The art of taking an opponent to the mat and holding him there is a chess match of strategy, strength, science and sweat.
Saturday in Lindsborg, Bethany College Wrestling hosted the 8th Annual Swede Open as 220 wrestlers from 20 collegiate programs from around the area used 7 mats to compete in an age-old sport of brawn and technique.
“Our overall record as a team was 14-27,” BC’s Head Coach Courtney Strauss said following the tournament.
The Swedes were lead by senior 125-pounder Taylor Holman who went 2-2, freshman Jaden Evans went 3-2, wrestling at 149 pounds and former Smoky Valley standout Chase Pywell, freshman at 184 pounds was 2-2 on the day.
Winning sequence, Holman takes charge versus a Hastings mat man.
BC Head Coach Courtney Strauss congratulates Holman on the win.
BC’s Willie Webb and Jaden Evans go to work on the mat. Webb is a sophomore from St.Helens, OR.
Evans a 149 pound freshman from Wichita went 3 and 2 on the day.
Collin Rossillon worked hard for his first college victory on Saturday. Turning the tables on his opponent from Hastings College.
The freshman Swede from Perry, KS earned his first victory with a pin.
Raise Your Hand First win for the freshman Swede!
Tools of the trade at BC
Wrestling teams from Division II, NAIA and junior colleges made the trip to compete in the gymnasiums at Smoky Valley High School. Strauss noted the competition was top notch with squads like Nebraska Kearney, ranked #4 in Division II and #17th ranked Fort Hays State in the building along with some top-end juco teams like number 7 Barton, 8th ranked Cloud County and 12th ranked Neosho. Strauss said he liked the way his young team stood up to the test, learning valuable lessons to take into the rest of the season.
All Out Effort Mat-side encouragement from Nick Desch for Josh Wilson (on right) after the sophomore from Houston, TX left everything on the floor.
Digging In Swedes’ sophomore Dylan Archuleta from Lindsborg duels on the mat, then soaks in more secrets from Coach Strauss on Saturday.
Goff’s Attack and Control
Swedes’ Kaden Goff pins his man from Colby Community College. The freshman grappler (pictured above and below) is from West Linn, OR.
Get Video Wrestlers learn from reviewing every match on screen.
Next up for the Bethany Swedes:
Saturday, November 23 at Kearney Open 10AM Kearney, NE