Sooners Finish Fourth At Big 12 Championships

OMAHA, Neb. The University of Oklahoma wrestling team placed fourth at the Big 12 Championships at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb., Saturday. The tournament positions the top five wrestlers at each weight class against each other to determine a champion. The Sooners walked away with three individual second place medals, while placing four wrestlers at third and one at fourth. Overall OU qualified seven wrestlers for the NCAA Championships in St. Louis, Mo., March 17-19. Oklahoma State picked up its seventh Big 12 Championship in nine years.

“It was a tournament of inches for us,” said head coach Jack Spates. “We qualified seven wrestlers, we had three in the finals and four thirds. That's excellent.”

The first round of competition began with the fourth and the fifth seeds battling to move up in the brackets. The Sooners had four wrestlers competing in the first round, but only redshirt-freshman Joe Comparin and sophomore Justin Dyer won their matches and moved on to the semi-finals. Comparin (133), No. 4 seed, led Jesse Sundell of Iowa State 3-1 at the end of the second period, but Sundell earned an escape and a takedown in the third to tie the match 4-4. In overtime, Comaprin scored a takedown with 40 second left to win the match by decision, 6-4. Dyer defeated Clay Kehrer of Oklahoma State, for the second time this season, by a 5-2 decision.

For senior Wes Roberts (165) his first match of the day was a disappointing one. Roberts led Trevor Paulson of Iowa State 2-0 at the end of the first period, but became tied 2-2 at the end of the second. With less than five seconds remaining in the third period Roberts led 5-4, but a controversial takedown call at the buzzer left Roberts with a lose by decision, 6-5.

Oklahoma wrestled eight wrestlers in the semi-final round, but only three Sooners won their matches. Top-ranked Sam Hazewinkel dominated Grant Nakamura of Iowa State and led 11-1 at the end of the second period. Hazewinkel scored a two-point nearfall with 10 seconds left to defeat Nakamura by a major decision, 18-5. At 141 pounds, Teyon Ware avenged his recent dual and 2004 Big 12 Championships lose to Matt Murray. Ware controlled the match, allowed only one escape and won by decision 7-1. Matt Storniolo faced Travis Shufelt, who is recently off the injured list for Nebraska, and defeated him by decision, 11-7.

At the end of the semi-finals Oklahoma State was in first place with a team score of 69, Nebraska trailed with 26 and OU came in third place with 25, while Missouri and Iowa State were tied for fourth with 24 points.

The consolation round started with five Sooners fighting for a chance to wrestle for third place. Three of the five were victorious. With an escape and a 1:14 of riding time Waldhaus defeated Nick Passalano of Iowa State by decision, 2-1. At 197 pounds, Flaggert defeated Foust, for the second time this season, 8-6. To end the consolation matches Hager beat Chase Wetenkamp of Missouri by decision, 8-4.

Oklahoma had five wrestlers compete for third place honors and a guaranteed spot at the 2005 NCAA Championships. OU walked away with four out of five third place titles. Waldhaus claimed his second third place title at the Big 12 Championships with a win over Nick Pasolano of Iowa State, 3-1. At 184 pounds, Dyer avenged his regular season major decision lose to Missouri's Matt Pell with a takedown in the last four seconds of the match to win by decision, 4-2. Flaggert and Hager rounded out the third place matches for the Sooners. Flaggert won a close match with Jeff Foust of Missouri by decision, 5-3, and Hager defeated Nebraska's Jon May in sudden victory, 6-1. At 133 pounds, Comparin lost a tough match in overtime to Jesse Sudell by decision, 6-4, to place fourth.

Oklahoma brought three wrestlers into the finals to compete for the championship. The finals started at 125 pounds, which pitted defending Big 12 Champion Hazewinkel against freshman Coleman Scott of Oklahoma State. Hazewinkel scored the first point in the second period with an escape. Scott retaliated with an escape in the third and the match continued into one one-minute and two 30-second overtimes. In the last 30-second overtime Scott fought to escape from Hazewinkel to clinch the Big 12 Championship with a win by decision, 2-1.

