GUNNISON, Colo. — It took a little bit of extra work, but Dustin Reed is heading back to the NCAA Division II Championships after earning a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Region IV Championships this weekend at Western State Colorado University.
Reed started his day with was appeared to be a must-win against Fort Hays State's Adam Ludwin in the 125 consolation semifinals, but Ludwin was able to secure a throw for a pin to send the junior into the fifth-place match. There, he needed to win and hope Ludwin secured third to get a chance at a true-fourth match.
Both held up their ends of the bargain, as Reed turned back Adams State's Ian Wingstrom with ease, 10-4, and Ludwin topped Central Oklahoma's Zac D'Amico. Facing D'Amico with a bid to nationals on the line, Reed won out a wild third period, getting a stall call with 30 seconds left to tie things at 4-4, and then escaping with 18 seconds left and holding off a potential takedown to lock up the 5-4 win.
It's Reed's second straight trip to the NCAA Championships after finishing fourth at last year's regional as well. He will conclude his season March 11-12 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Two other Newman wrestlers entered Saturday with a shot to move on, but both fell in a pair of bouts to finish their season with a sixth-place finish in the regional tournament. Freshman Heath Gray fell in the 174 consolation semis to UCO's Mason Thompson, and then dropped a 9-6 decision to Simon Fraser's Reid Watkins in the fifth-place match to finish his first trip to the postseason 3-3.
Sophomore Dalton Weidl showed how much he's improved in his second year, adding three wins to his record in his second trip to regionals. He fell to California Baptist's Paul Head in the 197 consolation semifinals Saturday and then dropped a match to Fort Hays State's Cash Drylie in the fifth place bout to finish the weekend 3-3.
The Jets finished 12th in the team standings, compiling 26.5 points. Nebraska-Kearney ran away with the team title, scoring 145.5 points. Other MIAA foes Fort Hays and Central Oklahoma finished fifth and sixth, respectively.
Newman Results
125-Dustin Reed, Jr.
Consolation Semifinals-Lost by fall, Adam Ludwin, Fort Hays State, 2:50
Fifth-Place Match-Won by dec., Ian Wingstrom, Adams State, 10-4
Fourth-Place Match-Won by dec., Zac D'Amico, Central Oklahoma, 5-4
174-Heath Gray, Fr.
Consolation Semifinals-Lost by dec., Mason Thompson, Central Oklahoma, 9-2
Fifth-Place Match-Lost by dec., Reid Watkins, Simon Fraser, 9-6
197-Dalton Weidl, So.
Consolation Semifinals-Lost by fall, Paul Head, California Baptist, 2:20
Fifth-Place Match-Lost by fall, Cash Drylie, Fort Hays State, 2:00
