COMPLETE BRACKETS
WARRENSBURG, Mo. - A trio of Greyhound wrestlers earned trips to the NCAA Division II Championships on Sunday with their performances at the Super Regional meet hosted by the University of Central Missouri.
Alex Johns (Evansville, Ind./Reitz) led UIndy with a runner-up finish at 125, while
Lynn Panko (Avon, Ind./Avon) took third at 285, and
Bryce Givens (Rockton, Ill./Hononegah) finished fourth at 157.
Johns earned a technical fall victory in his opening bout, defeating Rolland Wimberly of Truman State 17-1. The freshman earned his way into the championship match with a 5-4 decision over Terrell McKinney of Nebraska-Omaha before narrowly falling to Wisconsin-Parkside's Cody Zimmerman in the 125-pound final.
Panko suffered a heart-breaking defeat in his opening bout, earning a 3-3 draw with Loyde Braidlow of Truman State, but Braidlow was awarded the victory due to back points. However, Panko rebounded, winning the rest of his matches at the Super Regional to take third in the 285-pound class. The Avon, Ind. native earned his second victory in as many meets over Findlay's Matt Clum, defeating Clum on Senior Day at the Greyhound Duals and then again in the third-place match on Sunday.
Givens opened his Super Regional with a 3-2 decision over Truman State's Andy Bader before falling in his second match to Ashland's Tony Bradberry by a 7-4 margin. Givens battled his way through the wrestlebacks by pinning Ryan Spencer of Newman in 4:51. Michael Lybarger of Findlay topped Givens 8-1 to send him to the fifth-place match where Givens avenged his second-round loss to Bradberry by earning an 11-2 major decision.
Johns, Panko, and Givens will head west to take part in the NCAA Division II Championships in Omaha, Neb. on Mar. 12 and 13. The two-day event will be held at Sapp Fieldhouse on the campus of the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Alex Johns (2nd at 125)
Johns tech. fall Rolland Wimberley (TSU), 17-1
Johns def. Terrell McKinney (UNO), 5-4
Cody Zimmerman (UWP) dec. Johns, 3-2
Ethan Harris (1-2 at 133)
Harris dec. Ryan Banning (TSU), 9-3
Scott Berens (UCO) maj. dec. Harris, 9-0
Jan Ulinski (UF) pinned Harris, 5:26
Trey Weliver (0-2 at 141)
Cory Bloodgood (UCM) tech. fall Weliver, 18-1
Alex Maus (TSU) maj. dec. Weliver, 17-6
David Lopez (0-2 at 149)
Esai Dominguez (UNO) maj. dec. Lopez, 15-6
Brandon Russow (UCM) dec. Lopez, 11-4
Bryce Givens (5th at 157)
Givens dec. Andy Bader (TSU), 3-2
Tony Bradberry (AU) dec. Givens, 7-4
Givens pinned Ryan Spencer (NU), 4:51
Michael Lybarger (UF) dec. Givens, 8-1
Givens maj. dec. Bradberry, 11-2
Matt Clark (1-2 at 165)
Tommie Graszl (AU) maj. dec. Clark, 11-1
Clark dec. Kris Bowser (UF), 4-2
Bryan Isbell (TSU) dec. Clark, 6-4
Shelby Mappes (0-2 at 174)
Dean Schultz (TSU) maj. dec. Mappes, 15-5
Hunter Pool (AU) pinned Mappes, 1:05
Cody Wittkamp (0-2 at 184)
Jeff Havelka (UF) dec. Wittkamp, 3-0
Phil Witt (UCM) maj. dec. Wittkamp, 16-5
J.T. Jenkins (0-2 at 197)
Jacob Marrs (UNO) tech. fall Jenkins, 15-0
Doug Thompson (UCM) dec. Jenkins, 4-2
Lynn Panko (3rd at 285)
Loyde Braidlow (TSU) dec. Panko, 3-3 RT; TB2
Panko dec. James Malechek (UWP), 4-1
Panko dec. Brandon Hayes (UCM), 5-1
Panko dec. Matt Clum (UF), 6-1