ROCHESTER -- Minnesota West had the type of day at the NJCAA wrestling tournament Friday it hasn't had in nine years as all eight of the team's wrestlers were eliminated from the tournament, held at the UCR Fieldhouse.
Tony Sauer (165) was the last chance for the Bluejays to reach the second day after winning his first match via a pinfall over Muskegon's Jordan McKiernan in seven minutes, 47 seconds. After that, Sauer lost to Mike Morgan of Labette in the quarterfinals by pinfall with about 20 seconds left in the third period, then dropped his All-American round match to John Murray of Spartansburg, 13-7.
Minnesota West's wrestlers went a combined 1-16. Josh Butros (141) was the lone wrestler who didn't compete, as he forfeited both of his matches.
Mark Mitchell (Hwt.) was the only other wrestler to win a match for Minnesota West, pinning Tom Scanlan of Middlesex in 1:08. In the second round, Mitchell was pinned by Cedric Powell of St. Louis Meramec in 2:01.
Mitchell's tournament came to an end when he lost to Carl Wilkinson of Pratt Community College, 5-1.
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Steve Wehner (125) lost his first match of the day to Gallaway Longenecker of Alfred State, 12-5, then lost via technical fall to Pat Haggerty of Niagara in the consolation bracket.
Seth Schlee (133) was pinned by Josh Williams of Southwestern Oregon in 4:22 in the championship bracket. In his consolatoin bracket match, Schlee lost 8-2 against Yakima's Nels Toftdahl.
Ryan Orel (157) dropped a tight decision against Kelly quallich of Southwestern Oregon, 7-5, then lost a 4-0 decision to Lee Morrison of North Idaho.
Dominick Oliver (174) was pinned by Julius Rios of Northwest Wyoming in 1:40 in the first round of his bracket. Olver, in the consolation bracket later on, lost via technical fall, 16-0, to Brian Boudro of Gloucester.
Jesse Evans (184) lost via technical fall to Brad Padgett of Highline in his first match of the day, before having to default due to an elbow injury against Aldo Victor of Waubonsee. Evans was diagnosed with a second-degree sprain.
Head coach Bob Purcell hopes this experience stays with the freshmen coming back next season.
"They just understand now what the competition level is and what they have to do in every match," he said.
