University of Oklahoma Athletics

Michael Lightner Competes in World Championships

Former Sooner Wins Title at U.S. Nationals

April 30, 2005 | Wrestling

LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- Former Sooner wrestler and NCAA champion Michael Lightner claimed his first 60 kg/132 lbs. individual men's freestyle title at the U.S. National Wrestling Championships at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nev., Friday.
 
The top seven wrestlers at this event qualify for the 2005 Senior World Team Trials in Ames, Iowa from June 17-19.

Lightner (Norman, Okla./Sunkist Kids) defeated Nate Gallick (Tucson, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) in the finals, 0-1, 3-0, 1-0. The bout went down to the wire in the deciding third period, with the score of the period tied 0-0.
 
Lightner won the flip and secured the leg, and took down Gallick for the takedown and the deciding 1-0 third period victory.

In the quarterfinals, earlier in the day, No. 8 seed Lightner, upset 2004 Olympic silver medalist Stephen Abas (Fresno, Calif./Sunkist Kids), the No. 1 seed. He reached the finals with a win over No. 4 Celso DeAnda (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC).
 

 

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