Barton Wrestling concludes season at the NJCAA National Championships #GoBarton

The Barton Community College wrestling team would see both of their national qualifiers earn one win apiece as the 2022-23 season would come to a close on day one of the NJCAA National Championships held at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Representing the Cougars at the national meet would be third-year sophomore in the 157-division Dawson Chavez and first time qualifier 133-division Stephan Baldwin. The pair of Cougars concluded the team standings with a 43rd place finish as a team.

Chavez would face a tall task in his opening bout of the tournament drawing 10th seeded Landon Gode of Rochester, falling in a close 5-2 decision, after leading early 2-1 through the opening period. The Andale, KS native would response with vengeance needing just 4:21 to earn a pin over Xavier Byrne of Henry Ford keeping his season alive before bowing out in the second round of the consolation bracket dropping another tight decision 5-7, to Jett Nelson of Southwestern Oregon Community College.

Baldwin would get off to a strong start in his opening match earning a 6-4 upset decision over fourth seeded Brenden Ramsey from Jamestown to advance into the Round of 16. Ninth seeded, Tuvsin Zunnbayan of Harper would be waiting for Baldwin, as the match would go the way of Zunnbayan with an 11-0 major decision. With his tournament life on the line, Baldwin would then face ninth ranked Romelle Person-Williams of Labette Community College having the season end by an 18-3 technical fall. Finishing eighth at the West/Central Districts, Baldwin was rewarded with a national bid having the next highest placing following a scratched West/Central qualifier unable to compete.

Barton Individual Results
133 Division - Stephan Baldwin
Champ. Rd. of 32 - Stephan Baldwin (Barton) won by decision over #8 seed Brendan Ramsey (Jamestown) (Dec 6-4)
Champ. Rd. of 16 – #9 seed Tuvsin Zunnbayan (Harper) won by major decision over Stephan Baldwin (Barton) (Maj. Dec 11-0)
Cons. 16 Rd. 2 - #9 ranked Romelle Person-Williams (Labette CC) won by tech fall over Stephan Baldwin (Barton) (Tech Fall 18-3) 

157 Division - Dawson Chavez
Champ. Rd. of 32 - #10 seed Landon Gode (Rochester) won by decision over Dawson Chavez (Barton) (Dec 5-2)
Cons. 16 Rd. 1 - Dawson Chavez (Barton) won by fall over Xavier Byrne (Henry Ford) (Fall 4:21)
Cons. 16 Rd. 2 – Jett Nelson (SW Oregon) won by decision over Dawson Chavez (Barton) (Dec 10-9)