OCU News
NAIA wrestling: Disappointed Stars await ‘2nd season’
NAIA wrestling championships
BY Matt Patterson
Published: March 8, 2009
The off-season will be a short one for Corey Johnson and the rest of the Oklahoma City University men’s wrestling team
The Stars wrapped up competition in the 52nd annual NAIA Wrestling Championships at Abe Lemons Arena on Saturday. Johnson did earn All-America honors, but he lost his heavyweight consolation match to finish in sixth place.
Teammate Nik Turner, who wrestled in high school at Norman North, also joined Johnson as the Stars’ only All-Americans, but he didn’t finish how he had hoped either, losing by fall to Thomas Straughn of Notre Dame at 4:04 to finish sixth.
Lindenwood captured the overall team title for the third consecutive year and the school’s fifth title since 2002. Lindenwood had three individual national champions, including Matt Cauley (174), who was named the tournament’s outstanding wrestler. Southern Oregon was second, and OCU finished 15th among the 32-team field.
"I’m definitely disappointed,” Johnson said. "I had planned on placing higher and making it to the finals. I had a good season, so I’m looking forward to taking a couple of weeks off and getting ready to start wrestling again.”
Turner was equally displeased with his performance. After winning his first match Thursday he lost his last two matches.
"It’s not what I wanted,” Turner said. "It doesn’t feel that good. I’m ready to work hard to get there next year.”
Now comes the fun part: two weeks off followed by summer tournaments, wrestling’s second season. For Johnson, who was the first recruit OCU coach Archie Randall signed when he started the program, there’s a lot left on the table. He’ll have one more season to reach his goal of being a national champion.
"We go through a postseason phase for several weeks where our emphasis is on lifting, and then after that we get into a freestyle season and we have a couple of tournaments in Reno and Las Vegas,” Johnson said. "We definitely we realize we have a lot of work to do.”
Tuttle native Josh Bryant also earned All-America honors at 174 pounds. He finished third by beating Tom Eaton of Northwestern College 5-3. Bryant was a fourth-place finisher last season and had a 28-13 record as a junior.
=======================================================================================
NAIA wrestling: Friends help OCU’s Raymond Lane tackle life’s obstaclesNAIA wrestling Stars wrestler has had to lean on his OCU family to make it
BY MATT PATTERSON
Published: March 5, 2009
As broad as Raymond Lane’s shoulders are, he’s still finding out the only way
to get by is with a little help from his friends.
A two-time state champion from Star Spencer, Lane is in his first season wrestling at Oklahoma City University. That in itself is a huge victory considering the academic and personal obstacles he’s been through to get here.
With two younger brothers, Lane was always the man of his house. His father, Henry, died when Raymond was in the fifth grade. His teenage years were spent wrestling and working to help support the family. Still, he overcame that to graduate high school and earn a wrestling scholarship to OCU.
Lane will wrestle for OCU at 197 pounds when the 52nd annual NAIA Championships begin today at Abe Lemons Arena.
The journey hasn’t been easy. Lane became a father recently, and then there are the demands of college studies and wrestling. He struggled at first, then rallied with a 2.6 GPA last semester, gaining his eligibility in the process. English was his toughest subject.
"The girls (wrestling) team has helped with school, and the guys on our team have helped me,” Lane said. "The coaches say if you ever need help, you’ve got a family, and I’ve taken advantage of it.”
Lane is 10-2 this semester. Two of those losses included pins, something he was unfamiliar with in high school. Lane has found out he can’t simply out-muscle the other guy on the college level.
"They’ve all got more experience, they have more technique,” he said. "There were moves I shoot on them, and they get right out of them.”
OCU coach Archie Randall knew Lane was raw coming into his program. With just a handful of kids on Lane’s high school team, competition was never fierce for Lane in the Star Spencer practice room.
"He’s learned a tremendous amount of wrestling in the last year,” Randall said. "He doesn’t make the same mistake twice.”
Maybe the biggest gains have been made off the mat. He’s a college student, something Lane never thought possible. And he’s barely a few clicks down a road on a journey that will no doubt present more challenges. But the initial steps have been promising.
"It’s amazing what happens when you put someone in an atmosphere where he has to learn,” Randall said. "He’s a different guy than he was before. He’s sure of himself.”
Even with the wake-up calls from coaches to make sure he gets to class, the endless papers and the long afternoon practices in the Stars’ small wrestling room in a converted church, it’s been worth the promise of a brighter future.
"I’m happy the coaches stuck with me,” Lane said. "I’m proud of myself for sticking with it. I never thought I’d be up in here.”
=======================================================================================
11 Stars place in the Briar Cliff Invitational
SIOUX CITY, Iowa –
Mark Meyer of Oklahoma City University became 165-pound
champion in the Briar Cliff Invitational on Saturday at the Newman Flanagan
Center.
