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Al Case, Ashland Daily Photo
Al Case, Ashland Daily Photo

SOU tops Eastern Oregon to clinch another winning season

2/4/2017 9:28:00 PM

ASHLAND – Southern Oregon University seniors Tyler Cowger and Aaron DeMay went out in style while wrestling in front of home fans for the last time Saturday night and kept the Raiders' streak of consecutive winning seasons alive in the process.

They got plenty of help, too, as No. 9 SOU dominated Eastern Oregon for a 37-9 dual victory at Mountain Avenue Gym in the Mountaineers' first trip to Ashland since the 1975-76 season. The Raiders finished at 9-7 in duals – getting over the .500-mark for the 47th year in a row, though this was the first time in 12 years that the suspense lasted through the team's final dual.

After EOU's 13th-ranked Mhar Caballa started the night with a 23-8 technical fall over Ian Rogers, it was all SOU. Casey Coulter (133) hung on for a 1-0 victory over Terran Liboldt, and 10th-ranked Devin Poppen (141) came through with the first of three Raider pins – downing Tyler Miller in 2:36 for his fifth consecutive win by fall in dual action.

Cowger, SOU's second-ranked 149-pounder who hadn't lost at home since his freshman season, then manhandled Jared Neiss for an 8-0 major decision in which he compiled nearly five minutes of riding time. Chandler Michael followed by sending SOU into the intermission with a 16-5 lead after his 5-3 win over Terry Mason.

DeMay – who will attempt to defend his NAIA West Group title when the Raiders head to the regional tournament in Redding, Calif., on Feb. 18 – scored a 6-3 decision over Cole Ovens at 165. At 174, Andrew Orr went ahead 2-1 late in the second period with a takedown of Brandon Davidson, then got him on his back for a pin in 4:47.

Clark Woodward claimed EOU's only other win at 184 with a 13-2 major decision over Oscar Flores. Tanner Fischer, SOU's ninth-ranked 197-pounder, stayed hot, though, with his 11th dual win in a row – a pin of Eric Fan in 4:11. He's won 14 straight overall heading into the regional tourney.

Alejandro Sandoval, SOU's heavyweight, won by forfeit.

It was the Raiders' second win of the season in their Wagon Tire Dual series with the Mountaineers. They won at EOU, 28-10, on Nov. 18.

SOUTHERN OREGON 37, EASTERN OREGON 9
125 – Mhar Caballa, EOU, tech. fall Ian Rogers, 23-8. (0-5)
133 – Casey Coulter, SOU, dec. Terran Liboldt, 1-0. (3-5)
141 – Devin Poppen, SOU, p. Tyler Miller, 2:36. (9-5)
149 – Tyler Cowger, SOU, major dec. Jared Neiss, 8-0. (13-5)
157 – Chandler Michael, SOU, dec. Terry Mason, 5-3. (16-5)
165 – Aaron DeMay, SOU, dec. Cole Ovens, 6-3. (19-5)
174 – Andrew Orr, SOU, p. Brandon Davidson, 4:47. (25-5)
184 – Clark Woodward, EOU, major dec. Oscar Flores, 13-2. (25-9)
197 – Tanner Fischer, SOU, p. Eric Fan, 4:11. (31-9)
285 – Alejandro Sandoval, SOU, wins by forfeit. (37-9)

 
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