Six Sooners Advance to Quarterfinals at NCAA Wrestling Championships

March 15, 2001

IOWA CITY, Iowa - Six Oklahoma wrestlers advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA wrestling championships in Iowa City, Iowa, tonight. Three-time All-American Michael Lightner (141) won his second match by technical fall while unseeded Josh Lambrecht pulled his second upset of the tournament by pinning Oregon's Doug Lee. As a team, OU currently sits in fourth place.

Lightner won by technical fall for the second time in as many matches at the championships, disposing of Oregon State's Shane Cunanan in 4:43. Jared Frayer (No. 8 at 149) scored off a shot by North Carolina's John Mark Bentley for a takedown and three near-fall points in the first period to blank the ninth-seeded Tar Heel, 7-0. Frayer accumulated 3:51 of riding time in the match. Fourth-seeded Robbie Waller used a 3:10 riding time advantage to advance to the quarterfinals at 165 pounds by downing Doug Cieleski of Slippery Rock, 9-7. Michael Barger (No. 11 at 174) was leading sixth-seeded Mike Feeney of Eastern Michigan, 8-0, when Feeney was unable to continue at the end of the first period. Barger scored six near-fall points before winning by injury default. Lambrecht pinned No. 6 Lee of Oregon in 2:06 at 184. Lambrecht gave up an early takedown but scored a five-point move before the fall. Leonce Crump, the ninth seed at heavyweight, scored a takedown with less than :30 remaining to upset Clarion's No. 8 John Testa, 3-2.

OU suffered its first loss of the tournament at 125 pounds where fifth-seeded Matt Ridings fell to Lehigh's Mario Stuart, 12-11. Stuart jumped out to a 5-0 lead and scored five near-fall points in the bout. Iowa's top-seeded Eric Juergens downed Witt Durden, 6-4, in their bout at 133 pounds. Durden scored a late takedown but time expired before he could further close the gap. Waymon May (No. 8 at 197) was upset by ninth-seeded Nick Preston from Ohio State, 6-2.

"I'm please with the way we wrestled," said OU Head Coach Jack Spates. "Advancing six wrestlers to the quarterfinals was a tremendous feat. Michael Lightner and Jared Frayer continue to wrestle well, as has Michael Barger. Leonce Crump showed a lot of heart to score a late takedown against a higher seeded wrestler. What about Josh Lambrecht? He has been sensational, upsetting two seeded wrestlers, winning by major decision and by pin. I feel really bad about Matt's (Ridings) loss. I told Matt to cut him (Stuart) when we had riding time. It was a tactical mistake on my part. On the whole, I'm pleased with our effort."

NCAA Wrestling Championships competition continues tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. with session three.


Oklahoma Session-Two Results

125: Mario Stuart, Lehigh, dec. #5 Matt Ridings, OU, 12-11

133: #1 Eric Juergens, Iowa, dec. Witt Durden, OU, 6-4

141: #2 Michael Lightner, OU, tech. fall Shane Cunanan, Oregon State, 4:43

149: #8 Jared Frayer, OU, dec. #9 John Mark Bentley, North Carolina, 7-0

165: #4 Robbie Waller, OU, dec. Doug Cieleski, Slippery Rock, 9-7

174: #11 Michael Barger, OU, inj. def. #6 Mike Feeney, Eastern Michigan, 3:00

184: Josh Lambrecth, OU, fall #6 Doug Lee, Oregon, 2:06

197: #9 Nick Preston, Ohio State, dec. #8 Waymon May, OU, 6-2

Hwt: #9 Leonce Crump, OU, dec. #8 John Testa, Clarion, 3-2

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Six Sooners Advance to Quarterfinals at NCAA Wrestling Championships

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