Rolle, Johnson Move Into National Finals

Bronchos Fourth In Team Standings Heading To Final Session

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Central Oklahoma's Peter Rolle and Gabe Johnson won contrasting semifinal matches to earn the right to compete for individual titles at the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships Saturday afternoon.

Rolle hung on for a 4-3 triumph at 133 pounds, while Gabe Johnson scored on electrifying first-period fall at 157. Both will go for the gold in tonight's 6 p.m. finals (Oklahoma time).

Garrett Wells finished sixth at 184 as the only other placer, leaving the No. 3-ranked Bronchos fourth in the team standings with 51.5 points heading to the final session.

Top-ranked Nebraska-Kearney has clinched the team title with 115 points, followed by No. 5 Augustana (59), No. 2 St. Cloud State (57.5), UCO, No. 8 Lander (51) and No. 11 Mary (47). The Bronchos can finish anywhere from second to sixth depending on what happens in the finals.

"Peter and Gabe have both had great tournaments," head coach Todd Steidley said. "It's hard to get to this point and now they need to finish it off right. Garrett showed a lot of heart and did a great job coming back after losing his first match."

Rolle got past Ouachita Baptist's James Anderson for the third time this season with his tense one-point win. The top-seeded senior struck for a takedown just 28 seconds into the bout and it was a defensive standoff after that.

The fifth-seeded Anderson escaped later in the period and then again 30 seconds into the second stanza to pull within 3-2. Rolle got loose with 1:15 left in the final period to go up 4-2 and gave up a stalling point with 15 seconds left to claim the hard-earned win.

Rolle will face third-seeded Reece Barnhardt of Mary in the finals.

Johnson didn't waste time in his bout with unseeded Owen Cline of Colorado Mesa, who knocked off the Nos. 3 and 6 seeds to make the semis.

The second-seeded junior caught Cline on a half-hearted shot attempt and whipped him to his back for the fall in just 47 seconds. It was the third fall of the season for Johnson, who will go for his second straight title against St. Cloud State's top-seeded Joel Jesuroga.

Jesuroga handed Johnson his lone loss this season, prevailing 4-1 in sudden-victory at the NWCA Division II National Duals finals in January.

Wells won four straight consolation matches after falling in Friday morning's opening round to earn All-America status for the second time.

The sixth-seeded Wells claimed three of those wins Friday, then used a last-second takedown to secure a 10-2 major decision in Saturday morning's consolation quarterfinals.

Wells tweaked a knee in a consolation semifinal loss and was limited in a 5-2 setback to third-seeded Cade Mueller of Augustana in finishing sixth.

NCAA DIVISION II WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
FIFTH-PLACE MATCH
184 – Cade Mueller, Augustana, dec. Garrett Wells, UCO, 5-2.

CHAMPIONSHIP SEMIINALS
133 – Peter Rolle, UCO, dec. James Anderson, Ouachita Baptist, 4-3.
157 – Gabe Johnson, UCO, pinned Owen Cline, Colorado Mesa, 0:47.

CONSOLATION SEMFINALS
184 – Matt Weinberg, Kutztown, tech. fall Wells, UCO, 16-1.

CONSOLATION QUARTERFINALS
184 – Wells, UCO, dec. Kyle Homel, Glenville State, 10-2.

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Players Mentioned

Gabe Johnson: 5' 8"; Junior

Peter Rolle: 5' 7"; Senior

Garrett Wells: 5' 11"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Gabe Johnson
: 5' 8"; Junior

Peter Rolle
: 5' 7"; Senior

Garrett Wells
: 5' 11"; Sophomore