SPOKANE, Wash. - Eastern Oregon Men's Wrestling was unable to defend its title from the 2019-20 season at the annual Spokane Collegiate Open on Sunday. Although the Mountaineers competed with a limited size squad, they still finished sixth overall with 82.5 points and had four placewinners.

Earning podium finishes for the Mountaineer grapplers were Kyle Knudtson, Jay Smith, Vincent Cramer, and Adrian Guevara. Both Smith and Knudtson placed second at 197 and 184 pounds, respectively. Cramer was fourth at 149 pounds, as was Guevara at 125 pounds.

Knudtson posted a 4-1 record on the day and had a trio of his wins come via fall. He started the day with a 15-3 major decision over Caleb Hart of Corban. He then began his run of three pins, all of which were lengthy ones. His first pin was in 5:50 against Jake Jeanneret of Washington State. In the quarterfinals, Knudtson pinned Alan Bradley of Providence in a time of 6:35. He punched his ticket to the finals with a fall over Carl Hansen of Montana State-Northern in 4:38. Knudtson's lone loss was in the finals as he dropped an 8-3 decision against Asher Ruchti of Beaver Dam RTC.

Smith also posted a 4-1 record en route to his runner-up finish and had three wins by way of decision. His lone loss in the finals was an injury default as he was unable to compete. Smith started the day with a hard fought 4-3 decision over Liam Swanson of Providence. His second win was a shutout via a 5-0 decision over Rogan Kopper of Washington State. His lone fall of the day was in the quarterfinals against Hayden Stevens in 2:57. The third decision for Smith was another close one, 3-2, over Michael Glasper of Clackamas Community College. In the finals, an injury default kept Smith from competing and gave Isaac Bartel of MSU-Northern the win.

Cramer competed in the most matches for the Mountaineers, seven, and posted a 5-2 record. He began with an 11-0 major decision over Soren Sabatke of North Idaho College. In the next round, he posted an 11-6 decision over Georgino Moraga of MSU-Northern. Victor Jacinto of Clackamas CC handed Carmer his first loss in the quarterfinals with a fall in 2:10. Cramer bounced back with a fall in 4:43 over MSU-Northern's Colby Schriever. He then scored a 5-3 decision on Gavin Gies of Providence. In the consolation semifinals, Cramer held off Joseph Orlando of Clackamas CC with a 3-1 decision. In the third place match, Cramer dropped the match via a forfeit to Ben Mitchell of North Idaho College.

Guevara posted a 3-2 record and had all three wins come in different forms. His first win was a 13-5 major decision over Deven Altenburg-Lasher of Providence. In the quarterfinals, Guevara pinned Andrew Smith of Clackamas CC in 3:21 to advance. His first loss of the day was by pin in 42 seconds against Nic Aguilar of Clackamas CC. He responded in the consolation semifinals with another win over a familiar foe in Altenburg-Lasher with a 4-0 decision. In the third place match, Guevara fell to Caleb Coyle of Beaver Dam RTC via an 18-2 tech fall.

The Mountaineers will have the rest of November off before returning to action. Eastern Oregon  will compete in the Providence Triangular on Friday, Dec. 3 in a pair of duals against opponents that are still to be determined. Following the Triangular, the Mountaineers will remain in Montana for the Battle of the Rockies Open on Saturday, Dec. 4 hosted by the University of Providence.

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