Meyer, a freshman
from Midwest City, Okla., stuck Ty Knowler of Grand View (Iowa)
in a pin in 5:49 to capture the title. Meyer highlighted 11 placers for the
Stars, including five finalists.
Meyer is ranked fourth at 157 pounds and
fifth at 165 in the NAIA Central Region ratings.
Kenny
Wheeler, a freshman from Ponca City, Okla., qualified for the NAIA
Championships by finishing eighth at 149. Wheeler picked up a fall in 24
seconds over Nick Howell of Hastings (Neb.). Wheeler became
OCU’s 12th qualifier for the NAIA Championships on March 5-7 at Abe Lemons
Arena.
Justin
Blumer became runner-up at 133. Blumer, a senior from Holbrook, Pa.,
lost 7-3 to Julian Gunnels of Briar Cliff (Iowa) in the
championship. Blumer picked up two falls on the way to the
finals.
Nik Turner
picked up a runner-up finish at 157. Jeremy Garvin of
Briar Cliff edged Turner, a sophomore from Norman, Okla., 3-2 in the
championship bout.
Dillon
Blackmon was runner-up at 174. Blackmon, a senior from Norman, Okla.,
lost to Mike Finch 10-6 in the championship bout.
Blackmon stands eighth at 174 in the latest NAIA
rankings.
Corey
Johnson finished as finalist at 285. Wade Jordan
upended Johnson, a junior from Oologah, Okla., 7-2 in the title match.
Johnson, ranked eighth among NAIA 285-pounders, advanced to the championship
bout by pinning Brandon Hudiburgh of Hastings in 6:10.
Jeremy Johnson finished fifth at 285.
Jeremy
Garner finished third at 141. Garner, a sophomore from Oklahoma City,
pinned Justian Dixon of Briar Cliff in 1:33 in the third-place
match.
Jake Mabry
took third at 184. Mabry, a sophomore from Gig Harbor, Wash., had four
falls in the consolation bracket to make it to the third-place
match.
Raymond
Lane picked up a third-place finish at 197. Lane, a freshman from
Oklahoma City, knocked off Jeff Roman of Waldorf (Iowa) 13-10
to finish third.
Will
Shelton, a freshman from Sperry, Okla., ended with a fifth-place finish
at 149.
Michaela
Hutchison went 0-2 at 125. Ty Kinslow of Bacone edged
Hutchison, the first woman to wrestle for an Oklahoma men’s team, 8-7 to
eliminate Hutchison.
OCU competes next
against Bacone at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Muskogee, Okla.
Results
Athletes of the Week
Mark Meyer
|
Mark Meyer Men's Wrestling 2/9/2009 Link to Full Bio
With
an unorthodox style of wrestling, Mark Meyer of Oklahoma City University
captured the 165-pound title in the Briar Cliff
Invitational. “It
was a really strange experience for me,” said Meyer. “I hadn’t wrestled that
well in college yet, so I was going in to wrestle at 165 unseeded and against
guys that I had never wrestled.” Previously
Meyer, a freshman from Midwest City, Okla., had been wrestling at 157 until he
was moved up to 165 because his untraditional style of
wrestling. “I
do better at 165 even though I am not as strong as the other guys in the weight
class,” Meyer said. “With my style of wrestling I am able to use my moves
against the guys at 165 because I am quicker.” Meyer
has been wrestling since he was eight years old and since then has been known
for using his own natural moves and skills that give him an infinite advantage
with his opponents. “My
favorite move is the front headlock choke,” said Meyer. “People try to stay away
from that when I wrestle them because I can usually beat my opponents with
it.” At
6-foot-3, Meyer is taller than the average wrestler. “I
don’t really consider myself very athletic,” Meyer said. “I am just tall and
lanky, which is different than most wrestlers, and I am definitely not as strong
as other wrestlers. My height allows me to throw people though, which is what I
was known for in high school.” He
has qualified to wrestle in the NAIA Championships, which will be held at
Oklahoma City University on March 5-7. “I
feel like there will be huge weight off my shoulders not having to travel to
nationals,” said Meyer. “Since they are at OCU, nationals will be as laid back
as nationals can be. All of our family and friends will be able to watch us and
give us that support that we might not have had if we had to travel for
nationals.” Meyer
is currently ranked first at 165 in the NAIA Central Region.
“I
am really stoked to have qualified for nationals,” Meyer said. “My ultimate goal
for the season is to be named all-American. It will be a great season if I can
achieve that because I am working towards being the first OCU wrestler to become
a four-time all-American.” |
MUSKOGEE,
Okla. – Michaela Hutchison of Oklahoma City University picked
up her first win of the season against male competition in the Stars’
46-0 defeat of Bacone on Wednesday.
