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
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