OU Wrestlers Down Nebraska, 27-12

Feb. 4, 2000

LINCOLN, Neb. - The fourth-ranked University of Oklahoma wrestling team defeated the seventh-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers, 27-12, in front of 867 fans at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln, Neb., Friday night. OU grapplers Robbie Waller, 165 pounds, and Michael Lightner, 141 pounds, won by fall and three other Sooners won by bonus points. The win pushed OU to 14-3-1 on the season. Nebraska fell to 7-4-1.

The Sooners jumped out to a 10-0 lead when Waller pinned Josh Henson in 4:35 and Byron Tucker defeated Ati Conner by major decision, 13-4, at 174 pounds. Nebraska responded by winning the next two matches. Charles McTorry downed Tommy Grossman, 10-3 at 184 pounds and 197-pound Brad Vering decisioned Orville Palmer, 3-2. In the heavyweight bout, Brent Boeshans tech falled Andy Christensen, 25-8, in Christensen's Husker debut. OU's Quantres Bates beat Paul Gomez, 9-6, in the 125-pound match.

The two teams split the final four matches. Nebraska's Todd Beckerman downed Witt Durden, 6-4, at 133. OU won the next two matches to put the dual away. Lighter pinned Justin Flores in 3:45 and Jared Frayer won by a 11-3 major decision over Joe Henson at 149 pounds. The Huskers' 157-pound Bryan Snyder won the final bout of the dual, 5-3, over David Kjeldgaard.

"We're really excited about the win," said Head Coach Jack Spates. "Nebraska is a very competitive team that gave us a great bout at the National Duals. I'm pleased to have dominated like this. We turned some losses around and closed the gap in the ones we lost. We started with a big pin. Robbie Waller's and Michael Lightner's pins turned the match. Byron Tucker was, as always, dominant. Jared (Frayer) had a big win against Henson, who had beaten him three out of four, including at the National Duals. Robbie is coming off injury and hasn't had a great deal of training. For him to get the pin is impressive. We had the whole lineup in, which we hadn't had for a while. With guys back in the (wrestling) room, we should just get better."

Oklahoma will be back on the mat this Wednesday, Feb. 9, when it hosts Missouri Valley. Action will begin at 7 p.m. in the OU Field House.

Oklahoma 27, Nebraska 12

165:Robbie Waller, OU, fall Josh Henson, NU, 4:35

174:Byron Tucker, OU, maj. dec. Ati Conner, NU, 13-4

184:Charles McTorry, NU, dec. Tommy Grossman, OU, 10-3

197:Brad Vering, NU, dec. Orville Palmer, OU, 3-2

HWT:Brent Boeshans, OU, tech. fall Andy Christensen, NU, 25-8

125:Quantres Bates, OU, dec. Paul Gomez, NU, 9-6

133:Todd Beckerman, NU, dec. Witt Durden, OU, 6-4

141:Michael Lightner, OU, fall Justin Flores, NU, 3:45

149:Jared Frayer, OU, maj. dec. Joe Henson, NU, 11-3

157:Bryan Snyder, NU, dec. David Kjeldgaard, OU, 5-3