Experienced Tiger wrestling team hoping for big season
Placing 13th at last year's national tournament, the Cowley College wrestling team is hoping for even bigger things as they prepare to open the 2021-2022 season. Cowley will open the season at the Friends University Invite November 6 in Wichita, KS.
The Tigers have two returning All-Americans from a season ago in Malik Johnson and Ryan Smith.
"Those two have big-time tournament experience and can improve dramatically from their first year," Cowley head coach Beau Vest said.
Jesse Nunez, a two-time national qualifier, also returns to the team as does Montez Robinson, who has recorded wins at the national tournament. Corwin Strachan, Brayden Strachan, and Trevor Shook also have national tournament experience as does Brandon Kidd, who was a two-time national qualifier at Rochester Community College before transferring to Cowley, and Austin Kincaid, a transfer from Missouri Valley College that was a two-time Missouri State placer and a two-time national qualifier.
"Their national experience will give us a leg up," Vest said.
Ryan Locke at 184 pounds is another talented wrestler. Locke was a two-time OSSAA qualifier that placed third at the state meet while competing at Newkirk High School.
Cowley also returns wrestlers from a couple years ago as Robbie Rosser and Makana Tapia are back after a year away.
"They are good guys that will be in the hunt for a spot in the lineup," Vest said.
Freshmen on the roster are, Nathan Adamson, Dylan Ames, Angel Avila, Dyllon Bernard, Daniel Camilo-Ferreira, Renissa Cinnamon, Trenton Grant, Zach Hamilton, Alexander Howard, Josh Kime, Benny Madrid Jr., Beau Perez, Mouhamadou Sene, Dean Setticase, and Alex Tonioli.
"We feel we added some good pieces," Vest said. "They are working hard and doing a good job. We also have other guys in the room that are pushing all those guys."
Other members of the squad are, Nicholas Bahm, Dalton Collins, Braxton Dale, JaCorey Miller, Erik Orozco, Austin Peri, Alex Rodriguez, and Sage Smart.
"Very few spots have been determined," Vest said. "It was weird coming off a Covid year. I am excited to see how some of the guys perform in tournaments. We will compete at two of the bigger tournaments in the country (Lindenwood and Grandview) and also compete at a Midland program that I helped start before coming to Cowley. I am excited personally to bring my team up to Midland."
Schools such as Pratt and Northwest Kansas Tech will continue to be strong competition for the Tigers in the Jayhawk Conference.
"The conference will have multiple top-10 teams, which will help get us ready for the national tournament," Vest said. "Staying motivated, staying the course and keep pushing every day will be key for us. If we can do that I think we will do well."