RENO, Nev. — Eastern Oregon University men’s wrestler Kyle Knudtson performed admirably at one of the largest wrestling events of the season.

The Mountaineers traveled to the Reno Tournament of Champions where 33 teams, including a number of Division I schools, took the mat over a two-day span. Knudtson was the top highlight for Eastern Oregon, placing sixth overall in the 184-pound division.

Knudtson started off the day on a rough note losing to Darion Johnson of Western Wyoming College. The senior bounced back with two straight wins by fall in the consolation bracket, defeating Radi Stafford of Utah Valley and Preston Echeverria (unattached). In the third round, Knudtson took down Southern Oregon’s Ethan Miller by tech fall and saw a similar result over DeAlcapon Veazy (unattached). He kept the momentum going for his fifth straight win, defeating Johnson by a narrow 8-7 decision in a revenge match. Knudtson was eliminated from the consolation bracket by Utah Valley’s Mahonri Rushton, losing by forfeit. The sixth-place finish is the first time an Eastern Oregon men’s wrestler has placed at the prestigious event.

At 133, Braden Carson earned a first-round victory by fall, before dropping consecutive matches.

Josh Collins won his consolation match by tech fall (19-4) at 141 after being eliminated in the first round, but fell in the ensuing match to Oklahoma’s Kaden Smith.

At 149, Kobe Wilson earned two consecutive wins to start off the competition. However, Wilson was defeated in the ensuing two matches.

Michael Fox made some noise in the 157-pound division, winning two matches in a row in the consolation bracket. Fox was defeated by Western Wyoming College’s Colton Erickson.

At 197, Jay Smith went 2-2 on the day after winning a championship bracket matchup against Utah Valley’s Kael Bennie by a 6-0 decision.

After losing his opening match, Darrian Hoobery made a run of three straight wins at the 285-pound division consolation bracket. After losing the opening match, Hoobery took two wins by decision and one by major decision, before falling by tech fall.