Sander with fourth place finish leads tough 2016 start for Cougar Wrestling

The Barton Community College wrestling team began its 2016 portion of the schedule this past Saturday competing in the Viking-Warrior Open hosted by Midland University in Fremont, NE.  Sending just six wrestlers to the mat, Great Bend's Kade Sander was the lone survivor reaching the semifinals before finishing with a fourth placing.   The Cougars return to the state of Nebraska again next Saturday participating in the Hastings Open held in Hastings, Nebraska.

Sander began his 2016 with a pair of huge wins over Midland University wrestlers first picking up a 12-0 major decision over Francisco Vazquez before registering a 16-0 tech fall over Tyler Willis.  Reaching the semifinals Sander met up with an all too familiar opponent in three-time all-american Zach Skates of Oklahoma City University.   Having already come up short in two previous meetings, Sander again couldn't quite knock off Skates being sent to the consolation round in a 6-3 decision.  Matching up with first round opponent Vazquez once again, Sander again easily handled the match recording his second tech fall of the tournament with a 17-0 score.    Sander's bid for the third place medal came up a point short falling 8-7 to Travis Holt of St. Cloud State.

Barton Results:  

OPEN 157 - Kade Sander's place is 4th and has scored 11.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Kade Sander (Barton Community College) won by major decision over Francisco Vazquez (Midland University) (Maj 12-0)
Quarterfinal - Kade Sander (Barton Community College) won by tech fall over Tyler Willis (Midland University) (TF 16-0)
Semifinal - Zach Skates (Oklahoma City University) won by decision over Kade Sander (Barton Community College) (Dec 6-3)
Cons. Semi - Kade Sander (Barton Community College) won by tech fall over Francisco Vazquez (Midland University) (TF 17-0)
3rd Place Match - Travis Holt (St Cloud State) won by decision over Kade Sander (Barton Community College) (Dec 8-7)

OPEN 165 - Sean Taborsky's place is unknown and has scored 0.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Cody Kingery (Nebraska-Kearney) won by decision over Sean Taborsky (Barton Community College) (Dec 11-5)
Cons. Round 1 - Sean Taborsky (Barton Community College) received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 2 - Austin Starkey (Concordia) won by fall over Sean Taborsky (Barton Community College) (Fall 6:55)

OPEN 174 - Christian Strother's place is unknown and has scored 0.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Tyler McMichael (Midland University) won by fall over Christian Strother (Barton Community College) (Fall 3:49)
Cons. Round 1 - Tucker Ksiazek (Grandview) won by fall over Christian Strother (Barton Community College) (Fall 4:56)

OPEN 174 - Devon Baker's place is unknown and has scored 0.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Devon Baker (Barton Community College) received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 - Dylan Blackford (Grandview) won by fall over Devon Baker (Barton Community College) (Fall 1:17)
Cons. Round 2 - Tucker Ksiazek (Grandview) won by fall over Devon Baker (Barton Community College) (Fall 6:23)

OPEN 197 - Jonathan Bowen's place is unknown and has scored 0.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Adam Ball (Midland University) won by fall over Jonathan Bowen (Barton Community College) (Fall 2:11)
Cons. Round 1 - Jonathan Bowen (Barton Community College) received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 2 - Nick Osowski (St Cloud State) won by fall over Jonathan Bowen (Barton Community College) (Fall 2:12)

OPEN 285 - Justin Scarbro's place is unknown and has scored 0.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Aaron Rafalko (Midland University) won by fall over Justin Scarbro (Barton Community College) (Fall 4:25)
Cons. Round 1 - Justin Scarbro (Barton Community College) received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 2 - Jarrod Hinrichs (Nebraska-Kearney) won by decision over Justin Scarbro (Barton Community College) (Dec 10-3)