Trojan wrestlers battle in the Bob Smith Open

Three members of the Colby Community College team and unattached wrestler Chris Deters took on nationally-ranked competition Sunday at the Bob Smith Open hosted by Fort Hays State University.

Unattached in the 141 weight class, sophomore Deters went 1-2. After a first round bye, he won by fall over Pratt Community College's Justin Skerce. Deters then lost by technical fall to Oklahoma State senior Dean Heil, ranked No. 1 in the NCAA and winner of 54 straight. In the consolation bracket, Deters lost by major decision 10-2 to another 141-pounder from Pratt, Kevin Kissane.

157-pound sophomore Jonathan Hernandez also opened with a first round bye and on the way to a 1-2 record for the day. Hernandez was pinned by Dayton Garrett, wrestling unattached from the University of Central Oklahoma. Hernandez then grabbed a 7-2 decision over Neosho's Ryan Brown before losing by fall to Brayden Wills from the University of Nebraska.

At 174 pounds, freshman Jordan Wesley had a first round bye before losing by fall to his unattached opponent Jordon Ward. After another bye in the consolation bracket, Wesley pinned Air Force Prep's James Nufer. He would go on to lose by fall to fifth ranked David Kelly of Barton Community College.

Sophomore Gabriel Ledesma opened his day at 285 pounds with a bye before losing high-scoring 20-19 decision to AJ Cooper (unattached). Ledesma was then on the short end of a 10-9 decision to Rico Garcia of Adams State University.

The Trojans have a break in competition until they enter the 86-team National Wrestling Coaches Association National Duals Jan. 4-5 in Fort Wayne, Ind. 

141 Chris Deters
Rd. 1: bye
Rd. 2: Justin Skerce, Pratt – WBF (3:55)
Cn. 3: Dean Heil, Oklahoma State – L, 3-18 (TF)
Cn. 4: Kevin Kissane, Pratt – L, 10-2 maj.

157 Jonathan Hernandez
Rd. 1: bye
Rd. 2: Dayton Garrett, unattached – LBF (2:43)
Cn. 3: Ryan Brown, Neosho Community College – W, 7-2 dec.
Cn. 4: Brayden Willis, University of Nebraska – LBF (2:36) 

174 Jordan Wesley
Rd. 1: bye
Rd. 2: Jordon Ward, unattached – LBF (2:30)
Cn. 3: bye
Cn. 4: James Nufer, Air Force Prep – WBF (2:59)
Cn. 5: David Kelly, Barton Community College – LBF (1:27)

285 Gabriel Ledesma
Rd. 1: bye
Rd. 2: AJ Cooper, unattached – L, 19-20 dec.
Cn. 3: Rico Garcia, Adams State University – L, 9-10 dec.