Jan. 3, 2000
LARAMIE, Wyo. -
The University of Wyoming wrestlingteam competed in two of the top collegiate tournaments in the nation thispast weekend. Sixteen Cowboys competed in the Great Plains Open hosted bythe University of Nebraska on Jan. 2 in Lincoln, Neb., while three otherCowboys earned invitations to the prestigious Midlands Tournament hosted byNorthwestern University on Dec. 29-30 in Chicago, Ill.
At the Great Plains Open in Lincoln, Wyoming's Jeremy Sell capturedthe championship at 165 pounds, posting a 3-0 record. Sell entered thetournament as the No. 3 seed at 165 pounds. He won his first match by fallover Billy Gabel of Oklahoma State, 5:47 into the match. Sell then defeatedNo. 2 seeded Tony Denke of Nebraska in the semifinals by an 8-4 margin. Inthe championship match, Sell came back in overtime to defeat No. 1 seededJohn Hardy on Minnesota by a score of 8-6.
Other top finishers for the Cowboys at the Great Plains Open were:Mark Hamrick, 4th at 149 pounds, Thad Trujillo, 5th place at 141 pounds,Chad Plummer, 5th place at 149 pounds, Brad Steele, 5th place at 285, CiscoGonzales, 6th place at 125 pounds, and Dave Schenk, 6th place at 184 pounds.
"The Great Plains tournament had several of the top teams in thecountry," said UW assistant wrestling coach Matt Johnson. "Minnesota, whichis ranked in the Top Five in the country, Nebraska, West Virginia, OklahomaState, Oklahoma and Oregon all had wrestlers competing. It was a great testfor our wrestlers, and we had several individuals wrestle well.
"Jeremy (Sell) had an excellent tournament. He pinned a wrestlerfrom Oklahoma State, and showed a lot of heart in the championship matchdefeating the No. 1 seed from Minnesota in overtime."
The three Cowboys who were invited to the Midlands Tournament atNorthwestern University were: Brian Wood at 157 pounds, Steven Schenk at 174pounds, and Craig Rumsey at 197. Rumsey wasn't able to compete due to aninjured shoulder. Wood posted a 1-2 record at 157 pounds, but didn't place.Schenk won his first match by a fall over John Gillespie of Iowa 13 secondsinto the match. Schenk posted a 2-2 record at 174 pounds, but was unable toplace.
"The criteria this year for the Midlands Tournament was that everyinvited wrestler had to be at least a qualifier for the NCAA Tournament theyear before," said Wyoming head wrestling coach Steven Suder. "But it isnot only for current collegiate wrestlers. It also includes former NCAAChampions, and is by invitation only."
The Cowboys return to action on Jan. 8 at the Lone Star Duals inArlington, Texas. Wyoming's next home match will be a dual with Nebraska onJan. 15.
Wyoming Results from Great Plains Open in Lincoln, Neb. Placing in TournamentWeight Class Wyoming Wrestlers Tournament Record 125 Cisco Gonzales 6th place 3-3133 Corey Hamrick Didn't place 2-2 Kelly McConville Didn't place 0-2 Chris Walker Didn't place 0-2141 Thad Trujillo 5th place 4-2 Justin Gonzales Didn't place 1-2 Paul Turco Didn't place 0-2149 Mark Hamrick 4th place 3-2 Chad Plummer 5th place 5-2157 Levi Prevost Didn't place 2-2165 Jeremy Sell 1st place 3-0 Matt Westenfelder Didn't place 1-2174 Brandon Dansie Didn't place 2-2184 Dave Schenk 6th place 1-3197 No Wyoming wrestlers285 Brad Steele 5th place 2-2 Jon Rosas Didn't place 1-1Wyoming Results from the Midlands Tournament at Chicago, Ill. Placing in TournamentWeight Class Wyoming Wrestlers Tournament Record157 Brian Wood Didn't place 1-2174 Steven Schenk Didn't place 2-2197 Craig Rumsey (Couldn't compete due to injured shoulder.)
