McBride wins title as 14th ranked Barton Wrestling qualifies seven for Nationals #GoBarton #RoarCougs

The No. 14 ranked Barton Community College Wrestling team came away with an individual champion and seven national qualifiers as the Cougars placed fourth overall in the NJCAA West/Central District Championships held Saturday in Parsons, Kansas.

The Cougars had its streak of three straight District runner-up and Region VI titles come to an end as half of the ten competing teams ranked in the nation's top twenty five. Defending champion No. 2 ranked Northeastern Oklahoma A&M won the title with 186 points, 9.5 more than runner-up and nationally 3rd ranked Northwest Kansas Technical College. Barton accumulated 124 points in the one day tournament, finishing a point shy to 12th ranked Cloud County Community College for the third placing.

Gage McBride won Barton's lone title as the nation's No. 5 ranked 174 division sophomore took down Northwest Tech's 4th ranked Tsogtbayar Tserendagva in an epic 4-2 sudden victory. McBride piled up a 20-2 technical fall to begin the day over Labette's Camron Sharp before pulling out an 11-9 victory over Cloud County's Matthew Cruickshank to reach the title bout.

Four Cougars rebounded from a loss to march on to a third place finish. In the 133 division, 4th ranked Gage Gomez' defense of the tile ended in the semifinals to top ranked Boo Dryden before ending the tournament with his second victory of the day over Labette's Dillon Prutch.

Keaton Sander advanced to the 141 semifinals with a pin of 6th ranked Blake Hickerson of Cowley but couldn't hold a slim lead over 2nd ranked Bat-Erdene Boldmaa of Northwest Tech to lose a 5-3 sudden victory heartbreaker. Recovering from the loss Sander won the next two including a 5-2 decision over Jett Merlo of Neosho for third.

In the 157 division, Andrew DeArmond was knocked from the championship bracket with a quarterfinal loss to the eventual second place finisher before winning his last two matches including a 4-2 decision over top seeded Antony Kinsey to wrap up the day.

Like Gomez and Sander, Joey Ewalt reached the semifinal round before having to win his final two 184 matches to take third with a 2-0 victory over Cloud County's Cameron Young.

Kolby Droegemeier's bid for the 149 division third place came up short to 5th ranked Enkhbold Sukhbaatar of Northwest Tech. Droegemeier was bounced from the championship side of the bracket in the semifinals to 4th ranked Kendon Lee.

Gable Howerton closed out the seven Barton qualifiers with a fifth place in the 165 division, clinching the berth as Cloud County's Noah Aziere was forced to retire by injury.

Barton's other three wrestlers missed the qualifying spots but still placed seventh in the district: Brian Gates (125), Kendell Johnson (197), and Jacob Robles (285).

Barton's list of national qualifiers are: Gage Gomez (133), Keaton Sander (141), Kolby Droegemeier (149), Andrew DeArmond (157), Gable Howerton (165), Gage McBride (174), and Joey Ewalt (184).

Team Scores
1 #2 Northeastern Oklahoma A&M 186.0
2 #3 Northwest Kansas Technical College 176.5
3 #12 Cloud County Community College 125.0
4 #14 Barton Community College 124.0
5 #25 Cowley College 106.0
6 Neosho County Community College 86.0
7 Labette Community College 65.0
8 #14 Pratt Community College 60.5
9 Colby Community College 17.0
10 Arkansas Baptist College 6.0

NJCAA West/Central District Results for Barton

125 - Brian Gates (14-16) placed 7th and scored 8.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Brian Gates (Barton) 14-16 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Mason Naifeh (Northeast Oklahoma) 38-5 won by fall over Brian Gates (Barton) 14-16 (Fall 2:00)
Cons. Round 2 - Brian Gates (Barton) 14-16 won by tech fall over Tim Westbrook (Colby CC) 1-11 (TF-1.5 5:40 (24-8))
Cons. Round 3 - Cody Hey (Neosho County CC) 3-7 won by tech fall over Brian Gates (Barton) 14-16 (TF-1.5 5:55 (20-2))
7th Place Match - Brian Gates (Barton) 14-16 won by fall over Zachary Strait (Cowley College) 1-3 (Fall 6:13)

133 - Gage Gomez (28-8) placed 3rd and scored 14.5 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Gage Gomez (Barton) 28-8 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Gage Gomez (Barton) 28-8 won by decision over Dillon Prutch (Labette CC) 2-2 (Dec 10-7)
Semifinal - Boo Dryden (Northeast Oklahoma) 39-1 won by major decision over Gage Gomez (Barton) 28-8 (MD 15-4)
Cons. Semi - Gage Gomez (Barton) 28-8 won by fall over Justice Circle (Cowley College) 0-3 (Fall 5:34)
3rd Place Match - Gage Gomez (Barton) 28-8 won by decision over Dillon Prutch (Labette CC) 2-2 (Dec 8-7)

141 - Keaton Sander (23-12) placed 3rd and scored 14.5 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Keaton Sander (Barton) 23-12 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Keaton Sander (Barton) 23-12 won by fall over Blake Hickerson (Cowley College) 1-2 (Fall 4:35)
Semifinal - Bat-Erdene Boldmaa (Northwest Kansas Technical College) 43-7 won in sudden victory - 2 over Keaton Sander (Barton) 23-12 (SV-2 5-3)
Cons. Semi - Keaton Sander (Barton) 23-12 won by decision over Bryce Gfeller (Cloud County CC) 8-14 (Dec 6-4)
3rd Place Match - Keaton Sander (Barton) 23-12 won by decision over Jett Merlo (Neosho County CC) 18-9 (Dec 5-2)

