Bronchos Advance To National Duals Semifinals

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Jan. 6) – Technical falls by Nate Keim and Ty Lucas along with a bevy of close wins carried top-ranked Central Oklahoma to a 31-6 rout of No. 15 Colorado Mesa Thursday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the NWCA Division II National Duals.

The Bronchos won four matches by three points or less, including Tanner Cole's 3-1 victory at 133 pounds in a showdown of No. 1 vs. No. 2. UCO improved to 5-0 with its 11th consecutive victory and advanced to Friday's 10 a.m. (Oklahoma time) semifinals against Newberry.

The unranked Wolves pulled off two straight upsets Thursday, knocking off No. 3 McKendree 24-16 in the first round before upending No. 14 Upper Iowa 25-18 in the quarterfinals.

"It wasn't very pretty," head coach Todd Steidley said. "We didn't wrestle with much urgency and were fortunate to win some of the matches we did.

"We're going to have to be a lot better than that if we want to keep moving forward. Newberry is coming off two big wins and they're going to be ready for us, so we need to come back tomorrow more focused."

Mesa pulled off an upset in the opening match at 125 to grab a 3-0 lead, but the Bronchos answered with five straight wins – highlighted by the two technical falls – to surge in front 19-3 and effectively secure the dual.

The top-rated Cole started that run with his tough triumph over No. 2 Collin Metzger. Cole's first-period takedown was the difference as the two traded escapes in the final two stanzas, with Cole barely staving off Metzger's tying takedown try in the final seconds.

Keim put Central in front to stay with a 17-1 romp at 141. The fourth-ranked junior led 8-1 after one period and ended the match early in the third with his fourth takedown of the match.

Brik Filippo followed with a tight 4-2 win, overcoming an early 2-0 deficit with two escapes and a takedown of his own. Lucas then needed less than a full period to secure his technical fall, racking up two takedowns and three near-falls in a 16-1 shelling.

Hunter Jump secured a 7-4 victory at 165 on a clinching takedown with 19 seconds left before the Mavericks won their second and final match at 174.

Defending national champion Heath Gray had four takedowns in a methodical 10-3 victory at 184 and top-ranked Dalton Abney prevailed 2-1 at 197 on the strength of a first-period takedown before Mesa forfeited the final match at heavyweight.

UCO 31, Colorado Mesa 6
125 – Cian Apple, Mesa, dec. Paxton Rosen, 8-4.
133 – Tanner Cole, UCO, dec. Collin Metzger, 3-1.
141 – Nate Keim, UCO, tech. fall Erik Contreras, 17-1.
149 – Brik Filippo, UCO, dec. Nick Gallegos, 4-2.
157 – Ty Lucas, UCO, tech. fall Ariel Rodriguez, 16-1.
165 – Hunter Jump, UCO, dec. Alexander Holguin, 7-4.
174 – Seth Latham, Mesa, dec. Anthony DesVigne, 7-4.
184 – Heath Gray, UCO, dec. Jason Bynarowicz, 10-3.
197 – Dalton Abney, UCO, dec. Donald Negus, 2-1.
Hvy – Christian Arriola, UCO, won by forfeit.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Dalton Abney: 6' 1"; Redshirt Freshman; 197

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

Tanner Cole: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Anthony DesVigne: 5' 11"; Redshirt Freshman

Brik Filippo: 5' 8"; Sophomore; 149

Heath Gray: 5' 11"; Junior; 184

Nate Keim: 5' 7"; Sophomore; 141

Ty Lucas: 5' 9"; Sophomore; 157

Hunter Jump: 6' 2"; Freshman

Paxton Rosen: 5' 3"; Junior

Players Mentioned

Dalton Abney
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Freshman; 197

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

Tanner Cole
: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Anthony DesVigne
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Freshman

Brik Filippo
: 5' 8"; Sophomore; 149

Heath Gray
: 5' 11"; Junior; 184

Nate Keim
: 5' 7"; Sophomore; 141

Ty Lucas
: 5' 9"; Sophomore; 157

Hunter Jump
: 6' 2"; Freshman

Paxton Rosen
: 5' 3"; Junior