Munoz Advances to Semis at Cliff Keen Invitational

Friday, December 6

Las Vegas, Nev.

9 a.m.

Oregon State

Cliff Keen Invite

Photo by: Allie Grant/OSU Athletics

December 06, 2024 | Wrestling

By: Athletic Communications

LAS VEGAS – Trey Munoz – ranked ninth in the country at 197 lbs – secured his spot in the semifinals to highlight the first day for Oregon State at the Cliff Keen Invitational on Friday.

As a team, the Beavers have 25 points, which positions them in 18^th place at the always-competitive event.

Looking to clinch his second tournament title in as many tries – following a crown at the Navy Classic last month – the Mission Viejo, Calif., product churned out a 2-0 day that featured a ranked win by decision and another by technical fall to cement his spot in tomorrow morning's semifinal.

Munoz – seeded second in the 197 lb. bracket - opened Friday with a win by technical fall by Ohio's Austin Starr before using over two minutes' worth of riding time to winning by decision over 17^th-ranked Joey Novak of Wyoming. He will enter tomorrow guaranteed his best finish at the event, improving from an eighth-place finish two seasons ago.

Evan Bates – slotted at 24^th – of Northwestern will stand in the way of a finals appearance for Munoz.

Twenty-fourth-ranked Maximo Renteria opened his day by splitting ranked matchups – a win over no. 29 Adrian Meza (Iowa State) before falling to second-ranked Caleb Smith of Nebraska – before locking his spot in tomorrow's consolation of four spot. He'll open his Saturday against sixth-ranked Tanner Jordan of South Dakota State.

Brett Mower also split a pair of ranked bouts – falling 13-4 by major decision to eighth-ranked Nick Feldman (Ohio State) before upsetting 28^th-ranked Luke Rasmussen (South Dakota State) by decision at 14-10 – to secure a spot in Saturday's bracket. Mower built up a heavy lead and held on for the four-point win to move onto the consolation of four round.

A pair of Beavers - Nash Singleton (141) and TJ McDonnell (184) – recorded wins over ranked opponents in the morning session to start the event. Singleton took control early over Columbia's 26^th-ranked Kai Owen by decision at 10-3. McDonnell bounced back in the consolation bracket to stay alive with a win over #32 Daniel Williams from Navy by decision at 7-5.

The Beavers will close out the Cliff Keen Invitational tomorrow with action slated for a 10 a.m. start. Action can be seen on FloWrestling and stats will be on FloArena.

Results

8^th seed Maximo Renteria (125) – Cons. Of 4

Renteria DEC #29 Adrian Meza (Iowa State) 8-2

#2 Caleb Smith (Nebraska) DEC Renteria 4-2

Renteria DEC Kyle Gollhofer (Northern Iowa) 5-4

Chase DeBlaere (133)

#12 Zeth Romney (Cal Poly) TF DeBlaere 19-2

#19 Brett Ungar (Cornell) DEC DeBlaere 6-3

Nash Singleton (141)

Singleton DEC #26 Kai Owen (Columbia) 10-3

#9 Jordan Titus (West Va.) DEC Singleton 7-4

#15 Haiden Drury (Utah Valley) DEC Singleton 5-1