Hutchison,
a freshman from Soldotna, Alaska, knocked off Tyler Kinslow
13-4 in a major decision. Kinslow eliminated Hutchison from the Briar
Cliff Invitational on Saturday with an 8-7 win.
Hutchison
had lost her first three matches against men this season. She has improved over
those performances.
“The
guys beat me up in the wrestling room this week,” Hutchison said. “I had to get
more physical and attack more.”
The
Stars rolled on the strength of three pins and two forfeit wins. OCU (9-13) shut
out an opponent for the first time this season.
"She
did a really good job,” OCU coach Archie Randall said. “She got
us a major decision, and that's the spark we've not had. She had him on his back
twice. She dominated. The more she wrestles guys, the more she
adapts."
OCU’s
Justin Blumer followed Hutchison’s win with a fall in 1:15 over
Bryant Benally at 141 pounds. Jeremy Garner picked up a forfeit
at 149, then Will Shelton pinned Travis Kirby
in 3:45.
The
Stars’ Andrew Pontikes also pinned Andres Chaves
in 3:40 at 174, and Raymond Lane benefited from a
forfeit at 197.
“It’s
good to wrestle like that before regionals,” Randall said. “Justin Blumer is
back in form. The team wrestled well. We were physical and wrestled our
style.”
Nik
Turner also had a 19-4 technical-fall victory over Jon Hodge
at 165. Dillon Blackmon beat Dan Wilkenson
11-3 at 184, and Corey Johnson won 6-2 over
Spencer Bauer at 285. Blackmon, a senior from Norman, Okla., is
ranked eighth among NAIA 174-pounders.
Randall
will choose two individuals from Hutchison at 125, Pontikes at 174-184 and
Collin MacMillan at 174-184 to enter into the NAIA Central
Regional on Feb. 21 in York, Neb.
“We
have to figure out who will score points for us,” Randall
said.
OKLAHOMA
CITY 46
BACONE
0
125:
Michaela Hutchison, OCU, maj. dec. Tyler Kinslow, 13-4
133:
Void
141:
Justin Blumer, OCU, pinned Bryant Benally, 1:15
149:
Jeremy Garner, OCU, by forfeit
157:
Will Shelton, OCU, pinned Travis Kirby, 3:45
165:
Nik Turner, OCU, tech. fall Jon Hodge, 19-4
174:
Andrew Pontikes, OCU, pinned Andres Chaves, 3:40
184:
Dillon Blackmon, OCU, maj. dec. Dan Wilkenson, 11-3
197:
Raymond Lane, OCU, by forfeit
285:
Corey Johnson, OCU, dec. Spencer Bauer,
6-2
CHANUTE, Kan. –
Michaela Hutchison of Oklahoma City University fell 17-2 in a
technical fall in her debut with the OCU men’s wrestling team, but the Stars
prevailed 36-11 over Neosho County (Kan.) on Wednesday at the Neosho County
Gym.
Hutchison, a
freshman from Soldotna, Alaska, lost to Alex Gorton in becoming
the first woman to compete for an Oklahoma men’s college wrestling
team.
“Michaela wrestled
well,” OCU coach Archie Randall said. “We wrestled well. It’s a
different ballgame when you have a full lineup. Normally we lose six
points.
“She turned the kid
to his back in the first period. She wrestled hard, but made mistakes. The next
time out, she’ll do better.”
OCU picked up pins
at 133 pounds, 165 and 285. Will Shelton won 18-3 over
Zach Shannon in a technical fall.
At 133,
Justin Blumer finished off Rory Kendall in
1:20 to put OCU ahead 6-5 in the dual. Mark Meyer pinned
Aaron Butler in 4:55 at 165 as the Stars won six matches in a
row.
“Blumer wrestled a
tough opponent,” Randall said. “He took him down and kept wrestling. This
performance will carry over to the national tournament.”
At 285,
Jeremy Johnson stuck Chris Howell in 1:05 to
finish off the dual. Raymond Lane also had an 11-2
major-decision win over Jeff Kirwan for
OCU.
“Jeremy Johnson and
Corey Johnson are battling at heavyweight,” Randall said. “Both
will go to nationals. Hopefully this match will carry over to this weekend.
Raymond wrestled better. He’s a long ways away, but he has
time.”
Hutchison joined
Brenda Day Maxey, Sara McMann,
Patricia Miranda and Audrey Pang as women who
have wrestled collegiately against men.
Miranda wrestled for Stanford, while
Pang wrestled for Princeton in duals. Maxey went out for Northern Illinois'
team, while McMann, who attended Lock Haven (Pa.), competed in open
tournaments.
OCU will compete next in the Briar Cliff Invitational on Saturday in Sioux City, Iowa.
