Gray, WInkler Lead No. 6 UCO Past No. 3 Lopers

KEARNEY, Neb. (Feb. 1) – Heath Gray and Kalin Winkler scored back-to-back first-period falls to put Central Oklahoma in the lead and a last-match forfeit sealed the Bronchos' 24-17 upset of No. 3 Nebraska-Kearney Saturday afternoon.

Tre'Vaughn Craig won a 174 pounds before Gray and Winkler notched their dramatic pins in the next two weights as UCO turned a 14-3 deficit into an 18-14 lead. The Lopers got within one with a close decision at heavyweight, but Studd Morris received a forfeit in the final bout at 125 to seal the dual.

Central improved to 11-1 overall and 3-0 in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association with its sixth straight win and second this season over the Lopers. The Bronchos beat UNK 18-13 in the third-place match at the NWCA Division II Duals on Jan. 11.

"That was a great win for us and I couldn't be more proud of the guys for the way they fought today," head coach Todd Steidley said. "We've had to switch some things up because of sickness and injury, but they got the job done today. Heath and Kalin really came through with two big falls that we had to have."

The Bronchos were without three starters for the second straight dual, but still managed to prevail.

The dual started at 133 and Brik Filippo's tight 4-2 victory at 149 was UCO's lone win in first five weights as the Lopers grabbed their big 14-3 lead.

Craig started the comeback with a 5-2 triumph at 174 before Gray and Winkler followed with their big pins.

The top-ranked Gray took down No. 4 Anthony Mancini a minute into the match and quickly hooked up a cradle, finally getting the fall at the 1:56 mark. It was the 23^rd straight win for Gray, who slipped past Mancini 3-1 in overtime in the two teams' first meeting this season.

Winkler didn't need as long to notch his ninth fall of the season, moving in for a quick takedown and then working Andrew Demos to his back before ending it in 1:37.

That put UCO on top 18-14 and the Lopers got close at heavyweight when fifth-ranked Jarrod Hinrichs nipped Christian Arriola 2-1 on a penalty point in the final 30 seconds.

It didn't matter, however, as UNK was forced to forfeit in the last match. Morris quickly walked to the center of the mat to get his hand raised and UCO's upset was complete.

The Bronchos return to the road Feb. 12 at No. 2 McKendree. UCO finishes the dual season Feb. 16 at home against league rival Central Missouri.

UCO 24, Nebraska-Kearney 17
133 – Wesley Dawkins, UNK, dec. Cody Karstetter, 7-2.
141 – Jonathan Killingsworth, UNK, dec. Nate Keim, 4-1.
149 – Brik Filippo, UCO, dec. Sam Turner, 4-2.
157 – Jacob Wasser, UNK, dec. Zachary Moore, 3-0.
165 – Matt Malcolm, UNK, tech. fall Anthony DesVigne, 16-0.
174 – Tre'Vaughn Craig, UCO, dec. Talon Seitz, 5-2.
184 – Heath Gray, UCO, pinned Anthony Mancini, 1:56.
197 – Kalin Winkler, UCO, pinned Andrew Demos, 1:37.
Hvy – Jarrod Hinrichs, UNK, dec. Chrisitan Arriola, 2-1.
125 – Studd Morris, UCO, won by forfeit.

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Players Mentioned

Christian Arriola: 6' 3"; Redshirt Freshman; 285

Anthony DesVigne: 5' 11"; Redshirt Freshman

Brik Filippo: 5' 8"; Sophomore; 149

Heath Gray: 5' 11"; Junior; 184

Cody Karstetter: 5' 7"; Senior; 133

Nate Keim: 5' 7"; Sophomore; 141

Zachary Moore: 5' 6"; Senior

Studd Morris: 5' 0"; Freshman

Kalin Winkler: 6' 0"; Junior

Tre'Vaughn Craig: 5' 11"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Christian Arriola
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Freshman; 285

Anthony DesVigne
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Freshman

Brik Filippo
: 5' 8"; Sophomore; 149

Heath Gray
: 5' 11"; Junior; 184

Cody Karstetter
: 5' 7"; Senior; 133

Nate Keim
: 5' 7"; Sophomore; 141

Zachary Moore
: 5' 6"; Senior

Studd Morris
: 5' 0"; Freshman

Kalin Winkler
: 6' 0"; Junior

Tre'Vaughn Craig
: 5' 11"; Sophomore