OU Wrestling Wins Oklahoma Gold Classic

Nov. 14, 1999

BROCKPORT, N.Y. - The fourth-ranked University of Oklahoma wrestling team claimed the team championship at the first-ever Oklahoma Gold Classic held at SUNY-Brockport's North Tuttle Gym today. OU tallied 211.50 points on its way to the championship. Second place Cleveland State finished with 101.50 points. In addition to the team championship, seven Sooner wrestlers claimed individual titles. Byron Tucker, a 174-pound senior, was named the tournament's most outstanding wrestler.

OU claimed first, third and fifth place at 125 pounds. Quantres Bates won the championship by winning by major decision over Cleveland State's Rocco Mansueto, 14-6. Bo Maynes claimed third and Matt Ridings finished fifth in the weight class. Witt Durden was the runner-up finisher at 133 pounds, falling in the championship bout, 7-4, to Cleveland State's Phil Mansueto. Second-ranked Michael Lightner defeated eighth-ranked Jason DeBruin of Hofstra, 3-2, to claim the championship at 141 pounds and fifth-ranked Jared Frayer was upset in the title match by Hofstra's ninth-ranked Eric Schmiesing, 6-5.

The Sooners claimed championships in five of the final six weight classes with the only exception at 184 pounds. At 157 pounds, sixth -ranked David Kjeldgaard decisioned No. 14 Ed Hockenberry of Bloomsburg, 4-2, to win the tournament championship. Robbie Waller won the 165-pound title by downing Hofstra's Noel Thompson by a 15-4 major decision. OU's Dustin Walker finished third at 165.

The Sooners claimed first and third at 174 pounds when fifth-ranked Tucker won by major decision over Bloomsburg's Cassidy Schults in the championship match and Michael Barger defeated Pitt-Johnstown's Ted Raker, 5-2, for third. OU finished second and third at 184 pounds. Pitt-Johnstown's Ethan Brownback upset ninth-ranked Tom Grossman, 4-2, in the championship and Rowdy Lundegreen claimed third with a 6-2 victory over Chris Froelich of Bloomsburg. Orville Palmer, ranked fifth nationally, downed Bloomsburg's Todd Hockenbroch, 9-3. OU claimed both first and second at heavyweight when Brent Boeshans defeated Gary Barber, 18-7.

The Sooners will be back on the mat again Saturday, Nov. 20, when they travel to St. Louis, Mo., for the St. Louis Open.