Five Trojans Qualify for NJCAA Wrestling Championships at Districts

PRATT, Kan. - The Colby Trojans men's wrestling team traveled to Pratt to compete at the KJCCC South Central District Tournament Saturday (Feb. 14), one of the final qualifying opportunities for the NJCAA Wrestling Championships scheduled for March 6–7. The Trojans were led by a fourth-place finish from Cah'mari Johnson at 165 pounds, highlighting a competitive showing across multiple weight classes.

Johnson delivered Colby's top performance of the tournament, placing fourth at 165 pounds and scoring 17.5 team points. He opened the day with back-to-back victories by fall, defeating Waleed Khairi of Northern Oklahoma College and AJ Almanza of Barton to advance to the semifinals. Johnson dropped a narrow 10–8 decision to Grayson Carpenter of Carl Albert State before rebounding with another fall over Khairi in the consolation semifinals. His tournament concluded with a medical forfeit in the third-place match.

At 141 pounds, Sebastian Rodriguez turned in a strong performance, placing fifth and contributing 12.0 team points. After falling in the quarterfinals, Rodriguez battled through the consolation bracket with a fall over Jameal Agnew of Pratt Community College and an 11–6 decision against Nathan Bailey of Fort Hays Tech Northwest. He secured fifth place via medical forfeit to cap his run.

Heavyweight Robert Tatum earned a sixth-place finish for the Trojans, totaling 9.0 team points. Following a quarterfinal loss, Tatum responded with a fall over Keenan Smith of Cowley College in the consolation bracket before ultimately finishing sixth.

Colby added three eighth-place finishes on the day. At 125 pounds, Luis Vasquez scored 5.0 team points, recording a technical fall victory over Desmond Mayfield of Murray State in the consolation bracket. Robert Cazares placed eighth at 174 pounds, contributing 3.0 team points, while Gunner Owens finished eighth at 197 pounds and earned 6.0 team points, highlighted by a consolation victory by fall over Fernando Dominguez of Labette Community College.

Talon Suttles picked up a win at 133 pounds, opening the tournament with a dominant technical fall over John Marriott of Northern Oklahoma College and scoring 2.5 team points. Scotty Engle (149 pounds), Jovanny Arellanes (157 pounds), and Kash Alley (184 pounds) also competed for the Trojans, gaining valuable postseason experience against strong competition.

By day's end, the Trojans secured five national qualifiers and will send Luis Vasquez, Talon Suttles, Sebastian Rodriguez, Cah'mari Johnson, and Robert Tatum to the NJCAA Wrestling Championships.

The district tournament marked one of the final competitions of the season for the Colby Trojans men's wrestling team as they now prepare for the NJCAA Wrestling Championships in March.