Recap: @UNCBearsWrestle drops dual against Oklahoma, 28-10

Sunday, January 21

Norman, OK

2 p.m.

University of Northern Colorado

Oklahoma

Photo by: Dean Popejoy

1/21/2018 5:43:00 PM | Wrestling

Montoya, Torres, and Montoya wins are not enough to carry Northern Colorado

By: Matthew Kushar, UNCBears.com

NORMAN, Okla.- Northern Colorado wrestling was unable to pick up another Big 12 dual win falling 28-10 against Oklahoma on Sunday. UNC lost seven of 10 matches and Oklahoma also had the advantage in bonus points in the dual.

No. 18 Rico Montoya started the dual for UNC in the 133 lb weight class against Jacob Rubio. After a scoreless first period, Montoya managed a takedown of Rubio to hold a 2-1 advantage after the second. In the third period, Montoya added a reversal to put him ahead for good. Montoya defeated Rubio by decision. 4-2 and UNC had the early lead on OU, 3-0.

In the 141 lb weight class, Benjamin Polkowske went up against Mike Longo. The bout ended in the first after Longo managed to pin Polkowske at 2:47 and OU quickly retook the lead 6-3.

Now in the 149 lb weight class, Jimmy Fate battled Davion Jeffries. The match did not start well for Fate, as Jeffries built a sizable lead in the first period with a takedown and three, two-point near falls for an 8-0 advantage. The second period was not much better for Fate, as Jeffries added another reversal, a two-point near fall, and a four-point near fall. Jeffries defeated Fate 17-0 by technical fall and OU's lead grew to 11-3.

Tyler Kinn was up for UNC in the 157 lb weight class against Justin Thomas. Kinn trailed Thomas 1-4 after the first period after a takedown and a two-point near fall. In the second period, Thomas extended his lead to 7-2. Kinn added two escapes in the third, but could not score anything else on Thomas and dropped the match 10-4 by decision. OU continued to separate from UNC, now leading 14-3.

No. 19 Keilan Torres was back in his home state and the Bears needed him to have a strong match against Dawaylon Barnes. Torres went up 4-1 on Barnes in the first period thanks to a pair of takedowns. In the second period, Torres had a takedown on Barnes and followed it up with a four-point near fall for a 10-2 lead. Barnes got a takedown on Torres in the third, but it was not enough for the comeback. Torres won a 12-5 decision over Barnes and got UNC back in the dual, now down 6-14 heading to the intermission.

After the break, Sethan Bogulski faced No. 11 Yoanse Mejias in the 174 lb weight class. Mejias had a takedown on Bogulski for a 2-1 lead after the first period. Two more takedowns in the second period gave Mejias a 7-3 lead going into the final period. Mejias added another two takedowns and defeated Bogulski 12-6 by decision. OU went up 17-6 in the dual.

No. 15 Dylan Gabel was on the mat for UNC in the 184 lb weight class against Matt Waddell. Gabel started quickly with a takedown and a two-point near fall on Waddell for a 4-0 lead in the first period. Gabel added an escape in the second to push the lead to 5-0. Looking to close out the match and score bonus points for UNC, Gabel had a takedown of Waddell, along with riding time to earn the 8-0 major decision victory. UNC cut the lead to 17-10.

In the 197 lb weight class, Tanner Davis battled Andrew Dixon and the two were scoreless after the first period. Dixon got a four-point near fall on Davis and he had the lead in the second period, 4-1. Dixon would go on to defeat Davis 6-1 decision and OU went up 20-10 over UNC.

Robert Winters Jr. faced off against Marquise Overton in the heavyweight class and neither managed to score in the first period. Overton had the lead in the second period with an escape, but Winters Jr. responded in the third with his own escape to force overtime. The first overtime was scoreless, but Overton took the lead in the second overtime with an escape. Winter Jr. managed to tie the score on a penalty to extend the match further. In the third overtime, the two exchanged escapes again. Overton managed to win the match 4-3 on riding time and OU secured the dual with a 23-10 lead.

Michael Johnson went up against Christian Moody in the last bout of the day. Moody had a 6-1 lead on Johnson after the first period. In the second period, Moody added five takedowns for a 17-5 advantage. Moody would go on to win 21-5 by technical fall over Johnson. Northern Colorado lost the dual to Oklahoma 28-10.

In their words
"I think we wrestled well today. Rico and Keilan both had big matches and came through. Dylan did what he does and was dominant. Robert has really been stepping up lately and lost on a tough call. We have another quick turnaround when we come back on Friday in another big conference match versus Fresno State." Troy Nickerson, Head Coach

Up Next
Northern Colorado wrestling returns to Bank of Colorado Arena on Friday night for a dual against Big 12 foe Fresno State. The dual starts at 7 P.M. (MT).

CALLING ALL KIDS: UNC Wrestling will host the 2018 Kids Clinic on Friday, Jan. 26, prior to their dual against Fresno State. Tune-up your skills with the team at 5:45 pm then cheer on the bears at 7! To register for the free clinic, visit uncbears.com/kidsclinic or for more information call 351-1832.

*Please note This year's clinic does NOT include a ticket to the match but tickets are available at a special discounted rate of $3 for kids and $5 for adults (plus fees). These can be purchased ahead of time online with promo code WRKidsDay or at the time of registration at the Bank of Colorado Arena Box Office.