LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Oklahoma City University fell into the consolation bracket of the NWCA National Duals after dropping a 24-20 decision to Baker (Kan.) on Friday at the Kentucky Exposition Center.
The Stars, ranked 19th in NAIA men's wrestling, challenged a pair of ranked opponents in the NWCA National Duals. Baker owns the 16th spot in the rankings, and fourth-ranked Doane (Neb.) defeated OCU 39-6 earlier Friday. The Stars (6-4) meet Lourdes (Ohio) at 8 a.m. CST (9 a.m. EST) Saturday.
Keegan Luton collected two victories on the day for Oklahoma City. Luton, a sophomore from Mustang, Okla., studying psychology, prevailed against two ranked wrestlers. Luton, the fourth-ranked 149-pounder in the NAIA, defeated Doane's Nathan Lendt, ranked 12th, and Baker's Dallas Koelzer, who holds No. 14 in the ratings. Luton (11-2) edged Lendt 2-1 in sudden victory and knocked off Koelzer 6-3.
Jack Kitchingham accounted for the Stars' other win against Doane. Kitchingham, a sophomore accounting major from Mustang, Okla., won 4-2 against Garrett Cornwell in the 197-pound match.
Against Baker, the Stars built a 21-6 lead in the dual. Cade Manion and Drake Vannoy pinned their opponents. Manion, a sophomore criminal justice major from Edmond, Okla., took the fall against Joseph Triscornia in 4:26 at 141 pounds. Manion competed for the first time this season.
Vannoy, a junior nursing major from Jenks, Okla., finished off Jonah Muhammed in 1:49 in the 165-pound bout to give OCU a 15-point advantage. Hayden Brown and Trinit Zweifel also picked up wins for Oklahoma City.
DOANE 39
OKLAHOMA CITY 6
125: Daniel Vargas, DU, by forfeit
133: Devin Avedissian, DU, pinned Cooper Mahaffey, 4:19
141: Baterdene Boldmaa, DU, dec. Cade Manion, 10-7
149: Keegan Luton, OCU, dec. Nathan Lendt, 2-1 (SV)
157: Tristan Zamipla, DU, pinned Drake Vannoy, 6:38
165: Benjamin Dobler, DU, maj. dec. Kolbe Madron, 14-4
174: Michael Scarponi, DU, maj. dec. Mannix Faworski, 11-0
184: Cael Jordan, DU, pinned Conner Columbus, 4:35
197: Jack Kitchingham, OCU, dec. Garrett Cornwell, 4-2
285: Brandon Antesberger, DU, maj. dec. Grant Baber, 16-4
BAKER 24
OKLAHOMA CITY 20
125: Saoul Prado, BU, by forfeit
133: Trinit Zweifel, OCU, dec. Jake Barnes, 3-1
141: Cade Manion, OCU, pinned Joseph Triscornia, 4:26
149: Keegan Luton, OCU, dec. Dallas Koelzer, 6-3
157: Hayden Brown, OCU, dec. Nikolas Slatoff, 5-3
165: Drake Vannoy, OCU, pinned Jonah Muhammad, 1:49
174: Joey Hancock, BU, maj. dec. Mannix Faworski, 10-1
184: Cael Johnson, BU, pinned Connor Columbus, 5:00
197: Brett Bober, BU, maj. dec. Jack Kitchingham, 11-3
285: Roman Bushek, BU, maj. dec. Grant Baber, 9-0
Unsportsmanlike conduct on Connor Columbus post-match – spiking headgear.
