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Heath Gray Wins National Title As UCO Finishes Sixth At NCAA Tournament

UCO competed at the NCAA Division 2 tournament this weekend and their start Heath Gray won his first NCAA title.

Gray, who was the Division 2 wrestler of the year last season, did not get his shot at the NCAA title last season after the tournament was cancelled due to COVID-19. He got his shot this weekend in St. Louis and took advantage of it.

Gray methodically worked his way through the bracket as he picked up a MAJ decision in the first round, followed up by decisions in the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals. In the finals with fellow undefeated wrestler Conner Craig of West Liberty, he used one takedown and some really stout defense to pick up a 3-2 decision and his first NCAA title.

Dalton Abney, who alongside Gray at 197 has created one of the stoutest 1-2 punches in Division 2 wrestling, was also a finalist at 197. He had a rematch with Ryan Vasbinder, who beat him at their regional, and fell 1-0 after an escape from Vasbinder in the third period.

UCO had three other All-Americans.

Paxton Rosen looked like he might make the finals of the tournament at one point. Rosen was in the semifinals tied 2-2 in the third with eventual champion Cole Laya. While going for a reversal, Rosen was put on his back and pinned. He finished in sixth place.

At 133, Tanner Cole finished third after falling to one seed Garret Vos in the semifinals then bouncing back with wins over Tyler Kreith and Wesley Dawkins.

At 157, Ty Lucas finished 5th after a hard fought consolation semifinal loss to Colby Njos, then a decision win in the 5th place match over Nick Young.

The Bronchos finished 6th as a team and just seven points behind third place Lindenwood.

Complete results from the tournament are listed below.

NCAA Division II Championships Results for Central Okla.

125

Paxton Rosen (9-3) placed 6th and scored 8.0 team points.

  • Champ. Round 1 – Paxton Rosen (Central Okla.) 9-3 won by decision over Christian Wellman (Ashland) 10-4 (Dec 7-2)
  • Quarterfinal – Paxton Rosen (Central Okla.) 9-3 won by decision over Charlie Lenox (Gannon) 7-4 (Dec 7-4)
  • Semifinal – Cole Laya (West Liberty) 18-1 won by fall over Paxton Rosen (Central Okla.) 9-3 (Fall 6:32)
  • Cons. Semi – Christian Wellman (Ashland) 10-4 won in tie breaker – 1 over Paxton Rosen (Central Okla.) 9-3 (TB-1 4-3)
  • 5th Place Match – Christian Mejia (McKendree) 11-3 won by decision over Paxton Rosen (Central Okla.) 9-3 (Dec 7-6)

133

Tanner Cole (8-2) placed 3rd and scored 13.5 team points.

  • Champ. Round 1 – Tanner Cole (Central Okla.) 8-2 received a bye () (Bye)
  • Quarterfinal – Tanner Cole (Central Okla.) 8-2 won by major decision over Tanner Hitchcock (Lindenwood (MO)) 12-3 (MD 12-3)
  • Semifinal – Garrett Vos (St. Cloud St.) 11-1 won by decision over Tanner Cole (Central Okla.) 8-2 (Dec 7-0)
  • Cons. Semi – Tanner Cole (Central Okla.) 8-2 won in sudden victory – 1 over Tyler Kreith (Maryville (MO)) 8-5 (SV-1 5-3)
  • 3rd Place Match – Tanner Cole (Central Okla.) 8-2 won by decision over Wesley Dawkins (Neb.-Kearney) 14-4 (Dec 12-7)

149

Gabe Johnson (6-4) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.

  • Champ. Round 1 – Kyle Rathman (Minnesota St.) 12-2 won by decision over Gabe Johnson (Central Okla.) 6-4 (Dec 10-3)
  • Cons. Round 1 – Sean O`Hearon (Lake Erie) 6-4 won by fall over Gabe Johnson (Central Okla.) 6-4 (Fall 4:13)

157

Ty Lucas (11-3) placed 5th and scored 9.0 team points.

