KEARNEY, Neb. — Southwest Minnesota State University freshman Jonah Anderson was the Mustangs’ top finisher at the Nebraska-Kearney Wrestling Open on Saturday, claiming a sixth-place finish in the 184-pound amateur division.

In total, SMSU had 18 wrestlers competing in the event, which featured more than 50 teams across collegiate divisions. Five of SMSU’s wrestlers competed unattached while 13 were attached.

Anderson was the lone Mustang to place in his division. After receiving a first-round bye, he defeated Barton’s Keenon Gonzales Brown by technical fall, 17-2, and kept the momentum going with a 19-6 major decision against Northwest College’s Robby Ortego.

A 17-0 win via technical fall advanced Andrson past Bethany’s (Kan.) Triston Vande Velde, but Western Wyoming’s Banks Love defeated Jonah Anderson 7-1 to eliminate him from title contention. Anderson then lost 7-1 to Nebraska’s Marco Christiansen in the consolation semifinals and lost 20-5 via technical fall to Timber Parlin of the Colorado School of Mines.

Adam Sylvester and Elijah Sterner were the lone Mustangs to win matches in the elite division, Sylvester claiming wins in 184 and Sylvester in 174.

Sylvester lost his opener to Nebraska-Kearney’s Jacobi Deal via 13-3 major decision but bounced back with a 21-6 win via technical fall over Concordia’s (Neb.) Garret Moser and a 9-7 win over Western Colorado’s Hunter Richardson. His run came to an end with a 10-0 major decision loss to UMary’s Dante Roggio in the fourth consolation round.

Sterner lost via 4:38 fall to Nebraska-Kearney’s Gavyn Brauer but picked up a win over Northern State’s Tyler Vorhees in the first consolation match. His day ended with an 11-2 major decision loss to Colorado Mesa’s Alexander Holguin.

Carlo Arreola and Chase Hanson each also competed in the elite division in 125 and 133 respectively, but both lost each of their first two matches.

Mason Buss earned 7 points for SMSU after picking up four wins in 174-amateur. He defeated Adams State’s Josh Coon and Graison Kelley by fall to start the day, 4:11 and 3:17, before being knocked out of the championship bracket with an 8-1 loss to Cloud County Community College’s Mac Chambers.

Buss bounced back with an 8-6 decision over his teammate Taaron Lavicky and a 9-8 decision over Pratt Community College’s Trystian Juaren, but lost via 21-6 technical fall to Adams State’s Levi Deaguero in consolation round 6.

Noah Jensen, Tate Condezo, Chase Murphy, AJ Polansky and Preston Xayachack each went 3-2 in the open. Polansky and Condezo each had a pair of pins while Murphy and Jensen each recorded one.

Freshman Devin Carter out of Tracy-Milroy-Balaton won his first match via 12-4 major decision against Barton’s Landon Koelling before medically forfeiting in the third round.

SMSU gets back in action for its first Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference dual of the season when it hosts UMary on Dec. 5 at 6 p.m.