Men's Wrestling Topple No. 19 Fort Hays Tech NW
The Colby men’s wrestling team closed the regular season with a statement, defeating No. 19 Fort Hays Tech Northwest 31–17 in conference duals as we celebrated sophomore night. The victory marked the first ranked dual win of the Coach Cornejo era and served as a defining moment for a program trending sharply upward heading into regionals
COLBY, Kan. - The Colby men's wrestling team closed the regular season with a statement, defeating No. 19 Fort Hays Tech Northwest 31–17 in conference duals as we celebrated sophomore night Thursday (Feb. 5). The victory marked the first ranked dual win of the Coach Cornejo era and served as a defining moment for a program trending sharply upward heading into regionals
The dual began at 165 pounds, where Cah'mari Johnson set the tone with a strong win to give Colby an early advantage and immediate momentum. Fort Hays Tech responded at 174 pounds, as Gunner Owens battled but came up short, tightening the score. At 184, Kash Alley picked up a win due to an open weight, allowing the Trojans to regain control of the dual.
Colby continued to grind through the upper weights, with Jovanny Arellanes competing at 197 pounds. Normally a 149-pounder, Arellanes stayed in the match through the final round and battled up multiple weight classes. At 285 pounds, Kevaun Jones fought hard but was unable to secure the win.
The turning point of the night came when the lineup flipped back to the lighter weights. At 125 pounds, Luis Vasquez delivered one of the biggest wins in recent history, pinning Ernest Grant, ranked fifth in the country at 125. The pin sent the Colby bench into a frenzy and completely shifted the momentum of the dual, swinging the match firmly in the Trojans' favor.
Feeding off that energy, Talon Suttles followed with a win at 133 pounds, widening the gap and keeping Fort Hays Tech on its heels. At 141, Sebastian Rodriguez battled but came up just short, briefly slowing Colby's run.
The Trojans answered emphatically in the final stretch. At 149 pounds, Scott Engle earned a pin to extend the lead, and Salvador Barintas closed the night in dominant fashion at 157 pounds, securing another pin to seal the 31–17 victory.
Colby finished conference duals with a 3–4 record, a significant improvement after going winless in duals last season. The win over a ranked opponent not only capped the regular season on a high note but also underscored the progress and toughness of the men's wrestling squad.
With confidence surging and momentum on their side, the Trojans now turn their focus to the NJCAA-South-Central District Qualifier on Saturday (Feb. 14).