COLUMBIA, Mo. (Nov. 23) – A pair of rookies had runner-up finishes in the freshman-sophomore portion of the Missouri Open here Sunday to lead the Central Oklahoma wrestling team.
Seth Johnson came in second at 125 pounds and Derrick Adkins was runner-up at 165, with both competing as unattached entries as potential redshirts for the Bronchos this season.
UCO also got third-place showings from 133 Trison Graham, 174 Brennan Ochoa and a fourth-place effort from 157 Ed Jackson in the freshman-sophomore division, while Tim Elliott came in fifth at 133 as the only placer in the open division of the all-day tournament for the injury-plagued Bronchos.
“It was frustrating not to be able to wrestle some people, but we've got a lot of guys banged up and we had to leave them behind,” UCO coach David James said. “We did have some young guys get some quality mat time, which was good. Now we've got some time to get a little healed up with this next weekend off.”
The Bronchos may send a small contingent of individuals to next week's Oklahoma Open, but the majority of the team will sit out that event as UCO points to its Dec. 4 home dual with Oklahoma City University.
Johnson, a freshman from Midwest City, opened the tournament with a 19-5 technical fall and followed with 9-4 and 10-5 wins in making the finals before dropping a tough 3-1 decision to Meremac's Lillashawn Coleman.
Adkins won four matches in making the finals, with the Oologah freshman following a 17-7 major decision in the first round with hard-fought victories of 4-1, 3-1 in sudden victory and 3-1. He lost a 14-4 major decision in the finals to Oklahoma State's Alex Meade.
Graham had 10-4 and 15-3 wins in making the semifinals before dropping a 3-2 decision to eventual champion Taylor Crane of Missouri, but bounced back with two consolation wins to take third. He toppled Kyle Williams of McKendree 9-5 in the third-place bout.
Ochoa had 15-5 and 6-4 wins in his first two matches before losing in the semifinals, but he rebounded with a 2-0 victory in the consolation semifinals before edging Matt Taylor of Missouri Valley 4-2 in the third-place match.
Jackson had an impressive comeback after losing in the first round, winning five straight matches in making the consolation finals before falling to Lindenwood's Chris Chionuma.
