Final Brackets | Team Scores | Photo Gallery
MANKATO, Minn.-- Central Missouri wrestling finished ninth as a team at the NCAA-II Super Regional on Sunday, with 38.0 team points total. No. 2 Frank Cagnina (149) will defend his national title at the NCAA-II National Championships, after earning his second straight regional title. He was also named Outstanding Wrestler of the Region for the second time. No. 8 Archie Williams (174) will join Cagnina at nationals, with a fourth place finish on the day.
Cagnina faced fellow MIAA wrestler No. 3 Terrel Wilbourn (Lindenwood) in the semifinals. Wilbourn had a 6-2 lead going into the third period, where Cagnina was able to tie the score in the final seconds of the match. He then had a takedown in the first overtime period, to take the match at 9-7. Cagnina is 3-0 against Wilbourn in his career, with two matches decided in overtime.
In the championship match Cagnina faced No. 1 Keenan Hagerty (Maryville). Hagerty had a 5-0 lead to start the match, but Cagnina allowed only three more points to beat the top seeded wrestler with a 12-8 decision. Hagerty is credited with Cagnina's only loss this season. After the tournament, Cagnina is 20-1 overall, with 62 team points earned.
Williams was beat by No. 7 Jacob Begin (Southwest Minnesota State) with a 20-7 major decision in the semifinal match. He was able to pin Batchka Zulkhuu (Lindenwood) in the second period of the consolation quarterfinals, at 4:45, to advance to the third place match.
After falling by 13-6 decision to No. 6 Payne Hatter (Ouachita Baptist), Williams would face Luis Alba (McKendree) for the true fourth place match. Both wrestlers allowed only an escape in regulation, but Williams came out on top with a takedown late in overtime to qualify for his first NCAA-II National tournament. Williams is now 24-12, with the most team points earned this season (63.5).
Josh Thomson (165) and De'Quence Goodman (285) also participated in the second day of the regional tournament. Thomson was beat by Colbey Vance (Upper Iowa) in a 4-2 sudden victory to finish his season at 28-12 overall, and 51-25 in his career at Central Missouri. Goodman also narrowly missed advancing, falling to Logan Hopp (Upper Iowa) by 2-1 decision. Goodman was 13-8 overall in his first season with the Mules.
The NCAA-II National Championships will be in St. Louis, Mo. on March 13-14.
