Hazewinkel Advances to Final

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Sam Hazewinkel is finally where he has wanted to be.

Hazewinkel showed why he is the top seeded wrestler at 125 pounds at this weekend's NCAA Championships. In the one of the 125 pound semifinal matches Hazewinkel posted a shutout over No. 4 Jayson Ness of Minnesota by a major decision of 10-0.

The Sooner three-time All-American dominated from the opening whistle scoring a takedown at one minute then nearly pinning Ness racking up a near fall to end period one up 5-0. Hazewinkel opened period two with an escape to take an advantage of 6-0 and was able to score a takedown with one second left to lead 8-0 after two.

In the third period Hazewinkel scored a takedown with two seconds left moving into the 125 pound final for the first time in his career. In his previous three NCAA Championships the three-time Big 12 Champion faltered in the semifinals and took third each year.

NCAA Championship Central

Hazewinkel will face fellow Big 12 wrestler Paul Donahoe of Nebraska in the 125 pound national final on Saturday night.

Joshua Weitzel's season came to a close on Friday evening in the wrestleback when he was defeated by Matt Palmer of Columbia by a decision of 4-3 at 174 pounds. Weitzel finishes his first full season for Oklahoma with a record of 28-9.

The three-time All-American, Hazewinkel, was very workman like in his 16-4 major decision over Obenson Blanc in one of the 125 pound quarterfinal matches.

Blanc jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a takedown in the first period. After that, it was all Hazewinkel. The Sooner senior countered with six straight points that included two takedowns and two escapes.

The three-time Big 12 Champion then recorded two consecutive three-point near falls that pushed his lead to 12-2. Blanc was able to score a takedown before Hazewinkel closed out the match with an escape, takedown and then added one point for riding time.

Kyle Terry's first ever appearance in the NCAA Championships came to a close Friday afternoon after three matches. Terry was defeated by Matt Ciasulli of Lehigh by a decision of 4-3 in the 141 pound wrestlback. Terry finishes the season with an overall record of 18-12. The Sooner redshirt freshman was the third place medalist at the Big 12 Championships.

Matt Storniolo's attempt to continue in the wrestleback portion of the bracket to try for a third straight All-American honor did not come easily in his first match. Jordan Burroughs of Nebraska held a slim one point margin through two and a half periods before the Sooner senior scored a reversal to tie the score 1-1 in the third. Burroughs and Storniolo wrestled through regulation tied at one apiece and no winner was decided after the first one minute sudden victory period.

The two Big 12 wrestlers than wrestled through seven thirty second tie breaker periods with no outcome decided. Storniolo finally managed a takedown and a three point near fall in the final sudden victory period to take the match 6-1.

Will Rowe continued his quest for his first All-America honor with his victory over Jacob Murphy of Purdue in the 157 pound wrestleback. Rowe was dominant in his match only allowing two escape points to the Boilermaker. Rowe scored three takedowns, two escapes and added one point due to riding time to take the 7-2 decision.

Joel Flaggert has not had very many wrestlers stand between him and a victory in his career. But this season one of the few was Matthew Monteiro of Cal Poly. The Mustang defeated Flaggert for the second time this season with the second ending Flaggert's season. The two's 197 pound wrestleback match ended with Monteiro winning by a decision of 6-1. The Sooner senior finished with an overall record of, 22-6.

Storniolo's NCAA Championships came to end along with his season when he was defeated by Scott Ervin of Appalachian State in the afternoon wrestleback at 149 pounds. Storniolo led throughout the match but was unable to close out Ervin as the Mountaineer junior overcame a two point deficit in the third period to tie the score. He then scored an escape and a near fall to take the match by a score of 10-6. Storniolo finishes the season with an overall record of 18-3. The senior finishes his Sooner career with a record of 78-15 with a 149 pound Big 12 Championships and was a two-time All-American.

Rowe's season came to an end in the afternoon wrestleback when he was defeated by Jacob Youst of Chattanooga. Rowe was never able to tie the match after going down 2-0 in the first period. Rowe tried to make a comeback as he got within one point with :30 seconds left at 6-5 but could not climb the hill. Rowe finishes the season with an overall record of 21-9.

The finals will be aired live on ESPN at 7 p.m. CST.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Related News

Related Videos

Sponsors