LA GRANDE, Ore. — The Eastern Oregon University Mountaineers hosted their annual Mountaineer Open on Sunday, Nov. 2, wrapping up their opening weekend in strong fashion. Competing against programs from across the Pacific Northwest, the Mountaineers showcased depth and early-season form with nine grapplers on the podium, including strong performances from four freshmen.
Kai Carson led the way at 133 pounds, finishing as the runner-up. Carson opened his day with a pin in 1:46, followed by a18-3 technical fall in 4:15 and another fall in 5:27 to reach the championship match. He capped his tournament with a hard-fought 10-3 decision loss to secure second overall.
At 133 pounds, freshman Brode Colwell also found the podium, placing 3rd. Colwell started strong with a 13-6 decision and an 18-3 technical fall before falling to North Idaho College’s Hoyt Hvass, who went on to win the bracket. Colwell rebounded with a 10-6 decision and a dominant 16-7 major decision to claim third.
In the 141-pound bracket, Braden Carson battled his way to a 5th-place finish. After an opening bye, Carson edged out a 1-1 decision by riding-time advantage before dropping a bout to North Idaho’s Jackson Webb. He responded with a fall in 5:38 and a 5-3 decision win before losing by a 10-2 major decision. Carson moved into the 5th place consolation bracket match, where he finished fifth by medical forfeit over Webb.
Also at 141, freshman Daniel Guerrero had a standout first performance, taking 3rd place. Guerrero opened with back-to-back technical falls in 2:34 and 4:58, followed by a 10-0 major decision. After a narrow 4-2 loss in the semifinals, he bounced back with a 10-2 major decision over teammate Carson and closed his day with a dominant 13-0 win against North Idaho’s Parker Ballantyne.
Freshman Eric Larwin turned in a strong first outing, placing 5th at 149 pounds. Larwin started with two quick pins in 1:00 and 3:00 and added an 8-0 major decision before falling in back-to-back matches. He finished the day earning 5th place by medical forfeit over North Idaho’s Curtis Bartley.
At 157 pounds, freshman Carlos Valdez also made a statement with a 3rd-place finish in his collegiate debut. After a first round bye, Valdez pinned his first opponent in 6:10, dropped his next bout, and then surged through the consolation rounds with a 17-2 technical fall in 4:20 and a pin in 2:08 before receiving a medical forfeit to secure third.
John Rudebaugh put together a dominant showing at 165 pounds, finishing 2nd. Rudebaugh cruised through the bracket with two technical falls (16-0 and 17-0) and a narrow 5-4 decision victory to reach the finals, ending the day as the runner-up after falling 17-2.
At 174 pounds, Wylee Lindeen took 4th place. Lindeen started with a bye and a sudden-victory 10-7 decision, then bounced back from a technical fall loss to pick up wins by fall (3:34) and decisions of 7-2 and 4-1 before dropping a tight 2-1 match in the third-place bout.
Rounding out the EOU placers, Nico Rodriguez finished 6th at heavyweight (285 lbs). Rodriguez opened with a pin in 2:25, followed by back-to-back technical falls (20-4 and 19-4). His three wins kept Rodriguez in the winners bracket, but closed out the day with a series of forfeits to place sixth.
The No. 21 Mountaineers return to action next weekend on Sunday, Nov. 9, when they travel to Forest Grove, Oregon, to compete in the Mike Clock Open hosted by Pacific University.