Two Bronchos Still Alive In National Tourney

3/10/2017 9:22:00 PM

Caleb Cotter

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (March 10) – Central Oklahoma's Joshua Ailey and Caleb Cotter stayed alive in the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships here Friday night, clinching All-America status in the process.

Ailey and Cotter both scored first-period falls in consolation quarterfinal bouts to remain in the tournament, while UCO's other three qualifiers were eliminated with two losses.

The tournament resumes Saturday at 10 a.m. with championship semifinals and the completion of all consolation matches before ending with the championship finals at 6 p.m.

Ailey dropped an 11-5 decision to top-ranked Nate Rodriguez of Maryville in the 141-pound quarterfinals before bouncing back with a first-period pin in the consolation quarterfinals.

The senior was tied 2-2 with sixth-rated Chris Eddings of Pittsburgh-Johnstown in the consolations, but managed to get a defensive fall with nine seconds left in the opening period. It was the 19th pin and 30th win of the season for Ailey, now 30-10.

The top-ranked Cotter rebounded from a first-round upset loss with two consolation wins, using a pair of third-period takedowns to clip Dylan Faulkenberg of Indianapolis 6-3 before scoring a first-period pin.

Cotter was down 4-0 early to sixth-rated Andy Welton of Mercyhurst before reversing Welton to his back and scoring his fifth fall of the season at the 1:19 mark. Cotter is now 32-4 on the year.

Dutton scored two takedowns and two near-falls in an 11-1 rout of Minnesota State-Mankato's Dylan Herman in his first consolation round before being ousted by St. Cloud State's fourth-ranked Larry Bomstad 5-2. The junior finished the season with a 34-12 record.

Lindsey went 0-2 on the day and eliminated with a 14-7 consolation loss, ending his redshirt freshman season at 24-9.

Wilson was locked in a battle with returning national runner-up Joe Gomez that went into sudden victory tied 3-3, but Gomez got a last-second takedown and scored a fall at the buzzer. Wilson also went 0-2 on the day and finished his junior season 33-8.

NCAA DIVISION II CHAMPIONSHIPS
Championship Quarterfinals
141 – Nate Rodriguez, Maryville, dec. Joshua Ailey, UCO, 11-5.

Consolation First Round
125 – Trung Duong, Newberry, dec. Lindsey, UCO, 14-7.
157 – Dutton, UCO, major dec. Dylan Herman, Minnesota State-Mankato, 11-1.
197 – Joe Gomez, Northern State, pinned Wilson, UCO, 8:00.
Hvy – Cotter, UCO, dec. Dylan Faulkenberg, Indianapolis, 6-3.

Consolation Second Round
141 – Ailey, UCO, pinned Chris Eddins, Pittsburgh-Johnstown, 2:51.
157 – Larry Bomstad, St. Cloud State, dec. Dutton, UCO, 5-2.
Hvy – Cotter, UCO, pinned Andy Welton, Mercyhurst, 1:19.

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