The No. 23 ranked Pratt Community College wrestling team began competition at the Harold Nichols Cyclone Open hosted by Iowa State University. The Beavers competed against several premier college wrestling programs including four nationally ranked NCAA DI schools from the BIG TEN and BIG 12 conferences. At the NJCAA level, No. 6 Iowa Central Community College attended. Also at the NAIA level was No. 1 Grand View University, who has won 7-straight NAIA National Championships.
Although facing off against heightened competition, Pratt managed to stand out with several noticeable individual performances. Three athletes from PCC finished in the top five of their respective weight class.
Highlighting the day was 184-pounder Gavin Lively who finished third. Lively, who hasn't competed on the mat in over three years, achieved one of the best finishes on the day for the Beavers. He finished the event going 2-1, including one pin fall victory.
Ranked No. 2 in the NJCAA, 165-pound Nickolas Lucas also produced a third-place finish on the day. After losing the first match of the competition to Tate Battani from No. 23 Iowa State, Lucas climbed his way up the backside and never lost again. A first round bye in the consolation bracket re-energized Lucas and allowed him to tackle his next foe with a 16-6 major decision. In his next bout he recorded a fall in just 3:09. The second-year Beaver wrestler avenged his previous loss by beating Battani 8-2 the second time around in the consolation semi-finals. Lucas finished the day 4-1 after yet another major decision while wrestling in the finals of the consolation bracket for third place. He defeated two NCAA DI opponents and two others from NAIA No. 1 Grand View.
Placing fifth was 197-pounder Chris Henderson. Receiving a bye in the first round of the championship bracket, Henderson started off in the quarterfinals, where he lost by a single-point decision to Iowa State's Hunter DeJong. Henderson went on to earn a major decision and fall in his next two matches. He finished up competing for fifth and defeating his adversary by decision.
Also representing the blue and white was 125-pound Brayan Balderama and 141-pound Justin Hershberger. Balderama drew a tough schedule, facing off against No. 7 Kevin Radcliff from Iowa Central Community College. Earning a fall in just 2:26 helped Balderama to bounce back in the first round of consolations. He went on to finish the day with an unfortunate loss to Kyle Biscolglia of No. 13 Northern Iowa.
Hershberger's day of competition began with a first-round bye. He then challenged Matt Robertson of No. 1 Grand View, coming out of the wrong end of a 6-2 decision that took him out of the championship bracket. After receiving his second bye of the open, Hershberger matched up with yet another Grand View wrestler. This time, a single point kept Hershberger from advancing as he fell to his foe (7-6).
"It's all about the process. We're taking it moment by moment and appreciating the opportunity to compete and focusing on putting 100 percent effort on the table. It was a rocky start coming out flat, but we finished strong and I am proud of how we competed," said Head Wrestling Coach Ken Kepley.
PCC wrestling returns to action when they travel to compete in the Grand View open in Pleasant Hill, Iowa on Nov. 10. The Beavers will begin competition starting at 9 a.m.