Gomez’ UNK Holiday Inn title leads Barton Wrestling to consecutive positive weekend #GoBarton

One week after setting a program Open record, the 10th ranked Barton Community College wrestling team was back on the mat in compiling consecutive above .500 results by accumulating a 32-29 at the UNK Holiday Inn Open this past Saturday in Kearney, Nebraska.

Gage Gomez captured his first meet of the season as the NJCAA's No. 2 ranked wrestler in the 133 division ended the title match in just 67 seconds with a pin of Newman University's Tyler Lawley. The Altus, Oklahoma, sophomore began his day like it ended, dominating in racking up 35-2 points in consecutive technical falls. Gomez then came out on top 10-8 over Air Force Prep's Colin Poynter before taking down Fort Hays State University's Devin Onwugbufor 10-4 to earn the title match slot.

Gage McBride continues the strong start for the Yukon, Oklahoma, sophomore's season, placing third in the 174 division for the second time in three meets with last week's Swede Open title sandwiched between the two. Rolling up a combined 28-6 score in two major decisions to begin the day, McBride advanced to the semifinal round with a 5-3 defeat of Newman's Nate Panagakis before getting bounced to the consolation in a major decision by Wyoming's Cole Moody. Winning by rule in the consolation semis, McBride again face Panagakis for the third place honor in coming out on top 12-6.

Colorado freshman Jacob Robles earned the Pueblo native's first placing of the season winning the first three matches of the 285 division in concluding the day with a medical forfeit. Along the way Robles won 5-2 over Bethany College's William Mason, recorded a forty second fall over Northeastern Junior College's Victor Bravo, and advanced to the semifinal with a 5-1 decision over Briar Cliff's Matt Wilke. The run in the championship side of the bracket came to an end with a tough 6-5 decision to Central Oklahoma's Blake Berryhill before landing in the fifth place match in coming up short 2-0 to Michael Stann of Concordia.

Following the trio of consecutive weekend events, the Cougars will take a few weeks away from the competitive mat before traveling to Hays for the December 2nd Bob Smith Open hosted by Fort Hays.