TULSA, Okla. (March 7, 2020) – It was a successful opening session for the Wyoming wrestling team Saturday as the Cowboys opened the Big 12 Championships in Tulsa, Okla. The Pokes had seven wrestlers that advanced to the quarterfinals while four, Montorie Bridges (133), Tate Samuelson (184), Stephen Buchanan (197) and Brian Andrews (HWT) all advanced to Saturday night's semifinal round.
Andrews, Buchanan and Samuelson all advanced in thrilling fashion late in session one. Buchanan was the first of the three to punch his ticket with a 9-5 win over Oklahoma State's Dakota Geer. Buchanan was able to get a late escape and then a takedown to take an 8-5 lead before tacking on the riding time bonus point.
Shortly after Buchanan's win, Samuelson was able to hold off second-seeded Anthony Montalvo of OSU, not allowing a takedown late in the third period as he was able to hang on for a thrilling 3-2 victory. Shortly after that, Andrews ended the session with a takedown of Northern Iowa's No. 4 seed Carter Isley in sudden victory, winning 3-1 to qualify for the semis.
Bridges was the first to qualify for the semis for the Pokes as he downed UNI's Jack Skudlarczyk, 7-4. Bridges was also the first Cowboy to win Saturday, as he opened with a preliminary round win over Fresno State's Lawrence Saenz, 5-3.
Andrews began the day with a solid win against Oklahoma State's Austin Harris, defeating Harris 8-2 in the opening round. Buchanan and Samuelson's tournaments began in the quarterfinals.
Session two begins at 4 p.m., MT this afternoon with the semifinals and the first two rounds of the consolation bracket.
Big 12 Championships Individual Results – Day One
March 7, 2020 | BOK Center | Tulsa, Okla.
Jake Svihel – 125 pounds
Preliminary: No. 6 Daniel Vega (SDSU) MD Svihel (WYO) 8-0
No. 2 Montorie Bridges – 133 pounds
Preliminary: No. 2 Bridges dec. Lawrence Saenz (FSU) 5-3
Quarterfinals: No. 2 Bridges dec. No. 7 Jack Skudlarczyk (UNI) 7-4
Trevor Jeffries – 141 pounds
Preliminary: No. 3 Michael Blockhus (UNI) dec. Jeffries (WYO) 10-5
No. 8 Jaron Jensen – 149 pounds
Preliminary: Cameron Hunsaker (UVU) Fall No. 8 Jensen (WYO) 3:52
No. 8 Dewey Krueger – 157 pounds
Preliminary: No. 8 Krueger (WYO) dec. Jed Loveless (UVU) 2-1
Quarterfinals: No. 1 David Carr (ISU) dec. Krueger (WYO) 11-5
No. 5 Cole Moody – 165 pounds
Preliminary: No. 5 Moody (WYO) MD Elijah Joseph (OU) 9-1
Quarterfinals: No. 4 Tanner Cook (SDSU) dec. No. 5 Moody (WYO) 12-10
No. 6 Hayden Hastings – 174 pounds
Preliminary: No. 6 Hastings (WYO) MD Scott Joll (WVU) 13-0
Quarterfinals: No. 3 Sam Colbray (ISU) dec. No. 6 Hastings (WYO) 3-2
No. 7 Tate Samuelson – 184 pounds
Quarterfinals: No. 7 Samuelson (WYO) dec. No. 2 Anthony Montalvo (OSU) 3-2
No. 4 Stephen Buchanan – 197 pounds
Quarterfinals: No. 4 Buchanan dec. No. 5 Dakota Geer (OSU) 9-5
No. 5 Brian Andrews – Heavyweight
Preliminary: No. 5 Andrews (WYO) dec. Austin Harris (OSU) 8-2
Quarterfinals: No. 5 Andrews (WYO) dec. No. 4 Carter Isley (UNI) 3-1, SV-1
-WYO-
