It was a long Sunday evening at Lloyd Noble Center for the University of Northern Colorado’s wrestling team, as they fell to the University of Oklahoma 28-10. 

The Sooners dominated the Bears claiming seven of the ten victories in the dual. The Bears’ three victories came from the usual suspects: Rico Montoya (No. 18), Keilan Torres (No. 19) and Dylan Gabel (No. 15).  

UNC started the dual off right opening up with the 133 lb weight class with Montoya taking on Jake Rubio. Montoya was able to capitalize an early 2-1 lead after the second period with a takedown at 0:34. Montoya defeated Rubio in a 4-3 decision.

In the 141 lb weight class, Benjamin Polkowske took on Mike Longo. Polkowske’s day finished in the first period when Longo pinned him at 2:28 and OU extended the lead to 6-3. 

Jimmy Fate wrestled against Davion Jeffries next in a quick match where Jeffries was able to defeat Fate by tech fall, 17-0. OU then led 11-3 after just three matches.

Picking up speed a little, Tyler Kinn fought through the full three periods against Justin Thomas in the 157 lb weight class. Thomas gained control early with a takedown and a two-point near fall on Kinn to lead the first period 4-1. At the end of the second, Kinn trailed Thomas 7-2. Thomas was able to come out on top, winning a 10-4 decision and allowing OU to extend the lead to a whopping 14-3.

Torres must have been looking to impress, wrestling in his home state, winning a stunning 12-5 decision over Dawaylon Barnes in the 165 lb weight class. With a pair of takedowns, Torres jumped out to an early start to lead 4-1 after the first period. In the second, Torres pushed to extend his lead over Barnes to 10-2 after a takedown and a four-point near fall. With the Bears on the backburner, Torres was able to answer back narrowing the gap to 14-6 OU.

Now in the 174 lb weight class, Seth Bogulski faced off against Yoanse Mejias. Mejias led Bogulski 7-3 in the second period and finished the match winning a 12-6 decision helping increase OU’s lead to 17-6. 

Gabel was his usual self, leading the first period 4-1 with a takedown and a two-point near fall on Matt Waddell. Gabel continued to compete to win an 8-0 major decision over Waddell in the 184 lb weight class and narrow the gap 17-10.

In the 197 lb weight class, Tanner Davis was defeated in a 6-1 decision by Andrew Dixon. Dixon’s win extended OU’s lead to 20-10.

Perhaps the most entertaining dual of the night came from HWT match up of Robert Winters and Marquise Overton. Going into triple overtime, Overton was able to clinch his first win in dramatic fashion. At the end of the regulated three periods, Overton and Winters were tied at 1-1. Both wrestlers earned escape points in the first overtime, pushing them into the next tie-breaking period. In the third and final overtime, the match was tied at 3-3 until Overton was given the winning point due to riding-time advantage.

The final match up of the night was in the 125 lb weight class. Michael Johnson trailed Christian Moody 6-1 after the first period and 17-5 after the second. Moody defeated Johnson by tech fall over, 21-5 and secured the dual for OU, 28-10.

At 7 p.m. Friday, OU will host Iowa State. As for UNC, the Bears will have a chance at redemption at 7 p.m. Friday versus Fresno State at the Bank of Colorado Arena.