Sports

Sparks and Retano Take First at CCC Championships

By Adam Orr

Published

February 20, 2023

Prescott, Ariz. – (Release from Eastern Oregon University Athletics) The Mounties were back in action Saturday as they battled on day two of the Cascade Collegiate Conference Championships. The Mounties looked to follow the strong showing that they had on Friday and that is just what they did. Eastern Oregon tabbed two individual champions, three all-conference honorees, and seven Mounties punched their ticket to the NAIA National Championships. Eastern finished third overall in the CCC after a strong performance.

The first individual champion was Hunter Sparks of the 125-pound division. Sparks continued his great season this weekend, tabbing him a spot in the National Tournament. Sparks went 5-0 on the weekend capped off by an 8-2 decision win over Corban’s Braden Boyd in the championship.

The second individual champion was Marco Retano of the 197 pound weight class. Retano solidified himself a National Tournament berth Saturday, going 5-0 on his route to an individual CCC championship. Retano capped off his big weekend with a 3-1 decision victory over Menlo College’s Afton Silvis.

The top three finishers of each weight class are designated as members of the All-Cascade Collegiate Conference Team. Easterns All-CCC designations are as followed:

125:

Hunter Sparks

184:

Kyle Knudtson

197:

Marco Retano

Each NAIA Conference is designated a set amount of automatic berths to the NAIA National Tournament. The designation for the Cascade Collegiate Conference is as followed:

125: 6

133: 5

141: 1

149: 3

157: 3

165: 6

174: 8

184: 6

197: 7

285: 5

An automatic berth is earned through placement at the Cascade Collegiate Conference Championship. At large bids for the National Tournament will be announced Monday. The automatic berths earned by Eastern are as follows:

125:

133:

174:

184:

197:

285: