Wrestling 3/1/2021 2:14:00 PM

REGIONAL CHAMPS!

EDMOND (March 2) – It had been nearly 10 years since Central Oklahoma last captured an NCAA Division II wrestling regional championship, so waiting an extra two days to find out that the 2021 trophy belonged to the Bronchos wasn't too big a deal.

Technical difficulties with the computer scoring system at the end of Sunday's Super Regional IV Tournament held at Hamilton Field House prevented a team winner being declared in what was a tight race between UCO, Lindenwood and McKendree.

But finally, it's official – the Bronchos are the Super Regional IV champions.

No, 6-ranked UCO finished with 103.5 points, edging out No. 2 Lindenwood by one slim point. It's Central's first regional title since 2012 and the 20th overall.

No. 5 McKendree was right behind with 97.5 points in the 10-team tournament that also decided individual qualifiers for the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships, which will be held March 12-13 in St. Louis, Mo.

"Our guys have made a lot of sacrifices this year with everything that's gone on and it's great to see them rewarded for those efforts," head coach Todd Steidley said. "We got great contributions from all 10 of our guys in the tournament, but everybody else in the practice room deserves credit as well.

"This was one of our goals at the start of the season and now we've put ourselves in position to be a factor in the national tournament."

All 10 of UCO's regional participants scored at least 4.5 points in the tournament and all 10 placed in the top four at their respective weight.

Paxton Rosen (125 pounds), Ty Lucas (149) and Heath Gray (184) claimed individual crowns, while Tanner Cole (133), Gabe Johnson (149) and Dalton Abney (197) were runners-up. Wyatt Jordan (174) finished third, with Nate Keim (141), Dayton Garrett (165) and Braden Morgan (285) taking fourth.

Rosen, Lucas, Gray, Cole, Johnson and Abney earned automatic bids to the national tournament with their top-two finishes, with Jordan garnering one of the five wildcard berths available to third-place finishers in the regional.

The seven national qualifiers is the most by the Bronchos since 2013.

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Players Mentioned

Dalton Abney: 6' 1"; Sophomore; 197

Tanner Cole: 5' 6"; Junior

Dayton Garrett: 5' 10"; Senior; 165

Heath Gray: 5' 11"; Senior; 184

Nate Keim: 5' 7"; Junior; 141

Ty Lucas: 5' 9"; Junior; 157

Braden Morgan: 6' 2"; Redshirt Freshman

Wyatt Jordan: 5' 11"; Senior

Gabe Johnson: 5' 8"; Freshman

Paxton Rosen: 5' 3"; Junior

Players Mentioned

Dalton Abney
: 6' 1"; Sophomore; 197

Tanner Cole
: 5' 6"; Junior

Dayton Garrett
: 5' 10"; Senior; 165

Heath Gray
: 5' 11"; Senior; 184

Nate Keim
: 5' 7"; Junior; 141

Ty Lucas
: 5' 9"; Junior; 157

Braden Morgan
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Freshman

Wyatt Jordan
: 5' 11"; Senior

Gabe Johnson
: 5' 8"; Freshman

Paxton Rosen
: 5' 3"; Junior