OKLAHOMA CITY
36
NEOSHO COUNTY
11
125:
Alex Gorton, NC, tech. fall Michaela Hutchison, 17-2
133:
Justin Blumer, OCU, pinned Rory Kendall, 1:20
141:
Jeremy Garner, OCU, dec. Montana Carson, 5-1
149:
Will Shelton, OCU, tech. fall Zach Shannon, 18-3
157:
Nik Turner, OCU, dec. Zac Taylor, 6-4
165:
Mark Meyer, OCU, pinned Aaron Butler, 4:55
174:
Andrew Pontikes, OCU, dec. Matt McNabb, 5-3
184:
Derek Heckell, NC, pinned Jake Mabry, 6:50
197:
Raymond Lane, OCU, maj. dec. Jeff Kirwan, 11-2
285: Jeremy Johnson, OCU, pinned Chris Howell, 1:05
OKLAHOMA CITY –
Michaela Hutchison of Oklahoma City University will compete in
a men’s college match when the Stars face Neosho County (Kan.) at 7 p.m.
Wednesday in Chanute, Kan.
Hutchison, a
freshman from Soldotna, Alaska, will fill the 125-pound slot in the Stars’
lineup. Hutchison captured the women’s 55-kilogram national championship on
Saturday, helping OCU to the team title in the WCWA Championships in Marshall,
Mo.
Hutchison holds the
distinction of becoming the first girl to win a state championship wrestling
boys. Hutchison won the 103-pound crown in the Alaska state championships as a
sophomore at Soldotna Skyview High School (Alaska).
As a freshman for
OCU, Hutchison posted a 34-3 record wrestling women. She finished the college
season as the No. 1 individual at 55 kilograms. She is currently ranked sixth
among U.S. senior women at 55.
“Michaela expressed
interest in wrestling men,” OCU coach Archie Randall said.
“She’s wrestled guys all her life. Most of our team has. Women don’t normally
have the strength to wrestle those bigger weight classes. We will not jeopardize
her career wrestling women.”
Hutchison said,
“Coach asked me, and I said, ‘Sure.’ ”
OCU, 7-13 in duals,
has forfeited its 125-pound match in every dual this season. Hutchison, whose
weight class is normally 121 pounds, is scheduled to face Alex
Gorton, a freshman from Rockford, Mich.
“We’re frustrated
with having to forfeit at 125,” Randall said. “It’s a 12-point swing. You have
to get a fall someplace to make up for it. Our team will be wrestling its hearts
out, then when you forfeit, it crushes momentum.”
OCU will finish its
regular-season dual slate at 7 p.m. Feb. 11 against Bacone in Muskogee, Okla.
Hutchison will likely wrestle in that dual as well.
OKLAHOMA CITY
AT NEOSHO COUNTY
(KAN.)
PROBABLE
LINEUP
125: Michaela Hutchison,
OCU, Fr., Soldotna, Alaska vs. Alex Gorton, Neosho County, Fr., Rockford,
Mich.
133: Justin Blumer, OCU,
Sr., Holbrook, Pa., vs. Rory Kendall, Neosho County, So., Vinita,
Okla.
141: Jeremy Garner, OCU,
So., Oklahoma City vs. Cody Eaton, Neosho County, Fr., Bennington, Kan., OR
Montana Carson, Neosho County, Fr., Inola, Okla.
149: Will Shelton, OCU,
Fr., Sperry, Okla., vs. Caleb VanLue, Neosho County, Fr., Lawson, Mo., OR Zach
Shannon, Neosho County, Fr., Madill, Okla.
157: Nik Turner, OCU,
So., Norman, Okla., vs. Zac Taylor, Neosho County, So., San Jose,
Calif.
165: Mark Meyer, OCU,
Fr., Midwest City, Okla., vs. Aaron Butler, Neosho County, Fr., Little Rock,
Ark.
174: Andrew Pontikes,
OCU, Fr., Elgin, Okla., vs. Matt McNabb, Neosho County, Fr., Chickasha,
Okla.
184: Jake Mabry, OCU,
So., Gig Harbor, Wash., vs. Derek Heckel, Neosho County, Fr., Ulysses,
Kan.
197: Raymond Lane, OCU,
Fr., Oklahoma City vs. Jeff Kirwan, Neosho County, Redshirt Fr., Arlington,
Texas
285: Jeremy Johnson, OCU, Jr., Bethany, Okla., vs. Kris Powell, Neosho County, Fr., Inola, Okla.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University has signed Chad Kochenower of Kingfisher High School (Okla.) to its men's wrestling program.
Kochenower captured regional championships as a junior and sophomore and placed third as a freshman. He has won three Western Conference championships, becoming all-conference each time.
