Wrestling 2/1/2018 10:46:00 PM Chris Brannick

No. 10 UCO falls to No. 12 Kearney

KEARNEY, Neb. – The University of Central Oklahoma wrestling team dropped a 20-12 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association dual to Nebraska-Kearney Thursday evening. The 10th-ranked Bronchos drop to 13-4 on the season with the loss, and finish conference matches 4-1.

"To have another guy go down with an injury, and lose some tough matches in the middle of the lineup, that was a tough dual," UCO head coach Todd Steidley said. "We just have to re-group from this and try to move on. We have another big dual back home next week and then it's time to put it altogether for the postseason."

Eli Hale ran his win streak 13 matches with an 8-3 decision at 125 pounds over Josh Portillo to give UCO an early 3-0. Then Blake Dauphin made it 6-0 with an upset of 11th-ranked Bryce Shoemaker at 133 pounds.

But Kearney followed with 18-straight points to build a commanding 18-6 lead. UCO needed to not only win the final three matches, but score some bonus-point victories if it were to grab a road win and a second-straight conference dual championship.

Joel Dixon earned a 5-3 decision at 184 to make it 18-9, and Colton Looper took an 8-6 decision at 197 to make it 18-12. However, Caleb Cotter lost 5-4 at heavyweight in the final match to give Kearney the win.

UNK was deducted a point for unsportsmanlike conduct following the heavyweight match to make it 20-12.

Central Oklahoma returns home for its final dual of the season. The Bronchos host sixth-ranked McKendree next Wednesday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. in Hamilton Field House.

Thursday's Results
No. 12 NEBRASKA-KEARNEY 20
No. 10 CENTRAL OKLAHOMA 12
125: Eli Hale, UCO, dec. Josh Portillo, 8-3
133: Blake Dauphin, UCO, dec. Bryce Shoemaker, 7-3 (SV1)
141: Tevin Briscoe, UNK, tech. fall Rio Zamora, 20-3
149: Keith Surber, UNK, dec. Will Steltzlen, 7-0
157: Matt Malcom, UNK, dec. Bryan Dutton, 8-2
165: Brayden Willis, UNK, dec. Mason Thompson, 7-2
174: Zach Stodden, UNK, major dec. Reid Rodich, 17-6
184: Joel Dixon, UCO, dec. Isaac Deaton, 5-3
197: Colton Looper, UCO, dec. Trey Schlender, 8-6
Hvy: Jarrod Hinrichs, UNK, dec. Caleb Cotter, 5-4
Note: UNK deducted one point for unsportsmanlike conduct

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Caleb Cotter: 6' 2"; Senior; Hvy

Blake Dauphin: 5' 8"; Junior; 133

Joel Dixon: 6' 0"; Junior; 184

Bryan Dutton: 5' 10"; Senior; 157

Mason Thompson: 6' 1"; Junior; 165

Rio Zamora: 5' 7"; Sophomore; 133

Reid Rodich: 5' 8"; Senior; 174/184

Colton Looper: 5' 8"; Junior; 197

Eli Hale: 5' 8"; Senior; 125

Players Mentioned

Caleb Cotter
: 6' 2"; Senior; Hvy

Blake Dauphin
: 5' 8"; Junior; 133

Joel Dixon
: 6' 0"; Junior; 184

Bryan Dutton
: 5' 10"; Senior; 157

Mason Thompson
: 6' 1"; Junior; 165

Rio Zamora
: 5' 7"; Sophomore; 133

Reid Rodich
: 5' 8"; Senior; 174/184

Colton Looper
: 5' 8"; Junior; 197

Eli Hale
: 5' 8"; Senior; 125