Your Prep Sports Area Alumni Report: Solon Graduate Gnida Finishes Third at NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
The Your Prep Sports Alumni Report is a weekly segment that recognizes the accomplishments of graduates from YPS area schools that are continuing their careers as student athletes at the collegiate level. Alumni News is a way for readers to keep tabs on former area standouts.
Zeb Gnida
Solon graduate and current Loras senior Zeb Gnida finished third at 174 pounds at the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships last weekend in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
Gnida went 4-1 on his way to the third-place finish in his first NCAA tournament appearance helping Loras to a 10th place finish.
The sixth seed in the 174-pound bracket, Gnida won a 11-0 major decision over Carter Llyod of Baldwin Wallace in the opening round and upset third-seeded Seth Goetzinger of Augsburg 9-6 to reach the semifinals.
After a loss to eventual runner-up Zane Mulder of Wartburg in the semifinals Gnida won back-to-back consolations to secure the third-place finish, capped by a 7-2 decision over Jason Geyer of NYU in the consolation final.
Ella Cook
Former City High standout and current St. Thomas junior Ella Cook had strong showing at the Boise State tournament last weekend helping the Tommies go 1-5 in games against Boise State, Idaho State and Santa Clara.
Cook went 2-for-3 with two home runs and three RBI in a 10-9 loss to Boise State in the tournament opener on Friday.
She went 2-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI and also earned the win in the circle in a 5-3 victory over Idaho State on Friday.
Cook allowed three runs on eight hits while striking out five in a complete game victory.
On the weekend Cook went 6-for-14 at the plate with three doubles, two home runs and five RBI.
Trent Hoogerwerf
Regina graduate and current Mount Mercy senior catcher Trent Hoogerwerf had a big weekend as the Mustangs swept Graceland in a Heart of America Athletic Conference series in Lamoni.
Hoogerwerf went 7-of-12 with two doubles and eight RBI in the four wins as Mount Mercy improved to season record to 12-10 and extended its winning streak to eight in a row.
On the season Hoogerwerf is hitting .379 with two home runs and 17 RBI.
If you know of a Your Prep Sports area graduate currently excelling at the collegiate level let us know by sending information to rmurken@yourprepsports.com or @yourprepsports on Twitter.
Did you enjoy this subscription free article? Help keep Your Prep Sports free by donating.
