Cole Wins Title at FHSU Open

HAYS, Kan. (Dec. 7) – Tanner Cole rolled to the 125-pound championship to lead a small contingent of Central Oklahoma wrestlers at the Fort Hays State Open Saturday.

The Bronchos sent 17 individuals to the one-day tournament, with 11 of those competing as unattached entries as they go through redshirt years this season.

UCO had three other placers, with 174 Tre'Vaughn Craig taking third and 157 Zachary Moore fourth for the varsity, while 141 Gage Gomez finished third as an unattached entry.

Cole went 4-0 on the day, starting with a third-period fall in the first round. The sophomore cruised to 21-11 and 11-0 major decisions in the next two rounds before beating unattached entry Dallas Wilson 11-7 for the title.

Craig had an impressive performance in his first action for the Bronchos after joining the team just two weeks ago. The sophomore, a transfer from Wisconsin-Parkside who lettered for the UCO football team this fall, went 5-1 on the day.

Craig lost to FHSU's Efe Osaghae 3-2 in his first match and then reeled off five consecutive consolation wins, avenging his loss to Osaghae with a 6-1 victory in the consolation semis. He beat FHSU's Martin Verhaeghe 11-4 for the bronze medal.

Moore started quick, needing just 16 seconds and 1:41 to record back-to-back falls. The senior dropped a 10-4 decision in the semifinals, came back with an 8-4 consolation semifinal victory and then fell to FHSU's Anthony Scantlin 6-3 in the third-place bout.

Gomez lost his opening-round match, but rebounded with five straight wins – including a technical fall and 45-second pin – in the consolation bracket. The freshman edged Oklahoma State's Colt Newton 5-4 to claim third.

UCO, ranked No. 16 in NCAA Division II, returns to action next weekend when the Bronchos travel to Indianapolis, Ind. for the Midwest Classic.

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Players Mentioned

Tanner Cole: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Gage Gomez: 5' 9"; Junior; 133

Zachary Moore: 5' 6"; Senior

Tre'Vaughn Craig: 5' 11"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Tanner Cole
: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Gage Gomez
: 5' 9"; Junior; 133

Zachary Moore
: 5' 6"; Senior

Tre'Vaughn Craig
: 5' 11"; Sophomore