CHADRON, Neb. -- Four members of the Chadron State College women's wrestling team will look to earn All-American status when they compete at the National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Friday and Saturday.
 
The four qualifiers all earned their trip to nationals by placing in the top four of their respective weight class at the regional tournament in Denton, Texas on February 25. They are Mana Chanthasone, Heavynne Robles-Wright, Ana Rojas-Zamora and Kamila Montenegro.
 
Chanthasone, a freshman from Liberal, Kansas, will begin the tournament with a matchup against Lexi Doerflinger of Hiram at 101 pounds. Chanthasone, who placed fourth at regionals, and Doerflinger, who placed third, both won two matches to qualify for the national tournament.
 
Doerflinger is currently 34-15 during her freshman season. The winner will face #6 Jessica Corredor of King University in the round of 16.
 
At 109 pounds, Heavynne Robles-Wright, a sophomore from Las Cruces, New Mexico, earned a trip to nationals with a fourth-place finish at regionals. Her first opponent on Friday will be Emily Mendez of Adrian College.
 
#10 Mendez has a record of 27-8 on the season after being the NCWWC Region III runner-up. The winner of Robles-Wright and Mendez's match will face #2 Ava Bayless of Iowa.
 
Regional runner-up, Ana Rojas Zamora, will face Alyssa Mahan of Presbyterian in the round of 32 at 123 pounds.
 
Rojas Zamora, a sophomore from Sweeny, Texas is 22-11 overall while Mahan was the Region II runner-up and holds a record of 34-12. The winner will face #6 Alexandra Fitzgerald of Sacred Heart in the round of 16.
 
Montenegro, a senior from Las Vegas, Nevada, is making her third consecutive trip to the national tournament, this time competing at 191 pounds.
 
The senior will face #7 Madeline Hodges of Sacred Heart in the round of 32. Hodges is 23-7 overall after being named the NCWWC Region I runner-up. Montenegro earned CSC's second regional title ever two weeks ago while improving her record to 25-7.
 
The winner will face #5 Sydney Manos of Aurora.

Bynes named RMAC Co-Freshman of the Year

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Chayton Bynes, a sophomore from Chadron, Nebraska, was named the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Indoor Track & Field Co-Freshman of the Year, the conference office announced on Thursday.
 
Bynes and Miller Jones of Colorado Mesa split the award after both performing exceptionally in the jumps.
 
Bynes finished second at the RMAC Championships by uncorking a jump of 15.09 meters (49' 6.25"), ranking him 19^th in the nation. Jones won the event with a mark of 15.55 meters (51' 0.25"), ranking him sixth in the nation.
 
Despite being a sophomore academically, Bynes received a medal nine times during his freshman indoor season. He was victorious in the triple jump twice and placed second in the long jump twice, both at meets hosted by Black Hills State.
 
In addition to Bynes being named the RMAC Indoor Track and Field Co-Freshman of the Year, he was also a first-team selection in the triple jump.
 
Also earning first team honors for the Chadron State men were Creighton Trembly in the 60 hurdles, Ryan Clapper in the 200-meter and Christopher Jennings in the weight throw.  
 
Madyson Schliep, a graduate student from Grand Island, Nebraska, was the only women's athlete to receive first team honors.
 
In the women's weight throw, Schliep uncorked a throw of 16.94 meters (55'7") on her final attempt to receive third place by over three feet. 
 
Per RMAC guidelines, "The all-conference team shall be comprised of the first, second, and third place finishers in individual events and the first-place team in relay events at the conference championships. Second team all-conference shall be comprised of the fourth, fifth, and sixth place finishers in individual events and the second-place team in relay events at the conference championships."
 
Trembly, a junior from Longmont, Colorado, placed second, crossing the finish line in 8.13 seconds.
 
Jennings, a junior from O'Neil, Nebraska, won silver in the weight throw with a toss of 18.65 meters (61' 2.25").
 
The last individual to place top three for the CSC men was Ryan Clapper in the 200-meter finals. Clapper, a freshman from Veterans, Wyoming, ran his race in 22 seconds flat to place third.
 
Also placing in the men's 200 meters was Quincy Efeturi. Efeturi, a junior from Ikorodu, Nigeria, earned second team honors with a sixth-place finish in 22.48 seconds.
 
In the field, Tayler Wessely placed sixth in the women's shot put. Wessely, a sophomore from Parkersburg, Iowa, hit 12.87 meters (42' 2.75") on her second attempt of the competition.
 
The last Eagle who received second team honors was Kaden Dower in the men's heptathlon. Dower, a junior from Riverton, Wyoming, scored a new personal best of 4476 points to place fifth.  
 
Byne's is the first Eagle to earn RMAC Indoor Track Freshman of the Year honors since his teammate Morgan Fawver did in 2021.

RMAC Women's Indoor Track Athlete of the Year: Gracie Hyde, Adams State / Ashley Barrett, New Mexico Highlands
RMAC Women's Indoor Field Athlete of the Year: Hannah Miller, Colorado School of Mines / Audrey Bloomquist, UCCS
RMAC Women's Indoor Track & Field Freshman of the Year: Ashley Barrett, New Mexico Highlands

RMAC Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year: Matt Sparks, Colorado School of Mines

RMAC Men's Indoor Field Athlete of the Year: – Justin Jenks, CSU Pueblo
RMAC Men's Indoor Track Athlete of the Year: – Loic Scomparin, Colorado School of Mines
RMAC Men's Indoor Track & Field Freshman of the Year: – Miller Jones, Colorado Mesa / Chayton Bynes, Chadron State