INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Dec. 17) – A fast start along with a host of quarterfinal upsets has Central Oklahoma in control of the team race at the 43rd Midwest Classic.
The No. 3-ranked and defending champion Bronchos won their first 22 matches Saturday – earning bonus points in 17 of those – and ended up pushing eight wrestlers into the semifinals to seize command of the big 43-team field. UCO ended the day 28-2 with 19 bonus victories.
Making the semis were 125 Studd Morris, 133 Dylan Lucas, 149 Brik Filippo, 157 Gabe Johnson, 174 Tre’Vaughn Craig, 184 Anthony DesVigne, 197 Dalton Abney and Hvy Shawn Streck. Nate Keim (141) and Ty Lucas (165) are still alive in the consolations.
Lucas, Filippo, Johnson, Craig and DesVigne all knocked off top-three seeds in the quarters, with Morris, Filippo, Craig and DesVigne each winning in overtime.
UCO finished the dominating day with 107 points for a massive 42.5-point lead over No. 6-ranked Pittsburgh-Johnstown. No. 22 Mary is third with 54 points, followed by No. 4 Lander (53) and Upper Iowa (45). The tournament resumes at 8:30 Sunday and runs until its conclusion.
“Our guys wrestled their butts off today,” said head coach Todd Steidley, whose team scored 106.5 points in winning last year’s tournament. “We had a great day, winning a lot of bonus matches and also getting some huge overtime wins in the quarterfinals.