5 With UNI Wrestling Ties Medal in Vegas

LAS VEGAS – Incoming Panther Drew Bennett earned his second Western Regional Title today, and former Panther Joe Colon won the U.S. Open in freestyle.

Bennett of Fort Dodge High School won the 132-pound weight class of the freestyle division of the 2018 Marines Western Regional today. He won the Juniors 2018 Marines Western Regional Greco-Roman title earlier this week at 132 pounds.

He tore through the freestyle bracket with four tech falls and won 13-6 in the championship round.

Former Panther Joe Colon of Clear Lake, Iowa, lived up to his top seed at the U.S. Open men's freestyle division at 61 kilograms. He opened yesterday with two tech falls against Joey Palmer (11-0) and Jens Lantz (11-1). Then he won two decisions against Nico Megaludis (5-2) and Brandon Wright (7-5) He beat Nahshon Garrett 20-13 in the finals and earned Outstanding Wrestling honors at the tournament.

Former Panther Blaize Cabell was seeded fifth in the 97-kilogram weight class at the U.S. Open. He opened with a win but was bumped to the consolations in his second match. He won his third match by injury default to stay alive in the consolations. After a loss to Ben Honis, he medically forfeited his final match to take eighth.

UWW JUNIORS – FREESTYLE

At 61K, and Jack Skudlarczyk, a freshman who redshirted this year, took eighth place in the UWW Junior Freestyle. He was bumped into the consolations early on the first day. He won his next five matches to earn a spot on the podium.

Gable Fox of Don Bosco High School lost his opening match at 61 kilograms yesterday but went on a four-match win streak on the backside to stay alive. He was bumped from the tournament with a second loss to open today. He went 4-2 overall.

At 65K, Michael Blockhus of New Hampton took eighth place. He made a run to the quarterfinals before falling into consolations.

FROM SATURDAY:

Twelve wrestlers with UNI wrestling ties competed at tournaments in Las Vegas this week.

World Team Grappling Championships – Ryan Loder (former Panther)
U.S. Open Men's Freestyle – Joe Colon, Joey Lazor, Blaize Cabell (former Panthers)
UWW Junior Freestyle – Gable Fox, Michael Blockhus, Cayd Lara (incoming Panthers) / Jack Skudlarczyk, Triston Lara, Derek Holschlag, Austin Yant (freshmen)
Western Regional (freestyle and Greco-Roman) – Drew Bennett (incoming Panther)
Former Panther Ryan Loder will represent the United States at the World Grappling Championships after winning his weight class at 84 kilograms to earn a spot on his first world team.
Panther Wrestling Club's Joey Lazor was seeded eighth at 65K. He went 2-2 at the U.S. Open in the freestyle division.

UWW JUNIORS - FREESTYLE

At 65K, Freshman Triston Lara opened with two wins before being bumped to the consolation rounds. He won one more on the backside before being bumped from the tournament.
At 70K, freshman Derek Holschlag went 1-2 on the day.
Cayd Lara of Fort Dodge High School and freshman Austin Yant of Waverly, Iowa, went 2-2 in the 74-kilogram and 79-kilogram weight classes, respectively.

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