Top-ranked Bronchos Get Past No. 8 Adams

EDMOND (Feb. 3) – Emmanuel Skillings came through with a clutch win at 197 pounds and Shawn Streck followed with a quick fall in the final match to propel top-ranked Central Oklahoma to a hard-fought 24-15 triumph over No. 8 Adams State Friday night at Hamilton Field House.

The Grizzlies scored three upset wins, including a stunning first-period fall at 184 to pull even at 15-all, before Skillings and Streck saved the day. It was the 16th straight home win for the Bronchos, who improved to 12-1 with their 31st win in the last 32 duals while dropping ASU to 10-2.

"We pulled it out at the end, but it was a disappointing performance," head coach Todd Steidley said. "I knew Adams was going to wrestle us tough and they certainly did that, so hats off to them.

"Overall we weren't very sharp and there were a few weights where we just didn't do much. Our guys have to be better than they were tonight and they understand that."

UCO took six of the 10 bouts, getting bonus-point wins from 125 Studd Morris, 157 Gabe Johnson and Streck, while 141 Nate Keim, 174 Anthony DesVigne and Skillings all won decisions.

Morris got the Bronchos off to a fast start, racking up six takedowns – including three in the final period – for a 14-5 major decision. Adams came back with its first upset of the night at 133 as A.J. Van Matre knocked off No. 8 Dylan Lucas 8-4.

Keim's second-period takedown was the difference in at tough 4-2 win at 141, then ninth-ranked Brik Filippo dropped a tight 3-2 overtime decision to No. 3 Josiah Rider.

The two traded escapes in regulation and Filippo nearly scored in the two-minute sudden-victory period before the match went to the tiebreaker. Filippo got loose in five seconds to take a 2-1 lead, but Rider escaped in just three seconds to tie it and his two-second riding time advantage gave him the winning point.

Johnson followed with a dominating performance at 157 as the third-ranked sophomore had three takedowns and three near-falls in scoring a 16-1 technical fall that ended at the 4:33 mark.

The Grizzlies pulled off another shocker at 165 where Aaden Valdez upended No. 7 Ty Lucas 6-3, but DesVigne had three takedowns in a methodical 8-3 victory to give UCO a 15-9 lead.

It was soon tied. No. 11 Alex Kauffman struck for a quick takedown to open the match at 184, but Hunter Tobiasson escaped and got a takedown of his own before getting a fall late in the period to tie the dual.

It was down to the final two matches and the Bronchos were up to the task.

Skillings notched a takedown in each period for a 7-2 win that put UCO on top and Streck polished it off with a fall just 1:30 into the heavyweight match. The unbeaten (18-0) and second-ranked Streck had two takedowns before getting his eighth pin of the season.

UCO wraps up the regular season Feb. 12 with a 2 p.m. home dual against No. 3 Nebraska-Kearney. The Bronchos then have two weeks off before hosting the NCAA Division II Super Regional IV Tournament Feb. 26.

UCO 24, Adams State 15
125 – Studd Morris, UCO, major dec. Adam Concepcion, 14-5.
133 – A.J. Van Matre, ASU, dec. Dylan Lucas, 8-4.
141 – Nate Keim, UCO, dec. Kieran Thompson, 4-2.
149 – Josiah Rider, ASU, dec. Brik Filippo, 3-2 (TB-1).
157 – Gabe Johnson, UCO, tech. fall Travis Vialpando, 16-1 (4:33).
165 – Aaden Valdez, ASU, dec. Ty Lucas, 6-3.
174 – Anthony DesVigne, UCO, dec. Ryan Rochford, 8-3.
184 – Hunter Tobiasson, ASU, pinned Alex Kauffman, 2:48.
197 – Emmanuel Skillings, UCO dec. Benjamin Tonessen, 7-2.
Hvy – Shawn Streck, UCO, pinned Adam Alvarenga, 1:30.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Anthony DesVigne: 5' 11"; Junior

Brik Filippo: 5' 8"; Senior; 149

Gabe Johnson: 5' 8"; Redshirt Freshman

Alex Kauffman: 5' 10"; Senior

Nate Keim: 5' 7"; Senior; 141

Ty Lucas: 5' 9"; Senior; 157

Studd Morris: 5' 0"; Junior

Emmanuel Skillings: 6' 1"; Redshirt Freshman

Shawn Streck: 6' 1"; Junior; 285

Dylan Lucas: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Anthony DesVigne
: 5' 11"; Junior

Brik Filippo
: 5' 8"; Senior; 149

Gabe Johnson
: 5' 8"; Redshirt Freshman

Alex Kauffman
: 5' 10"; Senior

Nate Keim
: 5' 7"; Senior; 141

Ty Lucas
: 5' 9"; Senior; 157

Studd Morris
: 5' 0"; Junior

Emmanuel Skillings
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Freshman

Shawn Streck
: 6' 1"; Junior; 285

Dylan Lucas
: 5' 6"; Sophomore