CHANUTE, Kan. – Michaela Hutchison of Oklahoma City University fell 17-2 in a technical fall in her debut with the OCU men’s wrestling team, but the Stars prevailed 36-11 over Neosho County (Kan.) on Wednesday at the Neosho County Gym.

Hutchison, a freshman from Soldotna, Alaska, lost to Alex Gorton in becoming the first woman to compete for an Oklahoma men’s college wrestling team. Hutchison joined Sara McMann, Patricia Miranda and Audrey Pang as women who have wrestled collegiately against men.

“Michaela wrestled well,” OCU coach Archie Randall said. “We wrestled well. It’s a different ballgame when you have a full lineup. Normally we lose six points.

“She turned the kid to his back in the first period. She wrestled hard, but made mistakes. The next time out, she’ll do better.”

OCU picked up pins at 133 pounds, 165 and 285. Will Shelton won 18-3 over Zach Shannon in a technical fall.

At 133, Justin Blumer finished off Rory Kendall in 1:20 to put OCU ahead 6-5 in the dual. Mark Meyer pinned Aaron Butler in 4:55 at 165 as the Stars won six matches in a row.

“Blumer wrestled a tough opponent,” Randall said. “He took him down and kept wrestling. This performance will carry over to the national tournament.”

At 285, Jeremy Johnson stuck Chris Howell in 1:05 to finish off the dual. Raymond Lane also had an 11-2 major-decision win over Jeff Kirwan for OCU.

“Jeremy Johnson and Corey Johnson are battling at heavyweight,” Randall said. “Both will go to nationals. Hopefully this match will carry over to this weekend. Raymond wrestled better. He’s a long ways away, but he has time.”

Miranda wrestled for Stanford, while Pang wrestled for Princeton in duals. McMann, who attended Lock Haven (Pa.), competed in open tournaments.

OCU will compete next in the Briar Cliff Invitational on Saturday in Sioux City, Iowa.



OKLAHOMA CITY 36

NEOSHO COUNTY 11

125: Alex Gorton, NC, tech. fall Michaela Hutchison, 17-2

133: Justin Blumer, OCU, pinned Rory Kendall, 1:20

141: Jeremy Garner, OCU, dec. Montana Carson, 5-1

149: Will Shelton, OCU, tech. fall Zach Shannon, 18-3

157: Nik Turner, OCU, dec. Zac Taylor, 6-4

165: Mark Meyer, OCU, pinned Aaron Butler, 4:55

174: Andrew Pontikes, OCU, dec. Matt McNabb, 5-3

184: Derek Heckell, NC, pinned Jake Mabry, 6:50

197: Raymond Lane, OCU, maj. dec. Jeff Kirwan, 11-2

285: Jeremy Johnson, OCU, pinned Chris Howell, 1:05