placed 3rd and scored 14.50 team points.
Quarterfinal - Christian Rivas (Barton) 17-15 won by injury default over Jayden Miller (Colby Community College) 0-3 (Inj. 0:00)
Semifinal - Danny Conley (Labette Community College) 26-10 won by decision over Christian Rivas (Barton) 17-15 (Dec 10-4)
Cons. Semi - Christian Rivas (Barton) 17-15 won by decision over Jayson Failer (Pratt Community College) 13-18 (Dec 4-0)
3rd Place Match - Christian Rivas (Barton) 17-15 won by fall over Cole Franklin (Neosho County Community College) 16-12 (Fall 4:25)
165 - Kendall Biddle (16-7) placed 2nd and scored 14.00 team points.
Quarterfinal - Kendall Biddle (Barton) 16-7 won by fall over Christian Fast (Neosho County Community College) 0-22 (Fall 0:32)
Semifinal - Kendall Biddle (Barton) 16-7 won by decision over Skyler Bloomer (Labette Community College) 16-14 (Dec 7-2)
1st Place Match - Wyatt Jordan (Northeast Oklahoma ) 33-9 won by major decision over Kendall Biddle (Barton) 16-7 (MD 8-0)
174 - David Kelly (27-14) placed 1st and scored 18.00 team points.
Quarterfinal - David Kelly (Barton) 27-14 won by fall over Samisone Vailahi (Wentworth Military Academy) 8-18 (Fall 1:18)
Semifinal - David Kelly (Barton) 27-14 won by fall over Thomas Galey (Colby Community College) 2-2 (Fall 6:25)
1st Place Match - David Kelly (Barton) 27-14 won in sudden victory - 1 over Saul Ortiz (Northeast Oklahoma ) 27-10 (SV-1 12-10)
184 - Devon Baker (20-18) placed 3rd and scored 11.50 team points.
Quarterfinal - Devon Baker (Barton) 20-18 received a bye () (Bye)
Semifinal - Devin Crawl (Northeast Oklahoma ) 26-12 won by major decision over Devon Baker (Barton) 20-18 (MD 11-2)
Cons. Semi - Devon Baker (Barton) 20-18 won by fall over Austin Many (Colby Community College) 1-3 (Fall 0:21)
3rd Place Match - Devon Baker (Barton) 20-18 won by decision over James Ellis (Pratt Community College) 13-19 (Dec 17-16)
197 - Ethan Dean (21-18) placed 2nd and scored 16.00 team points.
Quarterfinal - Ethan Dean (Barton) 21-18 won by fall over Justin Skerce (Pratt Community College) 1-13 (Fall 1:37)
Semifinal - Ethan Dean (Barton) 21-18 won by fall over Josh Walker (Neosho County Community College) 14-10 (Fall 6:29)
1st Place Match - Ruston Duke (Northeast Oklahoma ) 36-8 won by fall over Ethan Dean (Barton) 21-18 (Fall 0:45)
285 - Brix Brickey (32-12) placed 1st and scored 19.00 team points.
Quarterfinal - Brix Brickey (Barton) 32-12 won by fall over Marquise Peele (Arkansas Baptist College) 2-6 (Fall 1:00)
Semifinal - Brix Brickey (Barton) 32-12 won by fall over Chance Schooler (Labette Community College) 12-14 (Fall 1:50)
1st Place Match - Brix Brickey (Barton) 32-12 won by major decision over Shawn Beeson (Northeast Oklahoma ) 28-10 (MD 11-2)