The No. 23 ranked Pratt Community College wrestling team returned to the mat by competing in the Grand View Open. The meet was hosted by the No. 1 ranked NAIA team in the nation, and 7-time national champion, Grand View University. The field of competition was represented by 16 nationally ranked teams from nearly every level of collegiate athletics.
The Beavers were met with stiff and familiar opponents from other junior colleges. Five nationally ranked 2-year schools participated in the open. Higher caliber talent from six NCAA schools including four division I programs attended as well. Not to mention the presence of Grand View themselves and the other four top-20 programs from the NAIA that were present. Elevated competition did not distract the Beavers, as they had two wrestlers that achieved a third-place finish in their respective weight class.
One of Pratt's top performances came from the No. 2 ranked 165-pound wrestler in the NJCAA, Nickolas Lucas. During the event, Lucas went 4-1. Every opponent he faced was from a nationaly ranked program. He started the event with a first-round bye and then defeated Esai Gallegos of No. 7 Baker University with a pin fall in the second period. The second match of the day for Lucas went the other way after falling (7-6) in a decision to Giovanny Bonilla from No. 22 Iowa Western Community College. Lucas came back and refocused to defeat No. 12 Life University's Micheal Edouard with a 13-0 major decision. Lucas earned a fall in the next two matches he competed in. He pinned Brayden Ebbs from Grand View, and then put fellow junior college wrestler Austen Burrell of No. 20 North Idaho College on his back to earn a third-place finish.
Placing third as well was 141-pound sophomore Justin Hershberger. The second-year wrestler started off the day by pinning his foe in the second period. In the second match he suffered his only defeat of the open to Michael Blockhus from NCAA DI No. 13 Northern Iowa. Hershberger finished strong by going on to earn a victory against his next six opponents. In the first round of consolations, Hershberger won decidedly by a 18-3 technical fall. He then took on No. 6 Iowa Central Community College's Richardson Gbeynie and pinned him to the mat in 4:31. Two medical forfeits advanced Hershberger to the consolation semi-finals where he matched up with Dylan Lockwood out of No. 20 North Idaho. Hershberger continued the theme of ending the match on his terms by pinning Lockwood at the 6:41 time mark. One more lone medical forfeit in the third-place bout ended Hershberger's day.
Other Beavers participating in the open were 197-pounder Chris Henderson and 125-pounder Brayan Balderrama. Henderson only wrestled two matches after unfortunate back-to-back losses. His bouts came against opponents from two nationally ranked programs. He started the open against Hunter Dejong of NCAA division I No. 23 Iowa State and ended by competing against Austin Brown from NAIA No. 12 Life University.
Balderrama finished the day an even 2-2. Three-of-four adversaries that Balderrama went head-to-head with were from nationally ranked teams. He won his first two contests of the day, starting with a victory over Pierre Dolcine from NJCAA No. 2 Iowa Lakes by a 10-7 decision. His second win came by way of a 10-3 decision. Balderema lost his last two competitions of the day by decision to NJCAA wrestlers from No. 20 North Idaho.
"We came to Iowa to get better. I am very proud of how we competed and how much we are learning along the way," said Head Wrestling Coach Ken Kepley. "We are progressing and thankful for the opportunity to compete. The effort was there and there are also things to build upon this week before we head to Kearney for another tough tournament.
PCC wrestling will face competition next at the Holiday Inn Loper Open in Kearney, Neb. The first bouts will begin at 9 a.m.