OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University split with a pair of opponents after knocking off Central Baptist (Ark.) 55-0 and following it up with a 18-16 loss to Baker (Kan.) on Wednesday at Abe Lemons Arena.
OCU, ranked 17th in NAIA men's wrestling, moves to 9-7 in dual action.
“As a team, we're improving every single time we get on the mat,” OCU coach Archie Randall said. “We're wrestling better every single time, but in wrestling the only way you can get better, as sad as it may seem, is to lose. If you don't lose, you're not going get better.”
The closely contested dual with Baker ended the night. Kidd Gomez, ranked 10th in the NAIA, earned extra points with a pin in 6:05 to give the Stars a 9-3 cushion after three matches. OCU dropped the next four bouts to allow Baker to grab a 15-9 lead.
The Stars scratched back with a 10-2 major decision by Mark Meyer at 165 followed by a 4-3 decision by Derek Peperas. Peperas, a junior from Santa Fe, N.M., got the victory on a late takedown with 19 seconds remaining in the third period to get his first win in his first appearance wearing a Stars singlet.
“Derek had the takedown at the end, but he was really nervous,” Randall said. “It is his first time to be on the mat since Christmas, and he just was a little bit apprehensive right now, but he'll be okay.”
OCU had a slim 16-15 lead heading into the final match of the night. James Brigance, a freshman from Talihina, Okla., gave Jarid Price the slim 2-1 lead after the first period. Brigance fell behind 5-2 after two periods of action, but fought back to cut the score to 6-4 in the waning minute. A late takedown by Price and the riding time point handed Brigance the eventual loss and closed the dual with Baker surviving to earn the 18-16 win.
The Stars started off the night of duals against Central Baptist with a 55-0 win that was highlighted by four pins in the six wrestled matches. Jake Mabry, a senior from Gig Harbor, Wash., began the night's action with a fall at 197 over Alex Brooks. Jarred Steinbach, a sophomore from Tehachapi, Calif., notched a pin in 3:38 at 133. Will Shelton-Delk, a junior from Sperry, Okla., earned his fall in 4:49 over Christian Binginisi. Tyson Campbell, a sophomore from Arnold, Mo., took 5:40 to get the pin at 165 over Brad Burnside. Along with the four pins, Hunter Muskrat got the extra-point 15-3 major decision over Donata Gardenhire.
“We've had a couple good weeks of wrestling now,” Randall said. “We're in every match and we're in the mix in everything we do now, which is something that we haven't been doing before. We're close, but hopefully we'll push it over the edge at the end.”
OCU hits the mat next in the Cumberland Open in Lebanon, Tenn. on Sunday.
OKLAHOMA CITY 55
CENTRAL BAPTIST 0
133: Jarred Steinbach, OCU, pinned Nate Waldrip, 3:38
BAKER 18
OKLAHOMA CITY 16
133: Josh Haugen, BU, dec. Jarred Steinbach, 6-1
BAKER 58
CENTRAL BAPTIST 0
125: A.J. Gassman, BU, by forfeit
133: Josh Haugen, BU, pinned Nate Waldrip, 3:52
141: Phillip Hens, BU, maj. dec. Donata Gardenhire, 9-0
149: Jarell Price, BU, pinned Christian Binginisi, 2:18
157: Andrew Hurla, BU, by forfeit
165: Jakob Price, BU, pinned Brad Burnside, 0:55
174: Parker Own, BU, by forfeit
184: Jarid Price, BU vs. by forfeit
197: Brandon Gebhardt, BU, pinned Alex Brooks, 0:31
285: Levi Calhoun, BU, pinned Derek McCain, 1:09
