Sooners Cruise Over Northern Iowa, 31-6 :: Oklahoma wrestling improves to 14-4 on the year.

Sooners Cruise Over Northern Iowa, 31-6 :: Oklahoma wrestling improves to 14-4 on the year. Sooners Cruise Over Northern Iowa, 31-6

Oklahoma wrestling improves to 14-4 on the year.

	Senior Michael Barger and the seventh-ranked Oklahoma wrestling team defeated Northern Iowa, 31-6, on Friday.

Feb. 1, 2002

NORMAN, Okla. - The University of Oklahoma wrestling team, in its first action in nearly two weeks, knocked off No. 14 Northern Iowa, 31-6, Friday at the Howard McCasland Field House. The Sooners, ranked seventh by Intermat, broke a three-match losing streak and improved to 14-4 on the season while the Panthers fell to 6-5.

After eighth-ranked Dylan Long came from behind to beat No. 10/12 Nate Parker, 9-8, at 141, Oklahoma reeled off five straight matches that included Jared Frayer's 14-0 major decision at 149.

Northern Iowa cut the lead back to ten (16-6) after Jason Payne scored a reverse on No. 12/13 Tom Grossman at 197 to win, 3-1. However, OU closed out the match with a forfeit, a fall and a decision. Junior Bo Maynes, subbing for No. 5/3 Matt Ridings at 125, tallied a pin to improve to 16-3 on the year and is second on the team with seven falls.

"Coming off the National Duals, our focus has changed," said Oklahoma Head Coach Jack Spates. "We won several tough matches tonight and that's important because it shows mental toughness. This team is definitely ready for the run at the end of the season."

The Sooners host fourth-ranked Iowa State on Sunday at 2 p.m.