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TULSA, Okla. — Demetrius Romero had waited for entire life for Sunday night.
Utah Valley’s wrestling program had waited its entire existence, since the program was founded and later joined the Big 12 in 2015.
The wait was worth it on a wrestling mat in Oklahoma, though.
Romero became Utah Valley’s first-ever Big 12 champion, earning a sudden-victory decision over North Dakota State’s Andrew Fogarty in the 165-pound championship Sunday night at the BOK Center in Tulsa.
The junior from Meridian, Idaho trailed by as much as 5-1 in the second period before rallying to earn an 8-6 win in the extra period. Romero’s match-clinching takedown came just 13 seconds into the extra period.
The Wolverines placed sixth with 59 points, a program-record since joining the Big 12. Oklahoma State captured its seventh-straight team title.
Five UVU wrestlers placed int he top six, earning automatic berths to the NCAA championships in Pittsburgh in two weeks.
Tate Orndorff finished third at 285 pounds, Will Sumner (184) added a fourth-place finish, Kimball Bastian (174) took fourth for his second NCAA championship berth, and Tanner Orndorff (197) supplied a sixth-place finish to clinch his third-straight triple to nationals.
Editor's note:The content of this article was taken from a press release sent out by UVU Athletics. This is not information gathered by KSL.com reporters.
