Two Cowboy Wrestlers Win Championships

[MrTitleist]

From Wyoming Athletics:

Nov. 10, 2007

LARAMIE, Wyo. -

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Step aside veterans, Wyoming freshmen Dallas Hintz and Shane Onufer were the only two Cowboys to take home championship hardware as the 35th annual Cowboy Open wrapped up in the UW Fieldhouse Saturday night in Laramie. UW junior Carter Downing won the consolation championship for the second straight year.

"This tournament continues to get better every year," UW head coach Steven Suder said. "This may have been our best year ever and the credit goes entirely to the help of our coaching staff, USA Wrestling and the community of Laramie. Without their tireless efforts and generosity this tournament would not happen."

UW's Hintz won five straight matches enroute to winning the 157 pound amateur championship, including a double-overtime victory to advance to the championship. Hintz defeated Shane Smith 11-5 to win the tournament. Onufer won four straight matches to win his first ever college championship. Onufer pinned Jacob Jurney in four minutes, defeated Chris Harvey by major decision 13-3 and beat Skye Wells by injury default. Onufer put the finishing touches on his outstanding night by beating Michael French 4-1 in the finals.

"It is a thrill for those young men to win their first college tournament ever," Suder said. "The best part about it is after the tournament we challenged them and they are excited to start practice next week and continue to get better."

Downing continued his outstanding career as a Cowboy by winning the consolation championship for the second straight year. After winning his first match, Downing lost his second and had to work his way through the wrestlebacks. He won his next four matches including a major decision and a 7-0 victory in the finals.

"I am very pleased with the way a lot of our guys wrestled today," Suder continued. "Eric (Coxbill), Tyler (Davis), Justin (Grosse) and Chase (Smith) all had great days on the mat and came very close to placing in this tournament. Cory (VomBaur) battled his way through the wrestlebacks to place fourth and a number of other guys wrestled tough for us."

The Cowboys will return to action Saturday, November 17th, as they head to Omaha to compete in the Nebraska-Omaha Open