National run for first year program

The OU women's wrestling team competed at the WCWA Nationals hosted by Missouri Baptist University on Friday and Saturday.

As a team the Lady Braves finished 13th and had the program's first WCWA All-American with first year Brandy Lowe's second place finish in the 191-pound weight class. “It’s been an experience seeing how far our team can compete in nationals and making a name for ourselves as a newly-developed program,” Brandy Lowe said.

After receiving a bye in round one, Lowe defeated Rebecka Winton from the University of the Cumberlands in a fall to move on to the quarterfinals.

She then defeated Kiera Boyce from Wayland Baptist University in a 12-6 decision. In the semifinals, Lowe defeated Heather O'Connor in a technical fall, 11-0, qualifying herself for the first place match.

In the finals, Lowe was defeated in an 11-8 decision over Tiaira Scott from Campbellsville University to finish second. “I’m proud of where the program has gone during this first season and am especially proud of my team for all the hard work they have put in to reach this point of success,” head coach Kevin Andres said. “I’m excited to see where this program goes and the accomplishments we overcome.”

While the women’s program took 13^th in nationals, two wrestlers in the men’s program will be attending nationals this weekend.

Juniors Kasey Crump and Tyler Hinton both earned the honor. “I am grateful for the opportunities that I have been given and I am anxious to see what the tournament will be like and how the competition stacks up,” Crump said.  

Crump, a junior from Pratt, Kan. finished second in the 197-pound weight class to become the first OU men's wrestler to qualify for nationals.

He won his first match of the day in a 7-0 decision against Kyler Atwood from Bethany College. In the quarterfinals, Crump defeated Justin Whitten of Missouri Valley College in a 10-3 decision.

He then competed against the 7^th ranked wrestler in the 197-pound weight Stephen Loosbrock from Benedictine College. Crump defeated Loosbrock in a 1-0 decision to move on to the championship match.

In the finals, he competed against 4^th ranked Zach Anderson from Bethany College. Crump was defeated in a fall. “It’s been a tough season and I’m really happy that I made it this far,” Hinton said. “I’m hoping that I show well in the tournament and make a name for myself and Ottawa University.”

Hinton, a junior from Baltimore, Md., finished fifth in the 141-pound weight class but was selected by the coaches with one of the 40 at large bids in the region for the NAIA National Tournament.

In the championship round, Hinton defeated Abel Villamoreno from Bacone College in a fall. Hinton then defeated John Risewick from Bethany College in the quarterfinals. He was then defeated in the semifinals by the first ranked wrestler in the 141-pound weight class, Brandon Wright from Grand View University in a fall.

The defeat moved Hinton to the consolation bracket. He was defeated by Parker Bohannan from Oklahoma City University in a fall. Hinton though rebounded in his last match of the day to defat Juan Rivera of Baker University in a fall to finish fifth in the 141-pound weight class.