Two Sooner Grapplers Advance to Semifinals at NCAA Championships

March 16, 2001

IOWA CITY, Iowa - Two Oklahoma Wrestlers - Michael Lightner (141) and Jared Frayer (149) - advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Wrestling Championships at Iowa City, Iowa. Both wrestlers have ensured All-America status. Five other Sooners have advanced to the round of 12 and are one win away from earning All-America honors. OU dropped to sixth place at the end of the third session.

Second-seeded Lightner secured All-America status for the fourth time in his career by majoring No. 7 Chad Erikson of Minnesota, 12-3, to advance to the semifinals. He scored five takedowns and rode Erikson for 2:43. Frayer also advanced to the semis by decisioning Iowa's Mike Zadick. Frayer scored on a five-point throw in the first period in the 11-4 win.

Robbie Waller (No. 4 at 165) fell into the wrestleback bracket when he was defeated 3-1 by fifth-seeded Matt Lackey of Illinois. Lackey scored a takedown with five seconds left in sudden victory for the win. Michael Barger was also knocked out of the championship bracket when he was pinned by Army's Maurice Worthy in sudden victory overtime. Josh Lambrecht's streak of upsets came to an end when he lost to No. 3 Daniel Cormier from Oklahoma State. The loss, Lambrecht's fourth to Cormier this season, drops him into the wrestleback bracket. Ninth-seeded Leonce Crump fell to the top-seed from Minnesota, Garrett Lowney, 3-2.

Matt Ridings (No. 5 at 125) tallied five takedowns and accumulated 2:33 seconds of riding time in a 14-3 major decision of Portland State's John Fasana in his first wrestleback match. Ridings was eliminated in his next match. Ridings scored a takedown in the closing seconds of the match to take a 3-1 lead but seconds later gave up a reverse. Williams claimed the match with riding time. Witt Durden scored a five-point move early in the first period in his 6-2 win against Charlie Griggs of Boise State. Durden advanced to the round of 12 with a 13-5 major decision against Cleveland State's Nick Boucher.

Waymon May became the first Sooner to be eliminated from the championships. He was ousted by third-seeded Zach Thompson of Iowa State, 4-2, in the wrestlebacks.

"The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat, this is a sport of inches," said OU Head Coach Jack Spates. "We were inches from having a spectacular round but now it's just heartbreaking. Michael Lightner was magnificent. He totally dominated his match. Jared (Frayer) was heroic. He thoroughly dominated in a very hostile environment. Robbie Waller wrestled well enough to win. Michael Barger had the match in control but lost in a heartbreaker. That's the sport. My heart goes out to Matt Ridings and Waymon May. They're going to leave here without earning All-America status but their effort was never lacking. On the bright side, we have two wrestlers in the semis and seven in contention for All-America honors. We have our destiny in our hands."

Session four begins this afternoon at 5:30.

Oklahoma Session-Three Results Championship Quarterfinals 141: #2 Michael Lightner, OU, maj. dec. #7 Chad Erikson, Minnesota, 12-3 149: #8 Jared Frayer, OU, dec. Mike Zadick, Iowa, 11-4 165: #5 Matt Lackey, Illinois, dec. #4 Robbie Waller, OU, 3-1 SV 174: #3 Maurice Worthy, Army, fall #11 Michael Barger, OU, 7:44 184: #3 Daniel Cormier, Oklahoma State, maj. dec. Josh Lambrecht, OU, 16-4 Hwt: #1 Garrett Lowney, Minnesota, dec. #9 Leonce Crump, OU, 3-2 Wrestlebacks 125: #5 Matt Ridings, OU, maj. dec. John Fasana, Portland State, 14-3 #7 Chris Williams, Michigan State, dec. #5 Matt Ridings, OU, 4-3 133: Witt Durden, OU, dec. Charlie Griggs, Boise State, 6-2 Witt Durden, OU, maj. dec. Nick Boucher, Cleveland State, 13-5 197: #3 Zach Thompson, Iowa State, dec. Waymon May, OU, 4-2

Oklahoma Session-Four Matchups Semifinals 141: #2 Michael Lightner, OU vs. #11 Grant Hoerr, Wisconsin Lightner defeated Hoerr, 3-0, in their only previous meeting. 149: #8 Jared Frayer, OU vs. #4 Dave Esposito, Lehigh Esposito defeated Frayer, 9-4, at last year's NCAA Championships. Round of 12 133: Witt Durden, OU vs. #7 Matt Azevedo, Iowa State Azevedo leads the season series, 3-0. 165: #4 Robbie Waller, OU vs. Chris Vitale, Lehigh 174: #11 Michael Barger, OU vs. #12 Ati Conner, Nebraska Barger and Conner have split their two matches this season. 184: Josh Lambrecht, OU vs. Nick Magistrelli, Kent State Hwt: #9 Leonce Crump, OU vs. Ryan Kehler, West Virginia

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Two Sooner Grapplers Advance to Semifinals at NCAA Championships

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