OKLAHOMA CITY – Corey Johnson and Nik Turner became two-time all-Americans for Oklahoma City University on Friday in the 53rd annual NAIA wrestling championships at Abe Lemons Arena.
Johnson and Turner are the Stars' fourth and fifth two-time all-Americans. The tournament concludes Saturday with the placing matches starting at 10 a.m. The championship finals will start at 6:30 p.m. and be available via live video by clicking here.
Turner will be gunning for third place at 157 pounds, while Johnson has an opportunity for seventh at 285. Saturday, Turner meets top-ranked Joe Cornejo of Missouri Valley. With a win, Turner advances to the third-place match. With a loss, Turner would compete for fifth. Johnson takes on Jeremy Colbert of Bacone for seventh.
“Corey and Nik will be all-Americans,” OCU coach Archie Randall said. “We had six go in this round and four lost. They were all close matches and hard fought, but all-Americans have that inner desire to succeed.
“This is a tough round. This is a meat grinder. You have to be tough and prepared to win.”
Turner, a junior from Norman, Okla., fell 7-5 on a last-second takedown to James Casadaban of Cumberland (Tenn.) in the 157 semifinal. Turner had accumulated enough riding time to score a point and break the 5-5 deadlock. Casadaban advanced to the championship final.
“He didn't stay focused on the gameplan,” Randall said.
Turner won his quarterfinal bout 11-6 over Brian Heiberger of Northwestern (Iowa). Turner posted five takedowns on Heiberger.
Johnson, a senior from Oologah, Okla., lost to Tyler Porras of Lindenwood (Mo.) 7-4. He became OCU's two-time all-American.
“He wrestled hard, but sometimes you don't get the right matchup,” Randall said.
Defending 285-pound champion Arjan Bhullar of Simon Fraser (British Columbia) defeated Johnson of OCU 12-6 in the championship semifinals.
Johnson stayed alive with a 10-0 victory over Jeremiah Fennell of Campbellsville (Ky.). Johnson registered three near falls.
Cameron Ream, OCU's 133-pounder, fell twice by fall Friday to finish his tournament run. Ryan McKenzie of Cumberland pinned Ream, a freshman from Wentzville, Mo., in 1:32.
Tommy Pretty of Campbellsville knocked Ream into the wrestleback matches, pinning Ream in 2:06. Pretty is ranked fifth at 133 pounds.
“We have a great group of freshmen,” Randall said. “They will be great kids next year. This tournament is an eye opener for them.”
Brandon Porter of Waldorf (Iowa) picked up a late escape and riding time to edge OCU's Mark Meyer 7-5.
Meyer used two reversals and riding time to rally for a 7-6 victory over Pat Nord of Jamestown (N.D.). Meyer, a sophomore 165-pounder from Midwest City, Okla., overcame a 6-2 deficit.
Kidd Gomez won in the consolation bracket 6-2 over Venel Rene of Waldorf. Gomez stayed alive with a 13-9 win over Kevin Klink of Lindsey Wilson (Ky.). Gomez picked up a pair of takedowns and riding time in the third period to advance.
Gomez, a freshman from Noble, Okla., picked up his second loss to Zach Meury of Missouri Baptist by fall in 1:53.
Will Shelton-Delk won by fall over Zach Mullins of Briar Cliff (Iowa) in 2:39. Levi Price of Northwestern (Iowa) eliminated Shelton-Delk by major decision 11-2.
Andrew Pontikes nipped Jobi Hambrick of Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.) 3-2. Drae Cox of Lindenwood ousted Pontikes 8-6 in overtime at 174.
Bryce Dicus (125), Jeremy Garner (141), Cole Nelson (165), Jake Mabry (197) and Ronnie Hood (285) also bowed out of the tournament. Hood, a senior from McLoud, Okla., finished his career with 20 wins and five falls.
Results
Team Standings
NAIA Championships
At Oklahoma City
Abe Lemons Arena
Oklahoma City University Results
125
Consolation Second Round
Galen Williams, Lindenwood, dec. Bryce Dicus, OCU, 7-6
Consolation Third Round
Kidd Gomez, OCU, dec. Venel Rene, Waldorf, 6-2
Consolation Fourth Round
Kidd Gomez, OCU, dec. Kevin Klink, Lindsey Wilson, 13-9
Consolation Fifth Round
Zach Meury, Missouri Baptist, pinned Kidd Gomez, OCU, 1:53
133
Championship Quarterfinals
Tommy Pretty, Campbellsville, pinned Cameron Ream, OCU, 2:06
Consolation Fifth Round
Ryan McKenzie, Cumberland, pinned Cameron Ream, OCU, 1:32
141
Consolation Third Round
Timothy Mitchem, Cumberlands, dec. Jeremy Garner, OCU, 5-3
149
Consolation Fifth Round
Will Shelton-Delk, OCU, pinned Zach Mullins, Briar Cliff, 2:39
Consolation Sixth Round
Levi Price, Northwestern (Iowa) maj. dec. Will Shelton-Delk, OCU, 11-3
157
Championship Quarterfinals
Nik Turner, OCU, dec. Brian Heiberger, Northwestern (Iowa), 11-6
Championship Semifinals
James Casadaban, Cumberland, dec. Nik Turner, OCU, 7-5
165
Consolation Third Round
Adrian Gonzales, Menlo, dec. Cole Nelson, OCU, 7-1
Consolation Fourth Round
Mark Meyer, OCU, dec. Pat Nord, Jamestown, 7-6
Consolation Fifth Round
Brandon Porter, Waldorf, dec. Mark Meyer, OCU, 7-5
174
Consolation Fourth Round
Andrew Pontikes, OCU, dec. Jobi Hambrick, Hannibal-LaGrange, 3-2
Consolation Fifth Round
Drae Cox, Lindenwood, dec. Andrew Pontikes, OCU, 8-6 (SV)
197
Consolation Fourth Round
Joe Lockett, Morningside, dec. Jake Mabry, OCU, 11-4
285
Championship Quarterfinals
Arjan Bhullar, Simon Fraser, dec. Corey Johnson, OCU, 12-6
Consolation Third Round
Alexander Evans, California Baptist, dec. Ronnie Hood, OCU, 2-1
Consolation Fifth Round
Corey Johnson, OCU, maj. dec. Jeremiah Fennell, Campbellsville, 10-0
Consolation Sixth Round
Tyler Porras, Lindenwood, dec. Corey Johnson, OCU, 7-4
