No. 1 UCO Earns Two Wins At Midwest Duals

KEARNEY, Neb. (Jan. 21) – Banged-up Central Oklahoma used late-match rallies to subdue a pair of NCAA Division II rivals at the Midwest Duals Saturday morning at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds.

The top-ranked Bronchos scored four straight bonus-point wins to turn a precarious 14-10 lead into a 35-10 romp over the Mountaineers in the opener, then won the final four matches again in overcoming a 13-10 deficit for a 25-12 triumph over Chadron State.

UCO, now 9-1 and winners of 28 of its last 29 duals, used five backups against Western Colorado and was without four starters in the Chadron win.

"We've got a few guys dealing with some nagging injuries, but thankfully our depth is pretty good and we were able to handle it," head coach Todd Steidley said. "We had a few guys step up and get some bonus wins in crucial situations, which was important.

"Overall we didn't wrestle great, but we got the job done. There's a lot of things we need to work on and our guys know that."

Gabe Johnson led the Bronchos with a pair of bonus wins at 157 pounds, while 125 Studd Morris, 174 Anthony DesVigne, 184 Alex Kauffman, 197 Emmanuel Skillings and Hvy Braden Morgan all won both their matches.

Morris pulled out a 3-1 overtime victory to get UCO started against the Mountaineers and backup 141 Josh Taylor scored a second-period fall to help the Bronchos grab a 9-3 lead.

Ninth-ranked Brik Filippo dropped a 5-1 decision to No. 4 Jason Hanenburg at 149 before the third-rated Johnson rolled to a 15-0 technical fall behind a trio of near-falls. Western earned a major decision at 165 over another backup to pull within 14-10, but it was all UCO after that.

The 10th-ranked DesVigne got the closing surge started with an impressive 15-6 major decision over No. 9 Cole Hernandez. DesVigne had six-point moves in the first and second periods to take control after falling behind 2-0 early.

Kauffman was nursing a 4-2 second-period lead when Porter Fox suffered an injury and was unable to continue, then Skillings had three takedowns and three near-falls in a 17-2 technical fall.

Morgan – filling in for second-ranked starter Shawn Streck -- ended the late flurry with a first-period fall to cap the win.

Morris pulled out another tough win to open the Chadron dual, controlling Quade Smith the entire third period to prevail 3-2 on the riding time point.

The Eagles took the next two matches over a pair of backups to take a 7-3 lead before Filippo posted a 7-4 win behind a pair of first-period takedowns and Johnson racked up five takedowns in a 12-4 major decision to put UCO on top 10-7.

Ty Lucas was injured in the opening period at 165 and forced to default, allowed Chadron to regain the lead, 13-10.

But Central's strength down the stretch was too much for the Eagles.

DesVigne overcame another 2-0 first-period deficit for a 5-2 victory, clinching it with a takedown in the final minute. That tied the dual and Kauffman put the Bronchos ahead to stay with a third-period fall.

The 11th-ranked Kauffman led 5-3 late in the match when he took Keegan Gehlhausen to his back on the edge of the mat and got the pin with 11 seconds remaining.

Skillings had another strong outing in place of defending national champion and No. 2 Dalton Abney, recording four takedowns in an easy 11-5 win that clinched the dual.

Morgan ended the day with a 4-2 overtime victory, getting the winning takedown 21 seconds into the sudden-victory period. Chadron was then deducted a team point for unsportsmanlike conduct, which accounted for the final score.

UCO is back in action Thursday, hosting No. 17 Fort Hays State for a 7 p.m. MIAA dual at Hamilton Field House.

UCO 35, Western Colorado 10
125 – Studd Morris, UCO, dec. Patrick Allis, 3-1 (SV-1).
133 – Alex Alvarez, WCU, dec. Garrett Steidley, 2-0.
141 – Josh Taylor, UCO, pinned Dean Noble, 4:55.
149 – Jason Hanenburg, WCU, dec. Brik Filippo, 5-1.
157 – Gabe Johnson, UCO, tech. fall Ryan Wilson, 15-0 (3:55).
165 – Hunter Mullin, WCU, major dec. Garrett Messimore, 18-4.
174 – Anthony DesVigne, UCO, major dec. Cole Hernandez, 15-6.
184 – Alex Kauffman, UCO, by injury default over Porter Fox, 3:41.
197 – Emmanuel Skillings, UCO, tech. fall Parker Gasser, 17-2 (4:37).
Hvy – Braden Morgan, UCO, pinned Zach Schraeder, 1:46.

UCO 25, Chadron State 12
125 – Studd Morris, UCO, dec. Quade Smith, 3-2.
133 – Colter Julian, CSC, dec. Garrett Steidley, 10-3.
141 – Ethan Leake, CSC, major dec. Ryder Ramsey, 12-4.
149 – Brik Filippo, UCO, dec. Brandon Paredes, 7-4.
157 – Gabe Johnson, UCO, major dec. Harrison Gocke, 12-4.
165 – Preston Renner, CSC, by injury default over Ty Lucas, 1:35.
174 – Anthony DesVigne, UCO, dec. Rowdy Pfeil, 5-2.
184 – Alex Kauffman, UCO, pinned Keegan Gehlhausen, 6:49.
197 – Emmanuel Skillings, UCO, dec. Bryan Zutavern, 11-5.
Hvy – Braden Morgan, UCO, dec. Mason Watt, 4-2 (SV-1).*
*-Chadron State deducted one team point for unsportsmanlike conduct

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Players Mentioned

Dalton Abney: 6' 1"; Junior; 197

Anthony DesVigne: 5' 11"; Junior

Brik Filippo: 5' 8"; Senior; 149

Gabe Johnson: 5' 8"; Redshirt Freshman

Alex Kauffman: 5' 10"; Senior

Ty Lucas: 5' 9"; Senior; 157

Garrett Messimore: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Braden Morgan: 6' 2"; Sophomore

Studd Morris: 5' 0"; Junior

Ryder Ramsey: 5' 8"; Redshirt Freshman

Players Mentioned

Dalton Abney
: 6' 1"; Junior; 197

Anthony DesVigne
: 5' 11"; Junior

Brik Filippo
: 5' 8"; Senior; 149

Gabe Johnson
: 5' 8"; Redshirt Freshman

Alex Kauffman
: 5' 10"; Senior

Ty Lucas
: 5' 9"; Senior; 157

Garrett Messimore
: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Braden Morgan
: 6' 2"; Sophomore

Studd Morris
: 5' 0"; Junior

Ryder Ramsey
: 5' 8"; Redshirt Freshman