Men's Wrestling 1/25/2012 9:36:00 PM

Gomez's win gives OCU 19-18 triumph over Central Oklahoma

Gomez takes 18-3 technical-fall win for difference

OKLAHOMA CITY – Kidd Gomez's technical fall brought Oklahoma City University a 19-18 victory over Central Oklahoma on Wednesday at Abe Lemons Arena.
Gomez, a junior from Noble, Okla., defeated Ryan Brooks 18-3 at 125 pounds in the final match of the dual. Gomez's tech fall was the only one of the dual to provide the tiebreaker.
OCU, ranked fifth in NAIA wrestling, improved to 8-5 in duals, while Central Oklahoma, sixth-ranked in NCAA Division II, went to 6-5.
Gomez piled up six takedowns, including one more in the final 10 seconds to go up 17-3. Gomez led 10-0 through two periods and picked up two near falls along the way. Gomez accumulated riding time to make the score 18-3 and excite the OCU side of the packed-house crowd.
Gomez, ranked sixth in the NAIA at 125 pounds, improved to 22-4 on the season.
"He's a goer," OCU coach Archie Randall said. "He's one of the best 125-pounders in the nation. His first goal was to pin him. He got the technical fall, but he was still trying to pin him. He did a great job of tying the dual and giving us the win on criteria.
"All 10 have to do their job. I'm really proud of the team. This is a big win for our program."
Michael Brown preceded Gomez with a 3-1 sudden-victory win, working for a takedown of Cody Dauphin in the extra period. Dauphin had defeated Brown, a freshman from Noble, Okla., twice this season.
"We got a big match out of Mike Brown," Randall said. "We worked on the overtime stuff. We worked on everything they did. We had time to prepare. That was huge."
OCU's top-ranked individuals notched the Stars' first points of the dual. Nik Turner, a senior from Norman, Okla., picked up three takedowns in the first period. In the second, Kaleb Cradduck rode Turner most of the period and surrendered only a penalty point to Turner. Turner, ranked No. 1 among NAIA 157-pounders, closed out the bout with two takedowns in the third for a 12-6 win.
Kevin Hardy, a senior from Solon, Ohio, rode a 7-3 first-period advantage en route to a 12-3 win. Hardy, top-ranked in the NAIA at 165, accumulated two takedowns, a three-point near fall, a two-point near fall and an escape in the first.
Derek Peperas posted an 8-3 victory at 174 for OCU. Peperas, a senior from Albuquerque, N.M., registered three takedowns to cut the Stars' deficit to 11-10.
Central Oklahoma got off to an 11-0 advantage through the first three matches. Ky Corley won 9-2 over Will Shelton-Delk at 149 to provide Central its lead.
"Hopefully this propels us into regionals," Randall said. "We gave up too many bonus points, but it all evened out. No falls, so it was a great dual."
The Stars meet Baker (Kan.) at 7 p.m. Feb. 1 in Baldwin City, Kan.

OKLAHOMA CITY 19
CENTRAL OKLAHOMA 18
133: Dustin Reed, UCO, maj. dec. Alvie Killingsworth, 17-6
141: Casy Rowell, UCO, maj. dec. Eric Waggoner, 13-4
149: Ky Corley, UCO, dec. Will Shelton-Delk, 9-2
157: Nik Turner, OCU, dec. Kaleb Cradduck, 12-6
165: Kevin Hardy, OCU, maj. dec. Chris Watson, 12-3
174: Derek Peperas, OCU, dec. Zach Aylor, 8-3
184: Tanner Keck, UCO, maj. dec. Andrew Pontikes, 14-5
197: Jarrett Edison, UCO, dec. Mitchell Eichenauer, 4-1
285: Michael Brown, OCU, dec. Cody Dauphin, 3-1 (SV)
125: Kidd Gomez, OCU, tech. fall Ryan Brooks, 18-3

Wrestling vs. Central Oklahoma Gallery

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Players Mentioned

Derek Peperas: 165; 5' 7"; Senior

Andrew Pontikes: 184; 6' 0"; Senior

Will Shelton-Delk: 149; 5' 8"; Senior

Nik Turner: 157; 5' 7"; Senior

Eric Waggoner: 141; 5' 10"; Freshman

Kevin Hardy: 165; 6' 0"; Senior

Michael Brown: 285; 5' 11"; Sophomore

Mitchell Eichenauer: 184; 5' 11"; Senior

Kidd Gomez: 125; 5' 5"; Senior

Alvie Killingsworth: 125; 5' 8"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Derek Peperas
: 5' 7"; Senior
: 165

Andrew Pontikes
: 6' 0"; Senior
: 184

Will Shelton-Delk
: 5' 8"; Senior
: 149

Nik Turner
: 5' 7"; Senior
: 157

Eric Waggoner
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: 141

Kevin Hardy
: 6' 0"; Senior
: 165

Michael Brown
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: 285

Mitchell Eichenauer
: 5' 11"; Senior
: 184

Kidd Gomez
: 5' 5"; Senior
: 125

Alvie Killingsworth
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: 125