At 141 pounds Ware's match mirrored Hazewinkel's and entered overtime tied at one. After two one-minute and four 30-second overtimes Ware lost to Nate Gallick of Iowa State by riding time, 2-1.

In the Sooners' last match of the day Storniolo faced Zack Esposito of Oklahoma State. Esposito scored the first points with a takedown and Storniolo returned with an escape. With 1:54 in riding time Esposito defeated Storniolo, 11-4. This season Storniolo is 0-3 against Esposito.

“The matches we lost were so close and so heart breaking. Wes Robert's match it doesn't come any closer than that. Charles wrestled his fanny off and barely lost to B.J. Wright. Joe Comparin same thing,” said Spates. “We wrestled well, it was just a tournament of inches. We were a hair away from sending eight or nine and being magnificent, but we fell a little short. We wrestled well and now we've got to up our intensity.”

Seven Sooners will continue their season as they compete in the 2005 NCAA Championships in St. Louis, Mo., March 17-19.

First Round
125: Grank Nakamura (ISU) maj. dec. Tim Kephart (MU) 12-0
133: Joe Comparin (OU) dec. Jesse Sundell (ISU) 6-4 otc
141: Daniel Frishkorn (OSU) maj. dec Chris McCormick (MU) 16-3
149: Cody Greene (MU) dec. Aron Scott (ISU) 5-3
157: Kevin Ward (OSU) dec. Charles Jones (OU) 6-2
165: Travis Paulson (ISU) dec. Wes Roberts (OU) 6-5
174: Nick Passalano (ISU) dec. Marc Harwood (NU) 2-1 (3ot)
184: Justin Dyer (OU) dec. Clay Kehrer (OSU) 5-2
197: Jeff Foust (MU) dec. Trevor Smith (ISU) 7-5
HWT: Jon May (NU) dec. Chase Wetenkamp (MU) 9-4

Semi-Finals
125: Sam Hazewinkel (OU) maj. dec Grant Nakamura (ISU) 18-5
        Coleman Scott (OSU) fall Matt Keller (NU) 6:21
133: Tyler McCormick (MU) inj. def. Dominick Moyer (NU) 5:16
         Nathan Morgan (OSU) dec. Joe Comparin (OU) 6-1
141: Nate Gallick (ISU) dec. Daniel Friskorn (OSU) 5-3
        Teyon Ware (OU) dec. Matt Murray (NU) 7-1
149: Zack Esposito (OSU) maj. dec Cody Greene (MU) 16-5
         Matt Storniolo (OU) dec Travis Shufelt (NU) 11-7
157: Kevin Ward (OSU) dec. Trent Paulson (ISU) 7-4
         Brad Cieleski (MU) dec. B.J. Wright (NU) 9-7
165: Johny Hendricks (OSU) dec Jacob Klein (NU) 6-4 (3ot)
         Tryone Woodley (MU) dec. Travis Paulson (ISU) 2-1
174: Chris Pendleton (OSU) maj. dec Nick Passalano (ISU) 13-4
         Ben Askren (NU) dec. E.K. Waldhaus (OU) 5-1
184: Travis Pascoe (NU) dec. Justin Dyer (OU) 10-5
         Kurt Backes (ISU) dec. Matt Pell (MU) 7-2
197: Jake Rosholt (OSU) maj. dec Jeff Foust (MU) 14-4
         B.J. Padden (NU) dec. Joel Flaggert (OU) 5-3
HWT: Steve Mocco (OSU) maj. dec Jon May (NU) 9-0
            Scott Coleman (ISU) dec. Jake Hager (OU) 6-2

