Kansas Wrestling (all images via cowleytigers.com)
Full of new faces, the Cowley College wrestling team opened the 2023-24 season by competing in a dual at No. 15-ranked Labette Community College on Friday before participating in the Falcon Invite on Saturday at Friends University in Wichita, KS.
On Friday, Cowley found wins hard to come by in a 41-8 loss at Labette. Aidan O’Dell, the lone returner from a year ago, won by a major decision over Labette’s Kalvin LaPlant at 133 pounds, while sophomore transfer Alexzander Barajas picked up a major decision victory over the Cardinals’ Jamarius Koshko at 149 pounds.
Cowley wrestled much better on Saturday as they placed four wrestlers in the semifinals of the Falcon Invite. Wrestling against several NCAA Division II and NAIA schools, the Tigers were led by Chance Davis, placing first at 157 pounds, while Jacen Jackson went 3-1 at 165 pounds, O’Dell went 4-1 at 133 pounds, and Stefaan Fearon wrestled well at 285 pounds.
“We looked like a totally different team from Friday to Saturday,” Cowley head coach Justice Circle said. “Everyone wrestled deep into the tournament on Saturday.”
Cowley will next wrestle at the Carl Albert Viking Open on Saturday at 10 a.m. in Poteau, OK.
“The schedule early on is set up to see what we are made of,” Circle said. “Carl Albert will be another tough tournament. We will look to build off what we accomplished on Saturday.”
