Demas Advances, Becomes All-American

PITTSBURGH – Oklahoma redshirt freshman Dom Demas earned All-America status Friday night at the 2019 NCAA DI Wrestling Championships to become the 274^th wrestler in OU history to achieve the feat.

After dropping a 5-1 decision to No. 1 Yianni Diakomihalis (Cornell) in the 141 pounds quarterfinals, Demas used eight takedowns and riding time to defeat No. 20 Matt Findlay of Utah Valley 17-7 in consolation. With his victory, Demas secured All-America honors as one of the final eight wrestlers left in his weight class.

The Ohio native added another win on the night, defeating Lock Haven's No. 13 Kyle Shoop in a 10-4 decision. In the first, Demas had two takedowns. Shoop escaped twice, but Demas took a 4-2 lead into the second, where he added a reversal and two more takedowns. Shoop escaped again in the second, but Demas rode him out for a the win.

Demas is set for a meeting with No. 3 Nick Lee (Penn State) in tomorrow's consolation semifinal. The winner of that match will wrestle in the third-place bout, while the loser will battle for fifth.

Elsewhere in the tournament, No. 21 Justin Thomas' run came to an end in the second consolation round of eight.

In the second consolation round of 16, Thomas defeated No. 27 Danny Reed (Columbia) in a thriller. With the bout tied at 5-all, Thomas used an escape with just seconds remaining to put away the match.

In the first consolation round of eight, Thomas defeated Bucknell's No. 14 Zachary Hartman 11-8. Thomas used a pair of takedowns for a 4-1 lead through one period after a Hartman escape. The Sooner opened the second with another takedown to go up 6-1 before another escape by Hartman, then added a reversal to push his lead to 8-2. In the third, Hartman escaped and earned a penalty point, then added a takedown to cut Thomas' lead to 8-6. Thomas got another takedown, then earned a point for riding time and advanced.

Thomas was eliminated by Old Dominion's Larry Early in a narrow, 6-5 decision. Thomas finished the season with 23 victories and a runner-up finish at the Big 12 tournament.

Davion Jeffries' (149) career came to a close when he was eliminated by No. 18 Jared Prince (Navy) in a 13-2 major decision. Jeffries leaves OU as a four-time NCAA qualifier and a four-time Big 12 placer. The Broken Arrow, Okla., native finishes his collegiate run with 88 victories.

Jake Woodley (197) also concluded his season. The Pittsburgh native was defeated by Ethan Laird (Rider) in the second consolation round of 16.

Demas is set to begin the final day of competition tomorrow at 10 a.m. CT. All matches will be available on ESPN or via the ESPN app. Additionally, ESPN3 will offer individual feeds of each mat.

Results

Christian Moody – 125
No. 4 Ronnie Bresser (Oregon State) fall No. 30 Christian Moody (OU), 2:58
No. 29 Gabe Townsell (Stanford) dec. No. 30 Christian Moody (OU), 4-2

Dom Demas – 141
No. 9 Dom Demas (OU) maj. dec. 24 Mitch Moore (VA Tech), 11-3
No. 9 Dom Demas (OU) dec. No. 8 Kanen Storr (Michigan), 3-1
No. 1 Yianni Diakomihalis (Cornell) dec. No. 9 Dom Demas, 5-1
No. 9 Dom Demas (OU) maj. dec. No. 20 Matt Findlay (Utah Valley), 17-7
No. 9 Dom Demas (OU) dec. No. 13 Kyle Shoop (Lock Haven), 10-4

Davion Jeffries – 149
No. 16 Davion Jeffries (OU) dec. No. 17 Christian Monserrat (WVU), 2-1
No. 1 Anthony Ashnault (Rutgers) dec. No. 16 Davion Jeffries (OU) 7-1
No. 18 Jared Prince (Navy) maj. dec. No. 16 Davion Jeffries (OU), 13-2

Justin Thomas – 157
No. 21 Justin Thomas (OU) dec. Taleb Rahmani (Pitt) 7-1
No. 5 Hayden Hidlay (NC State) tech. fall Justin Thomas (OU), 16-1 (5:24)
No. 21 Justin Thomas (OU) dec. No. 27 Danny Reed (Columbia), 6-5
No. 21 Justin Thomas (OU) dec. Zachary Hartman (Bucknell), 11-8
No. 7 Larry Early (Old Dominion) dec. No. 21 Justin Thomas (OU), 6-5

Jake Woodley – 197
No. 18 Jake Woodley (OU) dec. No. 15 Randall Diabe (Appalachian State), TB-2 4-3
No. 2 Kollin Moore (Ohio State) maj. dec. No. 18 Jake Woodley (OU), 14-4
Ethan Laird (Rider) dec. No. 18 Jake Woodley (OU), 4-0

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Results

Players Mentioned

Dom Demas

Davion Jeffries

Christian Moody

Justin Thomas

Jake Woodley

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma Athletics