NORMAN, Okla. – The Trojans took on a tough Oklahoma team tonight, falling to the host team 37-0 despite several Little Rock wrestlers putting up a fight in bouts that didn't go their way. While five Trojans held their opponents within four points or less, the Sooners made it difficult for their visitors to make their offensive efforts count.
Both
Joseph Bianchi and
Triston Wills were right on the edge of claiming ranked victories, finishing one point out of reach of their opponents. Bianchi turned his bottom start into double the advantage with a reversal, but his foe from the Sooners earned one more escape to claim the 4-3 decision. Wills was unable to bring home a takedown to seal the win himself, but held Oklahoma's top-ranked guy to just one of his own in the first period, with riding time not a factor.
Matty Bianchi's match was full of twists and turns, as both sides got hit with penalties throughout the match, which was a tie at 5-5 until the last moments. A flurry of action in the third period showcased Bianchi's grit in the face of a ranked opponent, but the last-second escape and caution turned the tides against him.
Redshirt freshmen
Mason Diel and
Ty Lukens also held the Sooners to decisions, with the latter pulling off a reversal in his first career start. Diel ended with three escapes to drop his bout 5-3, while Lukens went out at 8-4.
Also of note, while the result ended in an unfortunate pin,
Jayden Gomez was the only Little Rock wrestler to get on the board before his opponent, also walking away with one of the few Trojan takedowns of the evening.
"We have to harden up. Being good isn't enough. We started the year off hot and got humbled tonight," said head coach
Neil Erisman, before adding, "I believe the guys will respond in the right way and be different."
The other half of the Trojan squad will be competing tomorrow at the Lindenwood Open, while the starters will return to action at the Cougar Clash invitational on Sunday, December 4.
RESULTS vs. Oklahoma
125: #16 Joey Prata (OU) def.
Jeremiah Reno, 10-1 MD
133: Wyatt Henson (OU) def.
Josh Sarpy, 16-3 MD
141: #HM Mosha Schwartz (OU) def.
Jayden Gomez, F (6:25)
149: #19 Mitch Moore (OU) def.
Joseph Bianchi, 4-3 DEC
157: #HM Jacob Butler (OU) def.
Matty Bianchi, 7-5 DEC
165: #14 Gerrit Nijenhuis (OU) def.
Brendon Abdon, 11-1 MD
174: #13 Darrien Roberts (OU) def.
Triston Wills, 3-2 DEC
184: Greyden Penner (OU) def.
Mason Diel, 5-3 DEC
197: Keegan Moore or Seth Seago (OU) def.
Ty Lukens, 8-4 DEC
HWT: #20 Josh Heindselman (OU) def.
Josiah Hill, 11-3 MD
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