  • Champ. Round 1 – Ty Lucas (Central Okla.) 11-3 received a bye () (Bye)
  • Quarterfinal – Ty Lucas (Central Okla.) 11-3 won by decision over Chase Luensman (Upper Iowa) 9-3 (Dec 7-3)
  • Semifinal – James Wimer (Findlay) 14-0 won by decision over Ty Lucas (Central Okla.) 11-3 (Dec 3-1)
  • Cons. Semi – Colby Njos (St. Cloud St.) 10-3 won in tie breaker – 2 over Ty Lucas (Central Okla.) 11-3 (TB-2 4-3)
  • 5th Place Match – Ty Lucas (Central Okla.) 11-3 won by decision over Nick Young (Gannon) 6-4 (Dec 9-3)

174

Wyatt Jordan (9-3) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.

  • Champ. Round 1 – Andrew Sams (Indianapolis) 12-3 won by decision over Wyatt Jordan (Central Okla.) 9-3 (Dec 2-1)
  • Cons. Round 1 – Wyatt Jordan (Central Okla.) 9-3 received a bye () (Bye)
  • Cons. Round 2 – Josh Jones (McKendree) 9-5 won by decision over Wyatt Jordan (Central Okla.) 9-3 (Dec 4-2)

184

Heath Gray (13-0) placed 1st and scored 20.0 team points.

  • Champ. Round 1 – Heath Gray (Central Okla.) 13-0 won by major decision over Caden Steffen (Southwest Minn. St.) 11-5 (MD 12-3)
  • Quarterfinal – Heath Gray (Central Okla.) 13-0 won by decision over Austin Eldredge (Neb.-Kearney) 16-3 (Dec 7-3)
  • Semifinal – Heath Gray (Central Okla.) 13-0 won by decision over Dan Fillipek (McKendree) 11-2 (Dec 8-1)
  • 1st Place Match – Heath Gray (Central Okla.) 13-0 won by decision over Connor Craig (West Liberty) 14-1 (Dec 3-2)

197

Dalton Abney (10-2) placed 2nd and scored 15.0 team points.

  • Champ. Round 1 – Dalton Abney (Central Okla.) 10-2 won in tie breaker – 1 over Darius Parker (Lander) 14-2 (TB-1 3-2)
  • Quarterfinal – Dalton Abney (Central Okla.) 10-2 won by decision over Donald Negus (Colorado Mesa) 12-3 (Dec 2-1)
  • Semifinal – Dalton Abney (Central Okla.) 10-2 won by decision over Jackson Ryan (Southwest Minn. St.) 10-4 (Dec 2-0)
  • 1st Place Match – Ryan Vasbinder (McKendree) 12-0 won by decision over Dalton Abney (Central Okla.) 10-2 (Dec 1-0)
Team Scores
1St. Cloud St. 107.0
2Neb.-Kearney 105.5
3Lindenwood (MO) 72.5
4West Liberty 72.0
5McKendree 71.5
6Central Okla. 65.5
7Ashland 48.0
8Colorado Mesa 31.0
9Gannon 30.5
10Minnesota St. 25.0
11Newberry 24.0
12Findlay 23.5
12Upper Iowa 23.5
14Colo. Sch. Of Mines 23.0
15Indianapolis 20.5
16Fairmont St. 19.0
17Southwest Minn. St. 18.5
18Maryville (MO) 18.0
19UNC Pembroke 17.0
20Notre Dame (OH) 13.5
21Augustana (SD) 13.0
22Adams St. 12.5
22Pitt-Johnstown 12.5
24Western Colo. 12.0
24Wis.-Parkside 12.0
26Fort Hays St. 10.0
27American Int`l 9.5
28Belmont Abbey 9.0
29King 8.5
30Lake Erie 6.5
31Drury 6.0
31Mary 6.0
33Queens 4.0
34Newman 2.5
35Davis & Elkins 1.0
36Emmanuel 0.5
36MSU Moorhead 0.5
38Coker 0.0
38Lander 0.0
38Limestone 0.0
38Mercyhurst 0.0
38Mount Olive 0.0
38Northern St. 0.0
38Tiffin 0.0

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