INDIANAPOLIS – Central Oklahoma pushed five individuals into the quarterfinals and was in fourth place after first-day action concluded in the rugged 46th Midwest Classic Saturday.
The Bronchos went 19-5 on the day with 12 bonus-point wins to pile up 45.5 points in the huge 47-team event that is Division II's toughest regular season tournament. Pittsburgh-Johnstown leads the field with 60.5 points, followed by Wisconsin-Parkside (50.5), Glenville State (47.5), UCO and Tiffin (44.5).
Advancing to the quarterfinals were 165 Bryce Dauphin, 174 Hunter Jump, 184 Branson Britten, 197 Garrett Wells and Hvy Judson Rowland, while 125 Guy Clevenger, 149 Cole Mayfield and 157 Hayze Ivey are still alive in the consolation bracket. The tournament resumes Sunday at 10 a.m. (Eastern) and will run until its conclusion.
"We had a good day and our guys showed some grit," said head coach Todd Steidley, whose team was without four starters and then lost backup 133 Easton Taylor to illness before the tournament started. "We wrestled hard and picked up some bonus wins, which is always important in these events.
"There's a long way to go and a lot of big matches left, but I like how we came out today ready to compete."
Dauphin had two bonus wins on the day after opening with a bye, scoring a first-period pin in the second round before knocking off sixth-seeded and No. 8-ranked Logan Farnell with a dominating 14-3 major decision.
Jump, Britten, Wells and Rowland also went 2-0 after drawing opening-round byes.
The seventh-seeded Jump followed a 40-second fall with a 13-7 decision, while the third-seeded Britten had a third-period pin and easy 9-2 win. Wells overwhelmed his two opponents by a combined 39-6 as the top-seeded junior earned two technical falls, with Rowland winning 8-3 and by injury default.
Clevenger needed just 32 seconds to end his first-round bye, then won 8-3 before falling to top-seeded Trevon Gray of Pittsburgh-Johnstown in the third round. He bounced back with another first-period fall in his first consolation match to stay alive.
Mayfield and Ivey, both true freshmen seeing their first varsity action, went 2-1 on the day.
Mayfield scored a third-period fall after a first-round bye, then dropped a tough 4-2 decision before pulling out a tough 9-7 victory in his first consolation bout. Ivey drew an opening bye and lost in the second round, but rebounded with two consolation wins to remain in medal contention.
FIRST ROUND
125 – Guy Clevenger, UCO, pinned Mason Moody, Coker, 0:32.
141 – Shaun Muse, UCO, pinned Isaac Chavarria, Western Colorado, 0:48.
SECOND ROUND
125 – Clevenger, UCO, dec. Mason Gutenberger, Mary, 8-3.
141 – Muse, UCO, pinned Taylor Robinson, Millersville, 6:27.
149 – Cole Mayfield, UCO, pinned Keagan Judd, Newberry, 5:28.
157 – Keegan Roberson, UNC-Pembroke, pinned Hayze Ivey, 5:32.
165 – Bryce Dauphin, UCO, pinned Joshua Alert, Bridgeport, 1:14.
174 – Hunter Jump, UCO, pinned Colton Schaad, Jamestown, 0:40.
184 – Branson Britten, UCO, pinned Quintez Shipman, UNC-Pembroke, 6:04.
197 – Garrett Wells, UCO, technical fall Jaxon Burcher, Wheeling, 18-2 (5:09).
Hvy – Judson Rowland, UCO, dec. John Domencic, Mount Olive, 8-3.
THIRD ROUND
125 – Trevon Gray, Pittsburgh-Johnstown, major dec. Clevenger, UCO, 15-3.
141 – Ronan Schuelke, McKendree, dec. Muse, UCO, 4-2.
149 – Gavin Garcia, Indianapolis, dec. Mayfield, UCO, 4-2.
165 – Dauphin, UCO, major dec. Logan Farnell, Indianapolis, 14-3.
174 – Jump, UCO, dec. Levi DeGugno, Colorado Mesa, 13-7.
184 – Britten, UCO, dec. Max Borton, Glenville State, 9-2.
197 – Wells, UCO, technical fall Sage Harrison, Western Colorado, 21-4 (7:00).
Hvy – Rowland, UCO, by injury default over Isaac Sheeren, Lander, 0:53.
CONSOLATION THIRD ROUND
157 – Ivey, UCO, dec. Noah Roulo, Lander, 4-1 (SV).
CONSOLATION FOURTH ROUND
125 – Clevenger, UCO, pinned Isaac Ronquillo, Jamestown, 1:26.
141 – Eddie Bowman, Colorado State-Pueblo, dec. Muse, UCO, 9-4.
149 – Mayfield, UCO, dec. Austin Noe, East Stroudsburg, 9-7.
157 – Ivey, UCO, dec. Gavin Reynolds, East Stroudsburg, 8-3.