Even though he is deaf, Kochenower wrestled for OCU coach Archie Randall in Randall's kids program when he was 7. Kochenower is expected to wrestle at 125 pounds for the Stars.
"Chad is a very talented and accomplished athlete," said Randall. "He is challenged by his lack of hearing, but I think because he is deaf he has to stay more focused on his sport, which accounts for his success. We are expecting great things out of him."
Kochenower finished as Class 2A state runner-up at 103 pounds as a freshman and 119 pounds as a junior. As a sophomore, he placed third at state at 112 pounds. He was honorable-mention Oklahoman all-city as a sophomore.
Kochenower was also honored as Who's Who Among American High School Students in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
OCU hosts the 52nd annual NAIA wrestling championships at Abe Lemons Arena on March 5-7.
Athletics Headlines: Men's Wrestling Outlasts OCU
January 16, 2009
Men's Wrestling Outlasts OCU
After knocking off No. 4 Missouri Valley College Thursday night, the No. 14 Missouri Baptist University men’s wrestling team returned to the mats Friday afternoon against Oklahoma City University. The Spartans earned wins from seven of the 10 weight classes, and took the dual meet 26-10.
OCU’s Dillon Blackmon opened the dual with a 10-4 decision over MBU’s Clayton Olsson at 174 lbs. Blackmon never trailed in the match. The Spartans then took the next two matches, as Robert Jablonski (184 lbs.) defeated Jake Mabry 14-8, and Ike Okenwa (197 lbs.) handled Collin MacMillan 9-2.
On Thursday, MBU’s Michael Wakim’s win secured the upset victory for the Spartans. However, Wakim was outdone by OCU’s Corey Johnson in the heavyweight match. Johnson outscored Wakim 4-2 for the victory.
MBU earned a forfeit win at the 125 lbs. class, and MBU’s Anton Parker (133 lbs.) held on to beat OCU’s Justin Blumer 3-2. Parker and Blumer were tied 2-2 after two periods, but Parker earned an escape point in the final minute of the third period for the win.
In the 141 lbs. match, MBU’s Woodrow Harris outlasted OCU’s Mitch Fenton 8-3. Harris led 4-3 in the second period, and scored a two-point reversal as time expired. He added a takedown in the third. OCU’s Will Shelton (149 lbs.) went up 7-1 after two period on MBU’s Clayton Wise, and cruised to a 13-4 decision.
MBU’s Matt Collum, the NAIA’s No. 1 wrestler at 157 lbs., defeated Nick Turner 10-6. Collum led 4-2 in the second period when Turner scored a two-point takedown to tie the score. Collum quickly countered with a reversal, and regained the lead, 6-4.
In the meet finale, MBU’s Clarence Neeley outscored OCU’s Mark Meyer 18-5. The match was stopped three times in the first two periods, as both Neeley and Meyer received bloody noses. Neeley led 7-1 after one period, and 13-3 after two.
The Spartans are now 5-2 in dual meets this season, and will travel to Pella, IA on Saturday, January 17th to compete in the Central Invitational.
On the women’s side, OCU took 2-of-3 matches from the Lady Spartans, and won easily 39-3. In the 51 kg. match, OCU’s Joey Miller earned a quick first period pin over Mary Shamblin. OCU’s Michaela Hutchison took the 59 kg. match from Shamaine Danner two periods to none. MBU’s lone win came from Desiree Memea (82 kg.), as she defeated Brittany Delgado two periods to none. The women also wrestled two exhibition matches. MBU’s Danner pinned Sheila McCabe 24 seconds in, and OCU’s Lacey Novinska pinned Memea with 28 seconds remaining in the first period.
The Lady Spartans will return to the mats on Saturday, January
31st, at the College Nationals in Marshall, MO.
 |
| Dillon Blackmon went 2-1 on Saturday. |
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Oklahoma City University went 1-2 in the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals on Saturday, ending with a 38-9 loss to seventh-ranked Missouri Valley at the UNI Dome.
OCU fell to top-ranked Lindenwood (Mo.) 38-9, then beat Briar Cliff (Iowa) 46-6 in the consolation round. The Stars ended the tournament in the consolation second round, going to 7-12 in duals.
Against Lindenwood, Jeremy Johnson provided the Stars’ highlight by pinning Jeremiah Fennell in 1:08 in the 285-pound match. Dillon Blackmon, ranked fifth among NAIA 174-pounders, bumped up to 184 and beat Neal Kemp 3-2.
Against Briar Cliff, OCU only gave up a forfeit at 125. From there, OCU rolled with four falls, a technical fall and two major decisions.
Jake Mabry at 184 pinned James Shrader in 4:48, and then Collin MacMillan beat Gage Westbrook by fall in 2:45. Corey Johnson finished off Briar Cliff by pinning Adnan Kaspovic in 4:54.
