By: Madie Brink
BALDWIN CITY, KAN. – USF Men's Wrestling headed south to compete in the Dan Harris Open hosted by Baker University. With 21 wrestlers competing, USF landed seven placers lead by Hank Meyer, Cooper Sanders, and Luke Swanson all of which took home first place finishes.
"It was a good day for us—great to see three champs and steady improvement from the whole team," stated head coach Matt Meuleners. "We'll take advantage of the off week to get healthy and keep building on our progress."
At 133-pounds, Cyler Ruhoff tabbed a fourth place finish while going 3-2 on the day. Ruhoff dropped the opening round to Nat'aani Prado of Baker in an 8-0 major decision before battling back with three wins including a 16-1, 6:04 tech fall over Camden Borjas of Neosho County CC, a 1:47 pin over Roberto Burkettsantos of Neosho and a quick 0:31 pin over unattached Zayne Reynolds. Ottawa's Jayden Nowell defeated Ruhoff in a tough 9-5 decision. Following this weekend performance, Ruhoff now sits 6-4 on the season with two fourth place finishes.
Jordon Oehme took second at 141-pounds while going 3-1 on the day. Oehme produced a 17-1, 6:59 tech fall over Missouri Valley's Estaban Armenta followed by a 16-6 major decision over Baker's Jazen Brown and a 6-4 decision over Cody Culp of Central Missouri. Oehme fell to Central Missouri's Kaden Stanley in a hard fought 8-6 decision to take second and sits 6-3 on the season.
Sonny Lora continued to power through the 149-pound bracket for another second place finish this season. Lora opened the day with a 0:51 pin over unattached Diego Gauna followed by a 14-0 major decision over unattached Adam Ludwin and a 13-10 decision over unattached Talan Braswell before falling to Baker's Nikolas Slatoff via a 2:31 pin. Lora finished the with a 3-1 record to advance to 6-3 on the season while notching his second, second place performance of the year.
Cooper Sanders dominated at 157-pounds with a 4-0, first place finish. Sanders opened the day with back-to-back 1:23 pins over Missouri Valley's Alec Schmuchk and unattached Fernando Dominguez followed by a 9-7 decision over Brayden Shelton of Missouri Valley and an 8-5 decision over unattached Jack Ferguson to claim the title. With his performance, Sanders advances to 8-2 on the season with fifth and first place performances.
Also at 157-pounds, Lincoln Fink put up a 4-2 performance to take home third place. Fink opened the day with an 8-5 decision over Central Missouri's Jasper Allison followed by a 3:45 pin over Trae Tralar of Ottawa and a 19-2, 5:19 tech fall over Neosho County's Caden Smith before falling in a 7-3 decision to unattached Jack Ferguson. Fink battled back with a 10-8 decision over unattached Fernando Dominguez before dropping the third and fourth place match in a tough 12-9 decision over Brayden Shelton of Missouri Valley to sit 7-4 on the season.
At 167-pounds, Luke Swanson claimed his first collegiate title with a 4-0 day. Swanson dominated his way through the winners bracket with a 21-3, 1:47 tech fall over Neosho's Kyle Bahl, a 23-5, 2:45 tech fall over Baker's Keegan Troutman and a 19-3, 5:44 tech fall over Matthew (Kash) Cobb of Missouri Valley before defeating Dax Gentes of Central Missouri in a 10-3 decision to advance to 7-2 on the season with fourth and first place finishes.
Hank Meyer dominated at 197-pounds with a 3-0, first place finish for his first collegiate title. Meyer opened the day with a 5:38 pin over Missouri Valley's Nicholas Martinez, a 12-8 decision over unattached Landon Dobson and a 6-4 decision over unattached Mason Obanion to advance to 6-2 on the season along with fourth and first place finishes.
Individual Results
125 – Antonio Martinez finished 1-2 on the day and sits 1-4 on the season
125 – Daniel Parra Jr. finished 1-2 on the day and sits 1-4 on the season
125 – Gabino Vargas finished 1-2 on the day and sits 2-4 on the season
125 – Vinny Mayberry finished 2-2 on the day and sits 4-4 on the season
133 – Bray Skinner finished 1-2 on the day and sits 4-3 on the season
133 – Cyler Ruhoff finished 3-2 on the day and sits 6-4 on the season
141 – Beau Beavers finished 1-2 on the day and sits 4-3 on the season
141 – Moe Erdman finished 1-2 on the day and sits 1-4 on the season
141 – Mitch Koss finished 3-2 on the day and sits 4-4 on the season
141 – Jordon Oehme finished 3-1 on the day and sits 6-3 on the season
149 – Lane Fink finished 4-2 on the day and sits 4-2 on the season
149 – Sonny Lora finished 3-2on the day and sits 6-3 on the season
149 – Westin Sherlock finished 2-2 on the day and sits 2-2 on the season
157 – Lincoln Fink finished 4-2 on the day and sits 7-4 on the season
157 – Joel Thompson finished 3-2 on the day and sits 3-4 on the season
157 – Cooper Sanders finished 4-0 on the day and sits 8-2 on the season
165 – Luke Swanson finished 4-0 on the day and sits 7-2 on the season
174 – Ashtin Johnson finished 0-2 on the day and sits 0-4 on the season
184 – Mishael Mauck finished 2-2 on the day and sits 2-4 on the season
197 – Hank Meyer finished 3-0 on the day and sits 6-2 on the season
285 – Stetson Davis finished 2-2 on the day and sits 4-3 on the season
UP NEXT
USF Men's Wrestling will wake a weekend off before heading to Minneapolis to compete in the Augsburg Invite. The Cougars will open their home and dual season against Minnesota State on December 5th at 7pm in the Stewart Center.