Oklahoma Grapplers Topple Missouri Valley, 29-10

Jan. 24, 2001

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NORMAN, Okla. - The seventh-ranked Oklahoma wrestling team defeated NAIA power Missouri Valley, 29-10, at the OU Field House tonight. The Sooners collected wins in seven weight classes including pins by 149-pounder Jared Frayer and Nick Curcio at 184 pounds.

OU began the dual with a quick start, claiming major decisions at both 125 and 133 pounds. Matt Ridings (125) downed Charles Gonzalez, 14-5, and Witt Durden (133) dominated Shane Cristelli, 21-7. Melvin Lofton wrestled in place of the injured Michael Lightner at 141 pounds and won his first dual match of the season, 12-7, over Lukie Christian. Frayer, the Big 12 leader in falls, continued the Sooners' winning streak by pinning Patrick Giangrosso in :30.

Missouri Valley won the dual's next two matches. Rafael Maturino defeated Tony Moore, 9-6, at 157 pounds and Tim Cobb tech falled Juan Ramos in the opening moments of the third period in the 165-pound bout. OU's Michael Barger (174) claimed his 14th win in his last 15 matches by decisioning Matt Cobb, 7-2. Curcio earned OU's second pin of the night at 184, showing the Vikings' Anthony Ochoa the lights in 1:10. The two squads split the final two matches. Sooner Waymon May won by a 16-9 decision against Joe Potts at 197 and Missouri Valley heavyweight Wes Walker beat Gary Barber, 9-4.

"This is a step down in competition from the Iowa's, Iowa State's, Penn State's and Michigan's that we had been facing, but this is still a good wrestling team," OU Head Coach Jack Spates said of Missouri Valley. "In a physical sport like wrestling you can't wrestle top 10 and top 20 teams every match like we have been. This gives an opportunity for some guys who work hard in the room to have a chance to wrestle in a dual and our guys that are banged up a chance to rest. I'm proud of the way we wrestled, so I think we accomplished both objectives."

The Sooners will compete in the Colorado School of Mines Tournament this Saturday in Golden, Colo. OU's next dual is against the fourth-ranked Iowa State Cyclones in Ames, Iowa, on February 2.

Oklahoma (14-3-1) 29, Missouri Valley (5-1-1) 10

125:Matt Ridings (14-4), OU, maj. dec. Charles Gonzalez (15-8), MV, 14-5 133:Witt Durden (21-7), OU, maj. dec. Shane Cristella (12-7), MV, 21-7 141:Melvin Lofton (1-4), OU, dec. Lukie Christian (10-4), MV, 12-7 149:Jared Frayer (25-4), OU, fall Patrick Giangrosso (16-9), MV, :30 157:Rafael Maturino (25-9), MV, dec. Tony Moore (0-3), OU, 9-6 165:Tim Cobb (16-4), MV, tech. fall Juan Ramos (0-1), OU, 22-7 (5:11) 174:Michael Barger (21-5), OU dec. Matt Cobb (16-6), MV, 7-2 184:Nick Curcio (5-13), OU, fall Anthony Ochoa (7-15), MV, 1:10 197:Waymon May (21-8), OU, dec. Joe Potts (20-8), MV, 16-9 Hwt:Wes Walker (21-6), MV, dec. Gary Barber (2-5), OU, 9-4

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Oklahoma Grapplers Topple Missouri Valley, 29-10

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