Wrestling 2/7/2018 9:28:00 PM Chris Brannick

No. 10 UCO Comes Up Short vs. No. 6 McKendree

EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma wrestling team dropped a close 22-18 dual with McKendree in the season finale Wednesday night at Hamilton Field House.

The back-and-forth slugfest between two, top-10 teams in the country that featured nine individually ranked wrestlers on the mat, bore a resemblance to the previous match between the schools. UCO grabbed the first points of the night, McKendree pressed ahead in the middle of the lineup, and the Bronchos finished strong winning the final three matches.

"We knew we needed to get a few matches in the middle of the lineup, where they are really strong," UCO head coach Todd Steidley said. "I thought if we could get at least one or two of those matches, we had a good shot to win. But, unfortunately we couldn't get it done tonight and now it's time to get ready for the postseason."

Eli Hale got UCO started with a 7-2 decision at 125 pounds to give the Bronchos an early 3-0 lead. Hale improved to a stout 14-0 on the season with the win.

But similar to McKendree's win over the Bronchos in January at the National Duals, UCO slipped from there.

McKendree scored three-straight decisions to take a 9-3 lead, then added a fall at 157 pounds, a major decision at 165, and a fourth decision at 174 to seal the win with a 22-3 lead.

UCO's Joel Dixon snagged a 15-6 major decision at 184 pounds, Colton Looper then pinned Luke Diener at 197, and Caleb Cotter earned a 16-0 technical fall at heavyweight to bring the final score to 22-18.

Central Oklahoma wraps up the 2017-18 regular season with a 13-5 dual record. The Bronchos will now make a short trek up Interstate-35 to Wichita, Kan. for the MIAA Tournament on Sunday, Feb. 11. UCO placed second in the tournament last season and had four individual champions.

Wednesday's Results
No. 6 MCKENDREE 22
No. 10 CENTRAL OKALHOMA 18
125: Eli Hale, UCO, dec. Marcus Povlick, 7-2
133: NaQuan Hardy, McK, dec. Blake Dauphin, 7-2
141: Darren Wynn, McK, dec. Josh Breece, 6-2
149: Isaiah Kemper, McK, dec. Will Steltzlen, 5-2
157: Ryan Strope, McK, pinned Bryan Dutton, 2:58
165: Qiante Wagner, McK, major dec. Mason Thompson, 16-8
174: Nick Foster, McK, dec. Reid Rodich, 6-1
184: Joel Dixon, UCO, major dec. Ryan Vanbinder, 15-6
197: Colton Looper, UCO, pinned Luke Diener, 5:53
Hvy: Caleb Cotter, UCO, tech. fall Christian Boyles, 16-0

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Players Mentioned

Josh Breece: 5' 4"; Junior; 133

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

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

Colton Looper: 5' 8"; Junior; 197

Eli Hale: 5' 8"; Senior; 125

Players Mentioned

Josh Breece
: 5' 4"; Junior; 133

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

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

Colton Looper
: 5' 8"; Junior; 197

Eli Hale
: 5' 8"; Senior; 125