WICHITA – The Newman wrestling team fell to Oklahoma City, 24-17, on Wednesday (Feb. 6) at Fugate Gymnasium. The Jets and Stars split the 10 matches with each team winning five each; however, the Stars scored more points in their five victories.
 
After Kidd Gomez, the No. 5-ranked wrestler in NAIA, defeated Kris Workman by a 7-4 decision, Travis Rodenbaugh tied the dual at 3-3 with a 6-2 decision win over Tyler Espitia. Aaron Engels made it two straight Jet wins, defeating Trevor Sterling by a 4-1 decision in the 141 lb. class. NU went up 6-3 after three weight classes.
 
The Stars regained the lead, 9-6, after the Jets forfeited the 149 lb. match. Oklahoma City got six more points from Mark Meyer's pin at 4:37 over Colton Duhr. The Stars took a 15-6 advantage with the win. OCU made it 20-6 when No. 7-ranked Zach Skates picked up a 15-0 tech fall victory.
 
Reece Wright-Conklin got the Jets back on track with a tech fall win, 16-0, over Tyson Campbell in the 174 lb. class. In the 184 lb. class, Tyler Hasenbank used a late comeback to force overtime and then won 11-6 in OT. The win pulled the Jets to within six at 20-14.
 
No. 12-ranked Mike Brown put the dual away with a major decision win over Newman's Steven Cooksley in the 197 lb. class. With the victory, the Stars took a 24-14 lead with one match remaining.
 
In the final match, Lorenzo Serna won a 2-1 overtime decision over No. 16 Stanley Lattimore for the final 24-17 score.
 
The Jets wrestling team travels to Central Oklahoma on Feb. 16 for a 2 p.m. dual against the Bronchos in Edmond, Okla.