TOURNAMENT CENTRAL

PARK CITY, Kan. – Southern Oregon 133-pounder Justin Coon came up one win short of All-America accolades on Day 1 of the NAIA Men's Wrestling Championships, as he and 125-pound teammate Pancho Barrera were eliminated Friday at Hartman Arena.

Barrera and Coon put forth valiant efforts on their first day of competition this season. Oregon Health Authority guidelines had prevented full-contact activity until late February.

Coon was eliminated in a 14-11 loss to No. 8-seeded Dominick Arellano of Baker (Kan.) that kept him just outside of the top eight. In his third appearance at the tournament, the junior opened with a 4-2, Round of 16 loss to No. 3-seeded Conner Gimson of Indiana Tech. He then collected his first-ever national tournament win against Lourdes (Ohio)'s Jimmy Balazy, 11-5.

Barrera – a senior who reached the 2019 NAIA quarterfinals and redshirted last year – won twice and opened with a 9-1 decision over Robert Fairchild of Williams Baptist (Ark.) in the Round of 32. The No. 1 wrestler in the bracket, Grand View (Iowa)'s Justin Portillo, put him in the consolation bracket with a 9-5 decision, but Barrera stayed alive by defeating Marian (Ind.)'s Ty Haskins, 14-7. A 10-4 loss to Wayland Baptist (Texas)'s Jonathan Ortegon ended his day.

Barrera and Coon were among 32 individuals from the Cascade Conference awarded qualifying spots by the league's coaches after the CCC Championships were canceled.

The SOU women's wrestling team will compete at the NAIA National Invitational next week in Jamestown, N.D.

COMPLETE SOU RESULTS
125 – Pancho Barrera
Round of 32 – Barrera major dec. Robert Fairchild, Williams Baptist, 9-1.
Round of 16 – Justin Portillo, Grand View, dec. Barrera, 9-5.
Consolation R2 – Barrera dec. Ty Haskins, Marian, 14-7.
Consolation R3 – Jonathan Ortegon, Wayland Baptist, dec. Barrera, 10-4.

133 – Justin Coon
Round of 32 – Coon received a bye.
Round of 16 – Conner Gimson, Indiana Tech, dec. Coon, 4-2.
Consolation R2 – Coon received a bye.
Consolation R3 – Coon dec. Jimmy Balazy, Lourdes, 11-5.
Consolation R4 – Dominick Arellano, Baker, dec. Coon, 14-11.