OU Lands in Top 20

Oct. 24, 2007

NORMAN, Okla., -- The Sooner wrestling team is gaining more attention in preseason rankings as it prepares for the 2007-08 campaign.

The USA Today/National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) and its media Web-site, InterMat, tabbed the Sooners at No. 19 in the team rankings.

The poll also ranked four Sooners in the individual weight standings. Will Rowe at 149-pounds is ranked No. 9, Max Dean at 165-pounds is ranked No. 16, Joshua Weitzel at 184-pounds is ranked No. 11 and Joel Flaggert at 197-pounds is ranked No. 8.

Additionally, TheWrestlingMall.com released its preseason poll on Thursday and included five OU wrestlers in the individual weight rankings. Kyle Terry at 141-pounds is ranked No. 17, Rowe is ranked No. 12, Dean is ranked No. 14 and Weitzel and Flaggert are ranked No. 15 and No. 9, respectively.

The Sooners were also recently ranked No. 17 as a team by W.I.N. magazine.

Oklahoma finished the 2006-07 season with a record of 11-7. Oklahoma returns five NCAA qualifiers in Flaggert, a two-time All-American, Terry, Rowe, Weitzel and newcomer Max Dean. Dean transferred from Indiana and is coming off three straight years of qualifying as a Hoosier.

Oklahoma will hold its annual Red/White scrimmage on Thursday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. at the Howard McCasland Fieldhouse.

The season will officially begin for the Sooners Nov. 4 in a triple-dual against Missouri Valley, Oklahoma City and Neosho Community College in Oklahoma City.

USA Today/NWCA/InterMat Preseason Poll

Rank Team
1      Minnesota
2      Oklahoma State
3      Iowa State
4      Iowa
5      Michigan
6      Northwestern
7      Missouri
8      Ohio State
9      Cornell
10    Central Michigan
11    Penn State
12    Wisconsin
13    Hofstra
14    Nebraska
15    Indiana
16    Edinboro
17    Illinois
18    Navy
19    Oklahoma
20    Pittsburgh
21    UT-Chattanooga
22    Harvard
23    Penn
24    American
25    Oregon State

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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