CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Oklahoma City University finished 1-2 in the NWCA National Duals on Saturday in the UNI Dome, beating Dana (Neb.) 23-19, then falling 42-0 to top-ranked Notre Dame (Ohio) and 36-10 to 11th-ranked Campbellsville (Ky.) 36-9.
The Stars, ranked eighth in NAIA wrestling, went to 3-8 in duals, but snapped a string of five defeats in a row.
Against Dana, Corey Johnson's pin of Tyler Lauifi at 285 pounds with one second remaining pulled out the win for OCU. The Stars rallied from a 19-17 deficit on Johnson's win.
Cole Nelson edged John Schmalz 6-4 at 184 to put OCU on top 17-13 in the dual. Mark Peiffer of Dana got the fall at 197 to set up Johnson's heroics.
Mark Meyer beat Bulla Tuzon by fall at 165, and Nik Turner defeated Jordan Hancock 16-5 at 157 to rally OCU. Jeremy Garner also picked up a 12-2 major-decision win over Evan Russell at 141.
Notre Dame won nine of the 10 bouts, including pins at 125 and 149 plus a forfeit at 197. Garner, a junior from Oklahoma City, lost 6-2 to top-ranked defending 141-pound champion Adam Koballa of Notre Dame.
Johnson and Kidd Gomez provided the highlights against Campbellsville. Johnson, a senior from Oologah, Okla., won 9-0 over David Coffey at 285. Gomez, a freshman from Noble, Okla., picked up a fall over Johnny Papesh at 125.
The Stars compete next in the Cumberland Duals on Jan. 15 in Lebanon, Tenn., taking on Limestone (S.C.) at 2 p.m. Jan. 15.
OKLAHOMA CITY 23
DANA 19
125: Cayden McKim, DC, dec. Kidd Gomez, 15-10
133: Matt Jacobson, DC, dec. Cameron Ream, 6-5
141: Jeremy Garner, OCU, maj. dec. Evan Russell, 12-2
149: Adam Manz, DC, dec. Will Shelton, 9-2
157: Nik Turner, OCU, maj. dec. Jordan Hancock, 16-5
165: Mark Meyer, OCU, pinned Bulla Tuzon, 4:54
174: Josh Ghobadpoor, DC, maj. dec. Andrew Pontikes, 12-3
184: Cole Nelson, OCU, dec. John Schmalz, 6-4
197: Mark Peiffer, DC, pinned Jake Mabry, 4:34
285: Corey Johnson, OCU, pinned Tyler Lauifi, 6:59
NOTRE DAME 42
OKLAHOMA CITY 0
125: Dante Rimi, NDC, pinned Bryce Dicus, 2:04
133: Tyler Savage, NDC, maj. dec. Cameron Ream, 19-6
141: Adam Koballa, NDC, dec. Jeremy Garner, 6-2
149: Asatin Primus, NDC, pinned Will Shelton, 2:39
157: Tom Straughn, NDC, maj. dec. Nik Turner, 12-4
165: Kevin Hardy, NDC, maj. dec. Mark Meyer, 12-1
174: Kurt Wolf, NDC, dec. Andrew Pontikes, 3-2
184: Alex Denman, NDC, dec. Jake Mabry, 12-5
197: Derek Foore, NDC, by forfeit
285: Arlando Scales, NDC, dec. Corey Johnson, 8-4
CAMPBELLSVILLE 36
OKLAHOMA CITY 10
125: Kidd Gomez, OCU, pinned Johnny Papesh, 4:39
133: Tommy Pretty, CU, pinned Cameron Ream, 1:38
141: Jacob Murton, CU, dec. Jeremy Garner, 8-1
149: Nick Waldrop, CU, by inj. default over Will Shelton
157: Conor Young, CU, dec. Nik Turner, 10-6
165: James Linker, CU, maj. dec. Mark Meyer, 14-4
174: Bryan Wells, CU, tech. fall Andrew Pontikes, 17-0; 6:02
184: Spencer Adams, CU, dec. Cole Nelson, 12-6
197: Allen Scruggs, CU, pinned Jake Mabry, 4:29
285: Corey Johnson, OCU, maj. dec. David Coffey, 9-0
