Arkansas Wrestle (All images via obutigers.com)
WARRENSBURG, Mo. – The Ouachita wrestling team stared down the nation’s elite over the final weekend of the regular season, which proved to be unforgiving as the Tigers were swept in both duals against ranked opponents.
Ouachita lost 49-0 to No. 2 Nebraska–Kearney on Friday night, before suffering a 43-0 defeat Saturday against No. 14 Central Missouri. The Tigers were unable to secure a takedown across 20 bouts.
The second-ranked Lopers opened the tough slate with relentless pressure at each weight to collect four tech falls and one pin. The regular season finale against Central Missouri followed a similar script as bonus points piled up for the Mules. Central Missouri secured three pins, two major decisions and one tech fall to earn the dual sweep.
Ouachita’s most compelling action came in the final bout as No. 15 BK Seago squared off with Central Missouri’s No. 14 Torin Forsyth in a nationally ranked heavyweight showdown. After a scoreless first period, Forsyth escaped from bottom position to take a 1-0 lead. Seago answered with a reversal to briefly seize control before Forsyth quickly escaped to level the score at 2-2 and force sudden victory.
The stalemate lasted until the closing seconds of the first overtime period, when Forsyth secured the decisive takedown with just five seconds left on the clock to complete the shutout.
The Tigers finished 5-8 overall, with four defeats in five Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association duals. Seago, the MIAA Wrestler of the Week, finished 9-2 in dual matches this season, including a win over the ninth-ranked heavyweight earlier in January.
Ouachita shifts its focus with four weeks to prepare for postseason competition. The Tigers intend to regroup and train to punch their own ticket to the national championships at the NCAA Super Regionals in Edmond, Okla. on March 2.
