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Kloetzer Takes Title At UGF Open
The Northwest College Trappers extended their undefeated record in duals this season with wins over Arizona’s Embry Riddle, 31-12, and Canada’s Simon Fraser, 20-19. The Trappers also placed seven wrestlers in the top six of the University of Great Falls open tournament on Saturday.
“I am really happy with how we did,” said Trapper head wrestling coach Jim Zeigler. “We were the only two-year school there. I really like what that tournament has become. It’s the right competition level for us at this point in the season. It’s a good, good event for us.”
It was a particularly good event for redshirt freshman Colby Kloetzer. The Caldwell, Idaho, native dominated the 157-pound division to bring home the championship in that division.
Kloetzer opened with a 13-8 decision over the University of Great Falls’ Nicholas Schmidt, then found his stride with major decision wins in both the quarterfinals and the semifinals, setting up a championship match with James Bennett of Indiana Tech.
Kloetzer won that meeting by a 6-4 final score. For his four matches in the tournament, Kloetzer outscored his opponents by a combined 51-21 margin.
Also reaching a championship match was Rock Springs freshman Ryan Slaugh. Slaugh scored a pair of wins by fall and added a pair of 5-0 decisions, including one against teammate Jake McCormick in the semifinals, before coming up short in a 6-1 championship bout against Simon Fraser’s Alex Stemer.
McCormick went on to place fourth on the 149-pound bracket.
Diorian Coleman placed third in the 165-pound division. After losing a narrow 2-1 decision in the quarterfinals, Coleman fought back through the elimination half of the bracket with four consecutive victories, including one win by fall. For the weekend, Coleman won seven of the eight matches he wrestled.
“He had a great weekend,” said Zeigler. “He went 7-1 and lost his only match by a 2-1 score. That’s pretty salty.”
Sophomore Colton Thornton also placed third after going 4-1 at 157 pounds. Thornton’s only loss was a 7-2 decision to Bennett, whom Kloetzer defeated in the title match. Thornton had a win by fall and a major decision among his victories.
T.J Guild and Jake McCormick each placed fourth for the Trappers. Zach Loveless was sixth after being medically defaulted after suffering a blow to the head during elimination bracket action.
“It was just precautionary,” Zeigler said, adding that Loveless is expected to compete tonight (Tuesday) when the Trappers host Western Wyoming for a dual.
The Trappers, 5-0 this dual season after defeating Embry Riddle and Simon Fraser last Friday in Great Falls, square off against Western Wyoming starting at 7:30 p.m.
Northwest 31, Embry-Riddle 12
125 — Cody Vichi won by fall in 1:44
133 — T.J. Guild lost a 5-4 decision.
141 — Ben Jorgensen won unopposed.
149 — Zach Loveless won a 10-6 decision.
157 — Colby Kloetzer won a 7-1 decision.
165 — Diorian Coleman won a 7-3 decision.
174 — Cole McArthur won an 11-1 major decision.
184 — Randy Andrews lost a 9-5 decision.
197 — Braden Gibson won by fall in 1:48.
285 — Northwest College forfeits
Northwest 20, Simon Fraser 19
125 — Cody Vichi lost an 11-8 decision.
133 — Ben Jorgensen won an 8-4 decision.
141 — Zach Loveless won by technical fall, 16-0.
149 — Jake McCormick lost a 7-5 decision in overtime.
157 — Colby Kloetzer won unopposed.
165 — Diorian Coleman won a 4-2 decision.
174 — Randy Andrews won a 7-3 decision.
184 — Cole McArthur lost an 11-2 major decision.
197 — Braden Gibson lost a 14-10 decision
285 — Northwest College forfeits