Will Shelton defeated Justin Hargrave 19-4 in the 149-pound bout. Mitch Fenton picked up a 13-5 major-decision win over Justian Dixon at 133, while Blackmon knocked off Sammy Johnson by major decision 9-1.
Against Missouri Valley, Justin Blumer of the Stars edged Jesse Knott 4-2 in the 133-pound match. Johnson got a forfeit at 285.
The Stars face Missouri Baptist at noon Friday in St. Louis.
LINDENWOOD
38
OKLAHOMA
CITY 9
125:
John Olanowski, LU, by forfeit
133:
Ray Stephens, LU, dec. Mitch Fenton, 10-5
141:
Alptekin Ozkillic, LU, maj. dec. Justin Blumer, 17-5
149:
Sam Schmitz, LU, maj. dec. Jeremy Garner, 13-4
157:
Brian Oechsner, LU, tech. fall Will Shelton, 18-1 (2:30)
165:
Chris Chionuma, LU, tech. fall Nik Turner, 22-6 (4:57)
174:
Matt Cauley, LU, pinned Andrew Pontikes, 0:19
184:
Dillon Blackmon, OCU, dec. Neal Kemp, 3-2
197:
Jeremiah Webb, LU, tech. fall Collin MacMillan, 17-1 (6:42)
285:
Jeremy Johnson, OCU, pinned Jeremiah Fennell, 1:08
OKLAHOMA
CITY 46
BRIAR
CLIFF 6
125:
Sam Vice, BCU, by forfeit
133:
Mitch
Fenton, OCU, maj. dec. Justian Dixon, 13-5
141:
Jeremy
Garner, OCU, dec. Zach Mullins, 3-2
149:
Will
Shelton, OCU, tech. fall Justin Hargrave, 19-4 (6:31)
157:
Nik
Turner, OCU, by inj. default
165:
Andrew
Pontikes, OCU, pinned Ben Taylor, 6:39
174:
Dillon
Blackmon, OCU, maj. dec. Sammy Johnson, 9-1
184:
Jake
Mabry, OCU, pinned James Shrader, 4:48
197:
Collin
MacMillan, OCU, pinned Gage Westbrook, 2:56
285:
Corey
Johnson, OCU, pinned Adnan Kaspovic, 4:54
MISSOURI
VALLEY 38
OKLAHOMA
CITY 9
125:
Paulie Hansen, MVC, by forfeit
133:
Justin Blumer, OCU, dec. Jesse Knott, 4-2
141:
Eric Graham, MVC, dec. Jeremy Garner, 7-0
149:
Brian Graham, MVC, maj. dec. Will Shelton, 14-4
157:
Joe Cornejo, MVC, pinned Kenny Wheeler, 1:11
165:
Jacob Guernsey, MVC, pinned Nik Turner, 2:24
174:
Alex McKinney, MVC, dec. Dillon Blackmon, 7-3
184:
Charlie Gibbs, MVC, maj. dec. Jake Mabry, 19-10
197:
Chad Williams, MVC, pinned Collin Macmillan, 2:28
285:
Jeremy Johnson, OCU, by forfeit
|
| Michaela Hutchison was named women's outstanding wrestler in the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals. |
CEDAR
FALLS, Iowa – Oklahoma City University repeated as NWCA/Cliff
Keen National Duals women’s champion, defeating the U.S.
Olympic Education Center 26-15 on Sunday at the UNI Dome.
The
Stars beat Missouri Valley 39-3 in the semifinals to get to the title
dual. OCU moved to 20-1 in duals.
OCU
won the national duals championship last season in its first season of
competition in women’s wrestling.
“The
biggest thing about winning the national title is to be able to
represent OCU in front of 9,000 people,” OCU coach Archie
Randall said. “We wrestled pretty tough. We
felt we should have won two of the matches we lost.”
In
the championship dual, Lacey Novinska picked
up a clutch pin at 72 kilograms. Novinska, a senior from Fennimore,
Wis., upended Lindsey Brooks, the
top-ranked wrestler at her weight, in 1:31. Novinska is ranked third at
72.
“That
was the end of the match,” Randall said. “They
couldn’t catch us. Lacey has beaten Brooks several times in
the past. They had a chance to switch the lineup and bump someone else
up to wrestle Lacey, but they didn’t, and that was
their mistake. It was a good feeling to have it clinched with two
individuals to go."
Stefenie
Shaw also had a victory at 67 for OCU, answering when
the U.S. Olympic Education picked up wins at 59 and 63. The
Stars’ Karon Scott had a
forfeit at 95 to finish off the dual.
