UCO Wrestling Takes Down No. 14 Augustana

The 11^th-ranked Central Oklahoma wrestling team defeated No. 14 Augustana University 28-12 across 10 matches Sunday at the Elmen Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Senior Jason Henschel continued his dominating run to begin the season in the 133 class, overtaking Owen Hansen 17-0 on the way to a victory awarded by technical fall; essentially a win by mercy rule. Junior Garrett Wells also defeated his opponent by technical fall, taking down Sam McEnelly 19-3 in the 197 class.

Nationally ranked senior sensation and defending national champion Gabe Johnson looked as comfortable as ever on the mat at 157, pinning Logan Butzon. Johnson took a 6-1 lead on two first-period takedowns before wriggling out of a pin attempt in the second, then scoring a fall and pinning Butzon with 4:21 elapsed in the match. It was Johnson’s second victory by pin in his last three matches, and his 16^th straight win.

Other wins included junior Guy Clevenger defeating Christian Olsen by decision 8-2 at 125, senior Bransen Britten winning against Owen Wasley in a decision 11-6 at 184, and heavyweight Judson Rowland taking down Jaret Peterson 4-1 in a decision. At 141, junior Josh Taylor went to two tiebreaker rounds with Luke Koenen after regulation ended 1-1, with Taylor getting the game point and the 2-1 win in the second tiebreaker round with an escape.

In the extra matches of the day, meaning not counted towards a team’s point total, Shaun Muse won in a decision against Alex Mentzer 4-2 at 141, Brady Benham won in a decision over Cash Raymond 8-6 at 165, and heavyweight Ryan Nichols took down Max Balow in a decision 2-0.

The Bronchos’ next meet will be their first home matches of the season, as they take on No. 13 McKendree University at the Hamilton Field House on Saturday at 1 p.m.