STORM LAKE, Iowa. — At a tough competition-filled Buena Vista Open on Saturday, the Maverick wrestling team fought hard, showing so by having eight wrestlers place in the 21-team tournament.
Among those eight, Chris Zimmer (Jr., 285 lbs. 3-1) (Unattached) stood out, earning three decision victories on the day. After a first-round bye, Zimmer won his first match by an 8-3 decision over Gable Bonner (Buena Vista). In the quarterfinals, Zimmer won by a 9-4 decision over Gabe Rangel (Grand View (Iowa), and then won a close 3-2 decision victory over Aaron Rafalko (Midland (Neb.)). Zimmer fell in the first place match to JJ Everhard (Northern Iowa) by major decision 12-4. Zimmer was the only Maverick on the day to make it to the first place match.
In the end, the Mavericks had three other wrestlers place in the top four at the tournament. Tanner Mills (R-So., 141 lbs. 4-2), Daniel Close (Fr., 149 lbs. 3-2) (Unattached), and Adam Cooling (Jr., 174 lbs. 3-1) all finished fourth in their brackets. Mills, who’s four victories included one by fall, reached the third place match before falling to Marcelo Sierra (Graceland University) by an 8-2 decision. Close, a freshman who picked up some tough victories on Saturday also made it to the third-place match before losing by decision, 6-4, to Jonathan Melton (Simpson College). Cooling finished with two overtime victories on the day.
Three Mavericks placed fifth on the day, including Andrew McFall (Fr., 125 lbs. 6-1) (Unattached), Paul Selman (Fr., 133 lbs. 6-1), and Alphonso Vruno (Sr., 141 lbs. 6-1). Payton DuPlayee (Jr., 184 lbs. 4-2) finished sixth.
The Mavericks return to action next Saturday, December 12 at the UNI Open in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Wrestling is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m.
Full List of Mavericks Competing at Buena Vista:
Trevor Schultz (Jr., 125 lbs. 3-2)
Andrew McFall (Fr., 125 lbs. 6-1) (unattached)
Tyler Funk (R-Fr., 133 lbs. 1-1)
Dakota Welsh (R-Fr., 133 lbs. 2-2)
Paul Selman (Fr., 133 lbs. 6-1)
Alphonso Vruno (Sr., 141 lbs. 6-1)
Tanner Mills (R-So., 141 lbs. 4-2)
Daniel Close (Fr., 149 lbs. 3-2) (unattached)
Brent Evans (Fr., 149 lbs. 1-2) (unattached)
Dylan Herman (So., 149 lbs. 3-2)
Brad Maas (Sr., 165 lbs. 0-2)
Adam Cooling (Jr., 174 lbs. 3-1)
Gage Thom (Fr., 174 lbs. 0-2) (unattached)
Payton DuPlayee (Jr., 184 lbs. 4-2)
Darick Vancura (Jr., 197 lbs. 1-2)
Chris Zimmer (Jr., 285 lbs. 3-1) (unattached)
Logan Linderbaum (Fr., 285 lbs. 1-2) (unattached)