Trojans Battle Through UNK Younes Hospitality Open in Kearney

Kearney, NE - The Colby Community College Trojan wrestling team wrapped up a demanding stretch on the road Saturday as they traveled to Kearney, Nebraska, to compete in the University of Nebraska at Kearney’s annual Younes Hospitality Open. The tournament, known for drawing deep brackets and a high volume of four-year and junior-college talent, pushed the Trojans through a long day of matches that yielded ten total wins across multiple weights.

Head Coach Joseph Cornejo said the team showed effort but struggled to regroup fully after their dual earlier in the week. He shared that the recent dual loss to Southeast had lingered mentally for some of his wrestlers, adding that a few were ready for the holiday break rather than locked in for another high-level test. Cornejo noted that this week’s focus will shift toward resetting, preparing for upcoming battles, and staying academically sharp as finals approach.

Despite the challenges, several Trojans produced solid individual moments throughout the tournament.

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At 133 pounds, Colby generated some of its best production of the day. Savieon Garrison advanced into the second round and secured a fall over Barton’s Bryson Parker before running into tough competition later in the bracket. He finished with four team points. Teammate Talon Suttles also delivered a multi-win performance, pinning York’s Cole Schaub in the championship side and later adding another fall in consolation action. Suttles finished with 6.5 team points, the highest total among the Trojans.

At the same weight, freshman Elijah Sierra contributed a strong consolation-round win, posting a 12-1 major decision over New Mexico Highlands’ Trevor Oullette before being eliminated one round later. Sierra added two points to the team total.

Bryant Jones, wrestling at 174 pounds, produced a well-rounded outing that included a 12-5 opening-round decision, a forfeit win, and an explosive 17-2 tech fall. He advanced deep into the consolation bracket before taking a loss to Air Force’s Aiden Robertson, finishing with 5.5 points and one of the team’s most active stat lines.

Heavyweight competitors put together competitive showings as well. Robert Tatum opened his day with a fall over York’s Nash Crane, while Kevaun Jones battled through three consolation rounds, earning both a fall and a 2-1 decision before being eliminated late in his bracket. Each heavyweight scored three points.

The Trojans also saw promising flashes from several other weights. Kash Alley collected a first-period pin to reach the quarterfinals at 184 pounds. Hunter Smith-Velarde, Ayden Wohlgemuth, Jovanny Arellanes, Gunner Owens, and rookies at 125 pounds each fought through challenging brackets stacked with larger programs, gaining mat time and experience that Cornejo says will matter later in the season.

Cornejo said the priority going into the coming week will be a full mental reset, sharpening their mindset after a demanding stretch of competition. He emphasized that grades and preparation for finals must be taken seriously, but the group also needs to stay competition-ready with another break and more events ahead in December.

The Trojans will now use the short window before finals to regroup, recover, and recommit to the standard they expect to uphold. With several wrestlers showing upside in Kearney and more tests to come, Colby aims to return from the academic break refreshed and ready to compete at a higher level as the season continues.