Consolation:
125: Matt Keller (NU) dec. Tim Kepart (MU) 10-3
133: Jesse Sundell (ISU) M For. Tyler McCormick (MU)
141: Matt Murray (NU) dec. Chris McCormick (MU) 5-4 ot
149: Travis Shufelt (NU) dec. Aron Scott (ISU) 11-5
157: B.J. Wright (NU) dec. Charles Jones (OU) 4-3 ot
165: Jacob Klein (NU) dec. Wes Roberts (OU) 1-0
174: E.K. Waldhaus (OU) dec. Marc Harwood (NU) 2-1
184: Matt Pell (MU) dec. Clay Kehrer (OSU) 3-2
197: Joel Flaggert (OU) dec. Trevor Smith (ISU) 8-6
HWT: Jake Hager (OU) dec. Chase Wetenkamp (MU) 8-4

Third Place:
125: Matt Keller (NU) dec. Grant Nakamura (ISU) 6-3
133: Jesse Sundell (ISU) dec. Joe Comparin (OU) 6-4 ot
141: Daniel Frishkorn (OSU) dec. Matt Murray (NU) 8-1
149: Cody Greene (MU) fall Travis Shufelt (NU) 5:17
157: Trent Paulson (ISU) maj. dec B.J. Wright (NU) 12-4
165: Jacob Klein (NU) dec. Travis Paulson (ISU) 3-1
174: E.K. Waldhaus (OU) dec. Nick Passalano (ISU) 3-1
184: Justin Dyer (OU) dec. Matt Pell (MU) 4-2
197: Joel Flaggert (OU) dec. Jeff Foust (MU) 5-3
HWT: Jake Hager (OU) dec. Jon May (NU) 6-1

Finals:
125: Coleman Scott (OSU) dec. Sam Hazewinkel (OU) 2-1 OT
133: Nathan Morgan (OSU) Dominick Moyer (NU)
141: Nate Gallick (ISU) dec. Teyon Ware (OU) 4-3
149: Zach Esposito (OSU) dec. Matt Storniolo (OU) 10-4
157: Kevin Ward (OSU) dec. Brad Cieleski (MU) 6-4
165: Johny Hendricks (OSU) dec. Tyrone Woodley (MU) 4-1
174: Chris Pendleton (OSU) dec. Ben Askren (MU) 12-8
184: Kurt Backes (ISU) fall Travis Pascoe (NU) 2:13
197: B.J. Padden (NU) dec. Jake Rosholt (OSU) 5-2
HWT: Steve Mocco (OSU) dec. Scott Coleman (ISU) 9-4

Final Team Score
1. Oklahoma State 95.5
2. Iowa State 49
3. Nebraska 47.5
4. Oklahoma 45
5. Missouri 35

2005 Big 12 NCAA Selections
('05 conference champions listed first - 30 automatc, six wildcard, two alternates)
125: Coleman Scott, OSU; Sam Hazewinkel, OU; Matt Keller, NU; Grant Nakamura, SU
133: Nathan Morgan OSU; Dominick Moyer, NU; Jesse Sundell, ISU
141: Nate Gallick, ISU; Teyon Ware, OU; Daniel Frishkorn, OSU; Matt Murray NU
149: Zac Esposito, OSU; Matt Storniolo, OU; Cody Greene, MU; Travis Shufelt, NU
157: Kevin Ward, OSU; Brad Celieski, MU; Trent Paulson, ISU
165: Johny Hendricks, OSU; Tyron Woodley, MU; Jacob Klein, NU; Travis Paulson, ISU
174: Chris Pendleton, OSU; Ben Askren, MU; EK Waldhaus, OU; Nick Passalano, ISU
184: Kurt Backes, ISU; Travis Pascoe, NU; Justin Dyer, OU; Matt Pell, MU
197: B.J. Padden, NU; Jake Rosholt, OSU; Joel Flaggert, OU
HWT: Steve Mocco, OSU; Scott Coleman, ISU; Jake Hager OU

First Alternate: B.J. Wright NU (157)
Second Alternate: Jeff Foust MU (197)

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Sooners Finish Fourth At Big 12 Championships

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