Barton Wrestling finishes 25th at NJCAA Championships #GoBarton

The No. 19 ranked Barton Community College Wrestling team saw its' season come to a close on day one of the 2021 NJCAA Wrestling National Championships at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa on Wednesday. 

Unfavorable draws didn't fare well for the Cougars' as eight of the nine participants opened facing a nationally ranked or top 10 seed or met one of the same in the second round. Dawson Chavez and Ayston Perez led five into the evening session locking bouts in the championship quarterfinals following their 2-0 records in the morning session. Unfortunately, Barton's Championship run ended in the second round of the consolation of eight as the Cougars concluded the team standings with a 25th place finish.

Starting at the 141 class, sixth ranked Drew Burgoon was bounced to the backside dropping a tough 5-3 decision in the opening round to eighth ranked Quentrevon Cambell of North Iowa Area Community College. Entering the consolation side, the sophomore avenged the loss with a dominating 22-4 technical fall over 31st seed Shakaleb Nicholson of Henry Ford. Matching up with a familiar face in the second round of the consolation of 16, Burgoon got the best once more of conference foe Michael Barfuss of Cloud County posting a near shutout, 8-1 result. The Salina, KS native saw his Cougar career come to an end in the next round as a 2-all tie was broke on a takedown with Brody Kemper of Matt ending the match with an 11-6 decision.

26th seeded Chavez opened his day with an upset 6:13 fall over 7th seeded David Crow of Niagara moving onto the round of 16. Chavez then took care of 10th seeded Nick Rubion of Rowan before second ranked and eventual third placer Anthony Herrera of Western Wyoming bounced the freshman to the consolation side with a 10-1 major decision. Matching up with a familiar face in seventh ranked Jake Patterson of Cowley, Chavez's bid of a third upset dwindled dropping a 6-2 decision ending the run leading the Cougars with a 2-2 mark.  

Stephen Duffy would face a tall task in his opening bout of the tournament by taking on top ranked and eventual National Champion Christian Minto of North Iowa Area Community College, dropping opening period 2:01 fall. Falling to the consolation side of the bracket Duffy responded back earning a 9-2 decision over 17th seed Ryan Graff of Joliet. The freshman continued his charge up the backside piecing together a late second period charge holding off Justin Henry of Ellsworth with a 5-3 decision before bowing out in first round of the round of eight-consolation bracket with a 2-0 defeat to Pratt's Juan Urbina.

Suffering an 18-3 opening round technical fall to second ranked Michael Gaspar of Clackamas, Davontai Robinson answered back with his lone victory of the tournament producing a 7:00 fall over 19th seed Sean Burke of Triton before dropping his third match to Western Wyoming's Andrew Nicholson by fall at the 4:07 mark.

13th seeded Trezen Doren had perhaps Barton's best draw of the tournament not facing a ranked or top-10 seed in the first round securing the Cougars' second first round victory in a tightly 6-3 decision over 20th seed Cage Dye of Henry Ford. Advancing to face 4th seeded Tyler Scheurn of Western Wyoming Doren would be bounced to the consolation side suffering a 1:31 fall. Recovering for an 8-1 decision over Sussex's Taylan Zafis, Doren's season came to an end in the next round as a third period escape and late takedown sent Sean Kelly of Triton to the next round with a 6-3 win.

Perez got off to a big start in his opening match earning an upset 1:45 pin over 10th seed Maurice Jackson of Niagara. The freshman carried the momentum into the round of 16 riding to his second opening period fall in 2:40 over Indian Hills Caleb Collins securing a spot in the quarterfinals. Matching up against second ranked Mitchell Williamson of Iowa Lakes Perez held an early 2-0 lead until a late Williamson takedown and escape halted the upset bid dropping the 5-2 decision. Facing a quick turnaround, Perez had his season end in the second round of the consolation of eight suffering a 1:07 fall to eighth ranked Wyatt Kearn of Western Wyoming.

Also making their NJCAA National Tournament debuts, Drew Liles (125 pounds), Cody Liles (149 pounds) and Bryan Ford (174) came up empty for the weekend while drawing top five seeded opponents in their opening rounds

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
28th seed Drew Liles (125-pounds)
Champ Round 1 – lost by 15-0 tech fall to 5th seed Garrett Ricks (Western Wyoming)
Cons. Round 1 #16 – lost by 4-0 decision to 21st seed Alex Cantu (Muskegon)

18th seed Drew Burgoon (141-pounds)
Champ Round 1 – lost by 5-3 decision to 15th seed Quentreyon Campbell (NIACC)
Cons. Round 1 #16 – won by 22-4 tech fall to 31st Shakaleb Nicholson (Henry Ford)
Cons. Round 2 #16 – won by 8-1 decision over Michael Barfuss (Cloud)
Cons. Round 1 #8 – lost by 11-6 decision to 9th seed Brody Kemper (Matt)

28th seed Cody Liles (149-pounds)
Champ Round 1 – lost by 6-3 decision to 5th seed Cameron Metcalf (Western Wyoming)
Cons. Round 1 #16 – lost by 6-2 decision to 21st seed Tanner Higgins (Iowa Western)

26th seed Dawson Chavez (157-pounds)
Champ Round 1 – won by 6:13 fall over 7th seed David Crow (Niagara)
Champ Round 2 – won by 12-2 major decision over 10th seed Nick Rubino (Rowan)
Champ Quarterfinals – lost by 10-1 major decision over 2nd seed Anthony Herrera (Western Wyoming)
Cons. Round 2 #8 – lost by 6-2 decision over 21st seed Jake Patterson (Cowley)

32nd seed Stephen Duffy (165-pounds)
Champ Round 1 – lost by 2:01 fall to 1st seed Christian Minto (NIACC)
Cons. Round 1 #16 – won by 9-2 decision over 17th seed Ryan Graff (Joliet)
Cons. Round 2 #16 – won by 5-3 decision over 18th seed Justin Henry (Ellsworth)
Cons. Round 1 #8 – lost by 2-0 decision to 23rd seed Juan Urbina (Pratt)

31st seed Bryan Ford (174-pounds)
Champ Round 1 – lost by 11-4 decision to 2nd seed Dax Bennett (Clackamas)
Cons. Round 1 #16 – lost by 6:22 fall to 18th seed Justin Grant (Indian Hills)

30th seed Davontai Robinson (184-pounds)
Champ Round 1 – lost by 18-3 tech fall to 3rd seed Michael Gaspar (Clackamas)
Cons. Round 1 #16 – won by 7:00 fall over 19th seed Sean Burke (Triton)
Cons. Round 2 #16 – lost by 4:07 fall to 4th seed Andrew Nicholson (Western Wyoming)

13th seed Trezen Doren (197-pound)
Champ Round 1 – won by 6-3 decision over 20th seed Cage Dye (Henry Ford)
Cons. Round 1 #16 – lost by 1:31 fall to 4th seed Tyler Scheurn (Western Wyoming)
Cons. Round 2 #16 – won by 8-1 decision over 14th seed Taylan Zafis (Sussex)
Cons. Round 1 #8 – lost by 6-3 decision to 6th seed Sean Kelly (Triton)

23rd seed Ayston Perez (285-pound)
Champ Round 1 – won by 1:45 fall over 10th seed Maurice Jackson (Niagara)
Champ Round 2 – won by 2:40 fall over 26th seed Caleb Collins (Indian Hills)
Champ Quarterfinals – lost by 5-2 decision to 2nd seed Mitchell Williamson (Iowa Lakes)
Cons. Round 2 #8 – lost by 1:07 fall to 5th seed Wyatt Kearn (Western Wyoming)