Heading to Colorado to open the season the Northwest College wrestling team saw some success at the Mines Rookie Open in Golden, placing four in a tournament that featured competitors from all levels of college wrestling.

The top placer for the Trappers was Austin Richens at 197 pounds, who finished 4-1 on the weekend and won all four of his matches by pin, only losing his quarterfinal bout via a 9-2 decision to the University of Northern Colorado’s Tyler Perry.

In his fifth place match he earned a 39 second pin over Air Force’s Jackson Dewald.

Easton Hopes was the next highest placer, who took sixth at 184 pounds and finished 3-2.

His losses came in his first and final matches, with three wins in between that included a win over Colorado State University’s Tyler Woodworth.

Eighth place finishers for Northwest were Asad Fayzullaev, who finished 2-2 at 165 pounds, and Jett Swain, 3-2 at 285 pounds.

Other Trapper competitors included:

Zachary Covolo, 2-2 at 133 pounds;
Kaiden Rubash, 2-2 at 141 pounds;
Jack Lounsbury, 2-2 at 157 pounds;
Jesse Thornton, 2-2 at 174 pounds;

The tournament included several NCAA Division I teams including the University of Wyoming, as well as most teams that the Trappers will see throughout the season from the NJCAA Plains District.

On Friday the Trappers will host their first and only event before the new year, a dual against an NAIA school, the University of Providence Argonauts, at 6 p.m. in Cabre Gym.

That will be the lone event for the Trappers in Powell until mid-January when Northwest will host Western Wyoming Community College.

Before then the Trappers will see the Mustangs on Tuesday, Nov. 12, heading to Rock Springs to dual the two-time defending national champions at 6 p.m.