Voinovich Finishes Third at Southern Scuffle

Saturday, January 1

Chattanooga, Tennessee

ALL DAY

Oklahoma State University

Southern Scuffle

Photo by: Sam Janicki (USA Wrestling)

January 02, 2022 | Cowboy Wrestling

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Oklahoma State wrestling team wrapped up the second and final day of the Southern Scuffle, led by Victor Voinovich who placed third in the 149 pound division.

Voinovich became the highest finisher as a true freshman since Kaden Gfeller won the 141-pound title in 2018. In his third place match against Gavin Sax, Voinovich was leading 4-0 early in the third period after he reversed Sax and caught him on his back for a two-point nearfall. During the reversal, Sax appeared to hit his head on the mat and was required to head to medical protocol before eventually injury defaulting out of the match at 5:41.

The Brecksville, Ohio native went 5-1 overall at the tournament, including a win over South Dakota State's nationally ranked Zach Price in the quarterfinals. While improving his record to 16-1 on the season, Voinovich did suffer his first defeat in the semifinals against top-seeded and eventual champion, Josh Finesilver of Duke, in a 7-0 decision.

The Cowboys had three other placers at the tournament as the partial lineup from Oklahoma State scored 22.5 points and finish in a tie for 19th place. Jalin Harper, Gavin Stika and Austin Harris each collected a seventh-place finish in their respective weight classes.

Harper (157) went 5-2 overall and won three consolation matches to put himself in the seventh-place match. He defeated West Virginia's Alex Hornfeck, 2-1, avenging a Round of 16 loss to the Mountaineer on Saturday. Gavin Stika collected two wins in the 184-pound championship bracket before losing to No. 1 seed, Jon Loew of Cornell. He battled to two consolations wins, including in his final match against North Dakota State's DJ Parker Jr. Heavyweight Austin Harris dropped two matches to Tyrie Houghton (NCST), but won four matches in the wrestlebacks and his seventh-place match to put himself on the podium and finish the weekend with a 5-2 record.

In the lower weights two Cowboys went 2-2 in their weight classes. Reece Witcraft earned technical falls in wins over Little Rock duo Joshua Sarpy and Jayden Carson at 125 pounds. At 141 pounds, Cal State Bakersfield transfer Andrew Bloemhof made his first appearance as a Cowboy. Bloemhof won his first match of the tournament with an 8-3 decision over VMI's Freddy Junko, before losing a 6-0 bout to Stanford's All-American Real Woods, who is ranked seventh in the country at the weight. Bloemhof and Witcraft both advanced to the first consolation round of eight in the consolations before being eliminated.

After starting the season at 149 pounds, Daniel Manibog returned to 157 pounds where he has wrestled the past two years. He went 1-2 at the Scuffle, with a 9-3 win over Taylor Parks of Gardner Webb. Joey Sanchez lost both of his matches at 149 pounds to John Arceri (Buffalo) and Joey Bianchi (UALR). Konner Doucet won his first two matches in the heavyweight bracket before being pinned by Cornell's Lewis Fernandes and eliminated by teammate Austin Harris in the consolation round of 16.

The Cowboys return to dual competition on Saturday, Jan. 8, against the Trojans of Little Rock at 7:30 p.m.

2022 Southern Scuffle
125: Reece Witcraft (DNP)
141: Andrew Bloemhof (DNP)
149: Victor Voinovich (3rd), Joey Sanchez (DNP)
157: Jalin Harper (7th), Daniel Manibog (DNP)
184: Gavin Stika (7th)
HWT: Austin Harris (7th), Konner Doucet (DNP)

Team Standings
1. Missouri – 175.5
2. North Dakota State – 109.5
3. Michigan State – 94.5
4. Minnesota – 85.5
...
T19. Oklahoma State – 22.5