(OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla., Feb. 16)—The No. 3 ranked McKendree University wrestling team defeated No. 6 Oklahoma City University, 26-10, Saturday night before losing a close one to NCAA Division II No. 1 University of Central Oklahoma, 22-18.

 

The Bearcats, now 12-5 on the season, travel to Lebanon, Tenn. February 22 for the NAIA East Regional.

 

In their first match, the Bearcats picked up wins by freshman Wade Lowe (Godfrey, Ill./) (Godfrey, Ill./Alton), senior Kyle Jahn (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook), freshman Ryan Jahn (Bolingbrook, Ill./) (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook), sophomore Aaron Winning (Highland, Ill./) (Highland, Ill./Althoff Catholic), freshman Kyle Reid (Belleville, Ill./) (Belleville, Ill./Belleville East), senior Adam Hicks (Eureka, Mo./) (Eureka, Mo./Eureka) and sophomore Zak Adomanis (Bowie, Md./Progressive Christian) (Bowie, Md./Progressive Christian). Two of those wins were upsets, as NAIA No. 7 Lowe defeated NAIA No. 6 Justin Blumer and NAIA No. 4 Winning pinned NAIA No. 3 Brandon Benson.

 

In the second match, the Bearcats lost their first three matches to fall behind 13-0, before junior Jermaine Waye (Altama, Ga./) (Brunswick, Ga./Glynn Academy) and Winning had back-to-back wins, with Winning pinning his opponent in 0:29 seconds, to make the score 13-9. The Bronchos picked up another win to increase their lead to 16-9, before back-to-back wins by sophomore’s Josh Bryant (Tuttle, Okla./) (Tuttle, Okla./Tuttle) and Tanner Wolk (Ste. Genevieve, Mo./) (Ste. Genevieve, Mo./Ste. Genevieve) gave the Bearcats a 18-16 lead. The Bronchos got two close wins at 197-pounds and in the Heavyweight class to win, 22-18.

 

NAIA No. 3 McKendree University 26, NAIA No. 6 Oklahoma City University 10

 

125: Adam DeLong, OCU, maj. dec. A.J. Ciccarelli (Edwardsville, Ill./), 10-2

133: Wade Lowe (Godfrey, Ill./), McKendree, dec. Justin Blumer, 5-0

141: Kyle Jahn (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook), McKendree, dec. Tyler Howard, 4-1

149: Ryan Jahn (Bolingbrook, Ill./), McKendree, dec. Clint Swango, 5-3 (2OT)

157: Aaron Winning (Highland, Ill./), McKendree, pinned Brandon Benson, 5:20

165: Kyle Reid (Belleville, Ill./), McKendree, tech. fall Nik Turner, 19-4 (5:29)

174: John Wilcox, OCU, dec. Josh Bryant (Tuttle, Okla./), 5-3

184: Mitchell Eichenauer, OCU, dec. Tanner Wolk (Ste. Genevieve, Mo./), 6-2

197: Adam Hicks (Eureka, Mo./), McKendree, dec. Dillon Blackmon, 3-1 (OT)

285: Zack Adomanis, McKendree, dec. Ronnie Hood, 2-0

 

NAIA No. 3 McKendree University 18, NCAA II No. 1 University of Central Oklahoma

 

125: Nick Rice, UCO, major dec. A.J. Ciccarelli (Edwardsville, Ill./), 13-3

133: Tim Elliott, UCO, pinned Wade Lowe (Godfrey, Ill./), 4:04

141: Kyle Evans, UCO, dec. Kyle Jahn (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook), 6-1

149: Jermaine Waye (Altama, Ga./), MC, dec. Brent Sarette, 9-8

157: Aaron Winning (Highland, Ill./), MC, pinned Jason Leavitt, 0:29

165: Paul Mayfield, UCO, dec. Kyle Reid (Belleville, Ill./), 10-4

174: Josh Bryant (Tuttle, Okla./), MC, dec. Daniel Morrison, 6-4

184: Tanner Wolk (Ste. Genevieve, Mo./), MC, by injury default over Heath Jolley, 5:35

197: Jarrett Edison, UCO, dec. Adam Hicks (Eureka, Mo./), 5-4
285: Dustin Finn, UCO, dec. Dan Moore (Rolla, Mo./), 2-1 (TB)