March 10, 2007

Central Oklahoma Win Seventh National Title

Bronchos Have One Champ, Four Runners Up

     Kearney, Neb. –  The Central Oklahoma Bronchos are back on top of the Division II wrestling world. Led by eight All-Americans, UCO won the 2007 NCAA D2 wrestling championships in Kearney, Neb., by scoring 124.5 points.

      Leading the two-day meet from start to finish, UCO was well ahead of runner up Nebraska-Kearney (108.5) and three-time defending national champ Nebraska-Omaha (67.5).

      Rounding out the top seven were Minnesota State (63.0), Adams State (58.5), Chadron State (58.0) and Pittsburgh-Johnstown (56.5).

      Central Oklahoma, with eight NAIA national team titles to its credit, won D2 crowns from 1992-96 and then again in 2002 and 2003.

      UCO's point total is the most by a winning team since the '94 Bronchos tallied 127.25.

      "It started Friday morning for us and I couldn't be more proud of how our team performed," said UCO head coach David James. "It was a tough finals but fortunately we were in a situation to have the team race already wrapped up."

      At 141 lbs., the Bronchos Kyle Evans capped off an unbeaten season (39-0) as he edged Doug Surra of West Liberty State, 3-1 (SV), in the semifinals and then dominated Shippensburg's Steven Fittery, 7-0, in the finals.

      A three-time All-American, Evans has now won 61 of his last 63 matches.

      Finishing second for UCO were Tyler Zukerman (125 lbs.), Jared Henning (133 lbs.), Jason Leavitt (157 lbs.) and Josh LeadingFox (Hwt.).

      Also for UCO, Shea Timothy was fourth at 149 lbs., Jared Hess was third at 184 lbs. and Heath Jolley was fifth at 197 lbs.

      Zukerman, Henning and Jolley each came into the meet unranked and were big reasons why UCO had such a strong weekend.

      "We had a fantastic tournament. All ten guys scored points and we just peaked at the right time. That's a credit to our kids. We had some bumps and bruises along the road but what a time to wrestle your best," said James, the 2007 national coach of the year.

      Among other finalists, Tony Guerra of Findlay won his second straight title, albeit it at a different weight. The 2006 149 lbs. champ didn't allow Leavitt to escape and won the 157 lbs. finals, 2-1 (tiebreaker).

      Earning a third gold medal -- and Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Meet -- was J.D. Naig of UNO. After a tough 7-5 win over Western State's Larry Wilbanks in the semis, Naig dominated Michael Jackson of Indianapolis, 13-1, in the finals.

      UNO also celebrated a title at 149 lbs. as top-ranked Todd Meneely edged Mike Rogers of Carson-Newman, 3-2. The surprising Rogers earned the "most falls in least of amount time" award by having three in a total of 11:20.

       A pair of schools, Chadron State and Upper Iowa, enjoyed their first-ever national titles in D2 wrestling. At 165 lbs., the Eagles' Brett Hunter pinned top ranked Andy Pickar of Minnesota State at 2:37.

      Three classes later, the Peacocks' Ryan Phillips majored Chadron's Josh Majerus, 12-0. This is UIU's second year as an NCAA Division II school. The hosts of the 2008 championships would have an impressive 8^th place team finish (51.5).

      Phillips joined Adams State's Jared Deaguero (184 lbs.) as two of the champs to not give up any offensive points in the tournament.

      Another dominating performance was turned in by UNK's Tervel Dlagnev. In winning his first national title, the Texan had two falls and two major decision victories.

      In the finals, he pinned long time rival LeadingFox at 3:16. Considered the second best heavyweight in the nation, regardless of class, Dlagnev ends the year with a 49-1 mark.

      Also exciting the home crowd was 125 lbs. champ Trevor Charbonneau. He capped a two-time All-American career by scoring a late takedown to beat UCO's Zukerman, 5-2.