OCU’s Michaela Hutchison was named outstanding wrestler of the duals. Hutchison, a freshman from Soldotna, Alaska, had a win at 55 in the championship dual.
“This
would be the second year we’ve had the outstanding wrestler
at the duals,” Randall said. “It’s a
really big honor for us. She had a pretty good tournament.”
In
the semis, OCU got falls at 55 and 63. Samantha Phillips
did the honors at 63, sticking Karen Howe in
1:43. Phillips entered the match ranked fifth in the nation at her
weight, while Howe is fourth.
In
a matchup of 1 vs. 2 at 95 kilos, Brittany Delgado maintained
her top ranking by edging Amy Havens 1-0,
2-0.
“Our
best match was against Missouri Valley,” Randall said.
“We wrestled a little cautiously in the championship dual,
but that’s normal in that situation.”
OCU
meets Missouri Baptist at noon Friday in St. Louis.
OKLAHOMA
CITY 26
U.S.
OLYMPIC EDUCATION CENTER 15
44:
Lene Wood, OCU, by forfeit
48:
Alyssa Lampe, USOEC, dec. Joey Miller, 4-0,2-0
51:
Leann Barney, OCU, dec. Emily Martin, 2-0,2-0
55:
Michaela Hutchison, OCU, dec. Amy Whitbeck, 5-1,5-0
59:
Beth Johnson, USOEC, dec. Firen Gassman, 1-0,5-1
63:
Schuyler Brown, USOEC, pinned Tessa Plana, 0:36
67:
Stefenie Shaw, OCU, dec. Melissa Apodaca, 4-2,0-3
72:
Lacey Novinska, OCU, pinned Lindsey Brooks, 1:31
82:
Erin
Clodgo, USOEC, dec. Brittany Delgado, 1-0,0-1,1-0
95:
Karon Scott, OCU, by forfeit
OKLAHOMA
CITY 39
MISSOURI
VALLEY 3
44:
Stephanie Waters, OCU, by forfeit
48:
Nicole Woody, OCU, dec. Jenny Torres, 5-0,5-0
51:
Joey Miller, OCU, dec. Britney Heatherly, 5-0
55:
Ashley Hudson, OCU, pinned Brittany Bertolani, 1:46
59:
Ashley Hudson, OCU, dec. Summer Sistad, 5-0
63:
Samantha Phillips, OCU, pinned Karen Howe, 1:43
67:
Jenny Germany, MVC, dec. Tessa Plana, 1-3,2-0
72:
Stefenie Shaw, OCU, dec. Zinna Anyanwuh, 3-0,6-0
82:
Lacey Novinska, OCU, dec. Venus Barron, 4-0,4-1
95:
Brittany Delgado, OCU, dec. Amy Havens, 1-0,2-0
 |
| Lacey Novinska pinned Moriah Fernandez on Saturday. |
1/13/08
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Oklahoma City University opened defense of its NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals championship with a 41-3 victory over Menlo (Calif.) on Saturday in the UNI Dome.
The Stars improved to 18-1 in duals. OCU faces Missouri Valley in the tournament semifinals at 11 a.m. Sunday. The championship dual will be 3 p.m.
In the 51-kilogram bout, LeAnn Barney knocked off Katherine Fulp-Allen 2-1, 1-0. Barney is ranked third in the nation, while Fulp-Allen is second at 51 kilos.
Firen Gassman picked up the first of three falls OCU had Saturday. Gassman, ranked fourth at 59, pinned Kayla Garza 32 seconds into the second period.
OCU’s Tessa Plana stuck Monique Cabrera 37 seconds into the second period at 63. Plana is ranked third at her weight, while Cabrera is eighth.
Lacey Novinska, ranked third at 72, overcame losing the first period by getting the fall against seventh-rated Moriah Fernandez in 1:17 in the second.
OKLAHOMA
CITY 41
MENLO
3
44:
Lene Wood, OCU, by forfeit
48:
Nicole Woody, OCU, by forfeit
51:
LeAnn Barney, OCU, dec. Katherine Fulp-Allen, 2-1,1-0
55:
Michaela Hutchison, OCU, dec. Carla O'Connell, 5-1,4-0
59:
Firen Gassman, OCU, pinned Kayla Garza, 9-2,0:32
63:
Tessa Plana, OCU, pinned Monique Cabrera, 6-4,0:37
67:
Stefenie Shaw, OCU, dec. Ashlee Evans-Smith, 2-0,3-0
72:
Lacey Novinska, OCU, pinned Moriah Fernandez, 1-3,1:17
82:
Karon Scott, OCU, by forfeit
HOME
MATCH ITINERARY
Tuesday
November 18th, 2008
Tuesday
November 18th
3:45
Report to Wrestling Room
5:00
Gym
Set up
5:00
Weigh-in
Freede Center
5:15
Team
Warm-Up
6:00
Team Run
On
6:05
National
Anthem
6:05
Introduction of Teams
Mat
1
6:00
Hannibal
Le Grange VS Bacone
College
7:30
OCU
VS Hannibal Le grange College
9:00
OCU
VS Bacone College
Announce
OCU Men’s Wrestler of Duals
 |
| Dillon Blackmon went 3-0 on Sunday. |
OKLAHOMA CITY – Menlo (Calif.) clinched its victory over Oklahoma City University on Gary Nelson’s pin at 184 pounds Sunday in a matchup of top 10-ranked teams in NAIA wrestling at Abe Lemons Arena.
