OCU adds 10 wrestling recruits

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University signed state champions Ryan Garrett of Claremore, Okla., and Cole Nelson of Lakeside, Ariz., and state finalists Jacob Keah-tigh of Fort Defiance, Ariz., and Josh Van Holland of Shawnee, Kan., among 10 recruits to its wrestling team.

Other OCU wrestling signees were Adam Goodchild of Dallas, Mikey and Shawn Keating of Ponca City, Okla., Cameron Ream of Wentzville, Mo., Robert Turrentine of Tulsa, Okla., and Ryan Umbarger of Sand Springs, Okla.

Garrett went 36-4 with the Class 5A 171-pound state title as a senior and 122-20 in his high-school career. Garrett helped Claremore to the Class 5A state championship as a senior and twice made honorable-mention Tulsa World all-metro.

“We have an open weight at 174 for us,” OCU coach Archie Randall said. “Hopefully he will be in the mix to start.”

Nelson went 60-0 with the 160-pound Class 3A Arizona state championship as a senior for Lakeside Blue Ridge. Nelson captured the 145-pound state title, going 35-5 as a junior. Nelson, who was 147-36 in his career, was named honorable-mention all-state and earned all-region and all-conference honors twice each.

Randall said, “He is a pinner. He pinned everybody at the state tournament two years in a row. A six-point swing is huge in a college dual. He will give us an opportunity to redshirt either him or Nik Turner at 157.”

Keah-tigh went 44-7 with 33 falls as a senior for Fort Defiance Window Rock (Ariz.) and finished as Class 3A runner-up at 160 pounds in the Arizona state tournament. Keah-tigh posted a career record of 130-50 with 77 pins. He was named a Navajo Times all-area outstanding wrestler.

“He is a very solid, talented kid,” Randall said. “His only losses were to Cole Nelson. The room will get a little tougher.”

Van Holland finished as Class 5A runner-up at 171 pounds for Shawnee Mill Valley (Kan.) in the Kansas state tournament. Van Holland went 39-7 as a senior and 80-45 in his career.

“He is a talented kid,” Randall said. “He is extremely tough and athletic. He is a quality athlete and will bid for that 174-pound spot.”

Goodchild led his team in takedowns as a senior and posted a 28-21 record as a junior for Dallas Jesuit Preparatory.

“OCU is a faith-based university that made me feel welcome from the first time I visited the campus,” Goodchild said. “It felt like this was where I needed to be.”

Mikey Keating spent last season redshirting at Dana (Neb.). Keating was a two-time state placer at Ponca City, recording a third-place finish as a senior at 189 and finishing third at 152 as a sophomore.

“He is projected at 184 and has talked to me about being at 174, which would make that weight really tough,” Randall said. “He beat two all-Americans last year.”

Shawn Keating lost in the 160-pound consolation finals of the Class 5A state tournament as a senior for Ponca City. Keating also won the regional championship and made first-team all-Centennial Conference.

“He’s a pretty solid wrestler who wrestled up a weight most of the year,” Randall said. “Ponca City traditionally has a great program. They typically produce hard-nosed kids.”

Ream won four Gateway Athletic Conference championships and placed in the state tournament three times. Ream made honorable-mention St. Louis Post Dispatch all-metro after placing third at 130 pounds in the state tournament and going 49-7 with 39 pins as a senior. Ream went 165-29 with 100 falls in his career.

“He was recruited heavily, and we’re fortunate to have him,” Randall said. “He has an incredible record. He should have won state a couple of times. He is a pinner and an outstanding student.”

Turrentine won the district title at 112 pounds as a senior for Bishop Kelley High School (Okla.). He also placed third at regionals and fourth in the Class 5A state tournament.

“He will add to our depth at 125,” Randall said. “He never had an opportunity to wrestle Kidd Gomez, and he is looking forward to that chance.”

Umbarger was a three-time state qualifier and a two-time state placer for Charles Page High School (Okla.). Umbarger qualified for the 6A state tournament at 171 pounds as a senior.

“He is an excellent athlete from a traditionally good program,” Randall said. “He wrestled with a hurt knee all year. He could vie for the spot at 165 pounds.”