KEARNEY, Neb. (November 19, 2023) - The Colorado State University Pueblo wrestling team started the 2023-24 campaign and competed at the Younes Hospitality Open hosted by Nebraska-Kearney and seniors Ben Gould (Canyon Country, Calif.) and Elijah Valdez (Colorado Springs, Colo.) led the way with a pair of fifth place finishes.

On the day, 22 grapplers hit the mat for the ThunderWolves and nine made their debuts in a CSU Pueblo singlet.

Competing in the Elite bracket at 197, Gould took home fifth place and went 5-2 on the day. After dropping a 6-4 decision in his first match against Zachary Ferris from New Mexico Highlands, Gould went on a four-match win streak and picked up back-to-back wins by fall over NMHU's Jayden Johnson (4:24) and Brahn Howard from Texas Wesleyan (6:24).

His next match against Ben Tonnessen from Adams State, Gould scored a 7-2 decision win. In the consolation round 5 match, Gould faced Nebraska's Dominic Thebeau and won 5-1.

In the consolation semifinal, Gould lost 4-1 in SV-1 against Jackson Kinsella of tourney-host Nebraska-Kearney sending him to the fifth place match.

Facing Colorado Mesa's Gabriel Carranza, Gould won by medial forfeit. 

Valdez's journey through the Elite 165 bracket included a 3-2 record and included one major decision and two wins by decision. His first match pitted him against Joey Hancock from Baker (Kan.) and Valdez came away with a 10-4 decision win.

In the Quarterfinal round, Valdez picked up a 13-1 maj. decision victory over Cody Hicks from Fort Hays State.

In the next match, Valdez faced Adams State's Aaden Valdez and lost 10-1 in a major decision.

Facing Nebraska-Kearney's Kaden Hart, Valdez dropped a 5-1 decision and was pushed to the fifth place match.

In the final outing of the day, Valdez battled Hicks from FHSU again and earned a 7-4 decision.

Dominick Castro (Fr., Pueblo, Colo.) wrestled in the Elite 125 bracket and went 3-3 on the day and included a bye to finish in sixth place.

His victories came Andru Gomez from Waldorf (Iowa), scoring a 15-0 win by TF. His second win was over D'Andre Brown from Fort Hays State in a 5-1 decision.

In his fifth place match, Castro lost by pin (3:10) against Jaden Verhagen from University of Mary.

For CSU Pueblo's full tournament results, click HERE.

CSU Pueblo will have two weeks off before hitting the mat again on Dec. 2 at the Bob Smith Open hosted by Fort Hays State in Hays, Kansas.