Nelson stuck Andrew Pontikes of the Stars in 6:29 as No. 2 Menlo prevailed 26-15. Tenth-ranked OCU also knocked off Grand Canyon (Ariz.) 32-12 and Neosho County (Kan.) 37-9 in the Stars’ first duals of the season.
Dillon Blackmon gave OCU an opportunity in the final match with a 10-5 win over Greg Alvarez at 184. Justin Blumer sparked OCU with a pin at 133 in 2:04 over Aaron Garcia, then Jeremy Garner cut the Stars’ deficit to 14-9 with a 7-2 win over Christian Martinez at 141.
Menlo answered with wins at 149 and 157. Nik Turner answered for OCU with a 3-2 victory at 165 over Sabas Cruz with a third-period takedown. The 165-pound bout featured fifth-ranked Turner and sixth-ranked Cruz.
“It’s simple,” OCU coach Archie Randall said. “You have to have all your horses, and we didn’t. We had a couple of matches that were decided late that if we had kept our intensity, it might have been different. We wrestled tough, but it’s early, and we hope to turn it around later in the season.”
Against Grand Canyon, Mark Meyer nailed a fall vs. Jack Porter in 1:14 at 165. Garner also had a major decision 10-1 vs. Austin Moore at 141, and Blackmon picked up a 17-2 technical fall vs. Adam Barnett at 184.
Against Neosho County, Corey Johnson, Blumer, Meyer and Blackmon notched pins. Meyer, a freshman from Midwest City, Okla., caught David Butler with a leg cradle to finish him off in 1:03.
MENLO
26
OKLAHOMA
CITY 15
197:
Al
Kinslow, MC, tech. fall Jake Mabry, 18-3
285:
Jesse
Ruiz, MC, dec. Corey Johnson, 12-6
125:
Eric
Garcia, MC, by forfeit
133:
Justin
Blumer, OCU, pinned Aaron Garcia, 2:04
141:
Jeremy
Garner, OCU, dec. Christian Martinez, 7-2
149:
Lee
Morrison, MC, dec. Will Shelton, 4-1
157:
Josh
Emmett, MC, dec. Mark Meyer, 6-4
165:
Nik
Turner, OCU, dec. Sabas Cruz, 3-2
174:
Dillon
Blackmon, OCU, dec. Greg Alvarez, 10-5
184:
Gary
Nelson, MC, pinned Andrew Pontikes, 6:29
OKLAHOMA
CITY 32
GRAND
CANYON 12
197:
Jake
Mabry, OCU, dec. Bryan Cooper, 9-5
285:
Corey
Johnson, OCU, by forfeit
125:
Alex
Contreras, GC, by forfeit
133:
Mitch
Fenton, OCU, by forfeit
141:
Jeremy
Garner, OCU, maj. dec. Austin Moore, 10-1
149:
Bryan
Scambler, GC, dec. Will Shelton, 8-3
157:
Nik
Turner, OCU, dec. Daniel Rubio, 7-2
165:
Mark
Meyer, OCU, pinned Jack Porter, 1:14
174:
Daniel
Garay, GC, dec. Andrew Pontikes, 9-4
184:
Dillon
Blackmon, OCU, tech. fall Adam Barnett, 17-2
OKLAHOMA
CITY 37
NEOSHO
COUNTY 9
197:
Jake
Mabry, OCU, dec. Jeff Kirwan, 5-0
285:
Corey
Johnson, OCU, pinned Kris Powell, 3:00
125:
Alex
Gordon, NC, by forfeit
133:
Justin
Blumer, OCU, pinned Stephen Kendrick, 2:44
141:
Jeremy
Garner, OCU, dec. Montana Carson, 6-0
149:
Will
Shelton, OCU, dec. Caleb VanLue, 10-5
157:
Nik
Turner, OCU, maj. dec. Justin Ringgold, 14-5
165:
Mark
Meyer, OCU, pinned David Butler, 1:03
174:
Dillon
Blackmon, OCU, pinned Matt McNabb, 6:30
184: Derek Heckel, NC, dec. Andrew Pontikes, 9-3