149 - Kolby Droegemeier (16-15) placed 4th and scored 12.5 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Kolby Droegemeier (Barton) 16-15 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Kolby Droegemeier (Barton) 16-15 won by decision over Kendall Biddle (Cowley College) 2-2 (Dec 5-2)
Semifinal - Kendon Lee (Northeast Oklahoma) 31-7 won by fall over Kolby Droegemeier (Barton) 16-15 (Fall 3:35)
Cons. Semi - Kolby Droegemeier (Barton) 16-15 won by major decision over Kollin Wade (Colby CC) 5-8 (MD 8-0)
3rd Place Match - Enkhbold Sukhbaatar (Northwest Kansas Technical College) 25-10 won by decision over Kolby Droegemeier (Barton) 16-15 (Dec 7-2)

157 - Andrew DeArmond (17-13) placed 3rd and scored 14.5 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Andrew DeArmond (Barton) 17-13 won by decision over Dallas Boone (Neosho County CC) 8-19
(Dec 9-8)
Quarterfinal - Jake Patterson (Cowley College) 2-1 won by major decision over Andrew DeArmond (Barton) 17-13
(MD 12-2)
Cons. Round 2 - Andrew DeArmond (Barton) 17-13 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 3 - Andrew DeArmond (Barton) 17-13 won by forfeit over Dalton Moody (Colby CC) 2-14 (For.)
Cons. Semi - Andrew DeArmond (Barton) 17-13 won by decision over Quentin Jiner (Cloud County CC) 15-19 (Dec 4-2)
3rd Place Match - Andrew DeArmond (Barton) 17-13 won by decision over Antony Kinsey (Northwest Kansas Technical College) 25-17 (Dec 4-2)

165 - Gable Howerton (16-10) placed 5th and scored 12.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Gable Howerton (Barton) 16-10 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Keon Muckelvene (Northwest Kansas Technical College) 9-2 won by decision over Gable Howerton (Barton) 16-10 (Dec 11-8)
Cons. Round 2 - Gable Howerton (Barton) 16-10 won by forfeit over Mikal Walters (Arkansas Baptist College) 4-8 (For.)
Cons. Round 3 - Gable Howerton (Barton) 16-10 won by decision over Cesar Salgado (Neosho County CC) 9-19 (Dec 6-0)
Cons. Semi - Garrett Lange (Cowley College) 3-2 won by decision over Gable Howerton (Barton) 16-10 (Dec 6-4)
5th Place Match - Gable Howerton (Barton) 16-10 won by injury default over Noah Aziere (Cloud County CC) 12-16
(Inj. 1:51)

174 - Gage McBride (35-5) placed 1st and scored 20.5 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Gage McBride (Barton) 35-5 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Gage McBride (Barton) 35-5 won by tech fall over Camron Sharp (Labette CC) 1-2 (TF-1.5 4:50 (20-2))
Semifinal - Gage McBride (Barton) 35-5 won by decision over Matthew Cruickshank (Cloud County CC) 13-16 (Dec 11-9)
1st Place Match - Gage McBride (Barton) 35-5 won in sudden victory - 1 over Tsogtbayar Tserendagua (Northwest Kansas Technical College) 5-1 (SV-1 4-2)

184 - Joey Ewalt (18-14) placed 3rd and scored 16.5 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Joey Ewalt (Barton) 18-14 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Joey Ewalt (Barton) 18-14 won by fall over Mateo Pena (Labette CC) 1-3 (Fall 6:22)
Semifinal - Alex Kauffman (Northeast Oklahoma) 25-5 won by fall over Joey Ewalt (Barton) 18-14 (Fall 6:28)
Cons. Semi - Joey Ewalt (Barton) 18-14 won by fall over Shawn Dent (Cowley College) 2-2 (Fall 5:42)
3rd Place Match - Joey Ewalt (Barton) 18-14 won by decision over Cameron Young (Cloud County CC) 13-13 (Dec 2-0)

197 - Kendell Johnson (8-15) placed 7th and scored 4.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Kendell Johnson (Barton) 8-15 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Darius Hamilton (Northwest Kansas Technical College) 24-6 won by fall over Kendell Johnson (Barton) 8-15 (Fall 2:06)
Cons. Round 2 - Kendell Johnson (Barton) 8-15 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 3 - Marco Soto (Neosho County CC) 10-8 won by fall over Kendell Johnson (Barton) 8-15 (Fall 0:44)
7th Place Match - Kendell Johnson (Barton) 8-15 won by decision over Sean Jackson (Colby CC) 6-12 (Dec 4-3)

285 - Jacob Robles (25-15) placed 7th and scored 7.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Benny Hernandez (Cloud County CC) 20-5 won by decision over Jacob Robles (Barton) 25-15 (Dec 4-1)
Cons. Round 1 - Jacob Robles (Barton) 25-15 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 2 - Jacob Robles (Barton) 25-15 won by decision over Luis Rodriguez (Pratt CC) 1-8 (Dec 4-3)
Cons. Round 3 - Griffin Qualls (Labette CC) 1-3 won by decision over Jacob Robles (Barton) 25-15 (Dec 5-2)
7th Place Match - Jacob Robles (Barton) 25-15 won by forfeit over Courtney Williams (Arkansas Baptist College) 4-15 (For.)