Sooners Prevail in Double-Dual

Jan. 12, 2008

NORMAN, Okla -- The No. 18 ranked Sooners defeated Michigan State and No. 20 Pittsburgh in a double-dual Saturday afternoon at the Howard McCasland Field House in Norman.

The Sooners extended their record to 10-1 on the year, the 13th straight season of 10 or more wins under head coach Jack Spates.

OU easily took down the Spartans by a final of 29-7 in the first match, but needed its undefeated senior leaders in Joshua Weitzel and Joel Flaggert to step up late in the second match to prevail, 17-15.

"I am extremely proud of our guys," Spates said. "We were taken down to the wire versus Pittsburgh and our team showed a lot of character, a lot of fight to pick up the win."

In match one versus MSU, 125-pound Joey Fio was quick out of the gate for the Sooners by recording a 15-6 major decision over Spartan Joel Trombly. Michigan State's No. 3 ranked Franklin Gomez evened the match at four with a 9-1 major decision over 133-pound Brian Shelton.

Zack Bailey dominated the 141 pound bout by recording a 17-0 technical fall over MSU's Micah Carter. Junior Will Rowe defeated Tim Hammer by a 18-9 major decision at 149 pounds, and Chad Terry extended the Sooner lead to 16-4 by defeating 157-pound John Fulger in a 7-2 decision.

Max Dean then recorded a 15-5 major decision over Rex Kendle in the 165 pound bout. Nick Palmieri put the Spartans back on the board with a win over 174 pound Jeff James, 4-1.

Weitzel, Flaggert and Nathan Fernandez closed the match with decisions in the 184, 197 and heavyweight bouts to give Oklahoma the victory.

Both the Sooners and Pittsburgh struggled to keep a lead in the last dual of the day. OU eventually took advantage of its senior leaders to pick up win number 10 win on the season.

To begin the dual, Fio was awarded a riding point at the conclusion of the match to edge Boss, 3-2. Pittsburgh then picked up two victories with Conroy defeating 133-pounder J.R. Roman, 8-3, and Headlee topping Bailey by a final of 2-0.

Rowe, now with a 10-0 dual record, surged the Sooners back into the lead, 7-6, with a dominating 11-1 major decision over Ciampoli. Spartan Matt Kocher defeated Terry by a final of 2-1 to regain the team lead, 9-7.

Dean outlasted Pitt's Richards by a 3-1 final to take back the lead for Oklahoma, 10-9. OU's James then fought No. 1 Gavin down to the final period, but fell short by a final of 9-5.

It was then up to Oklahoma's dominant tandem in Weitzel and Flaggert to put the Sooners ahead for good. Weitzel, blanked Sullivan, 5-0, and Flaggert recorded a 12-2 major decision over Crowell to give OU a 17-12 edge. Both Sooners own a 10-0 dual record on the season.

OU prevailed in the match 17-15 after heavyweight Fernandez dropped the last bout, 2-0.

Pittsburgh (8-2) went 1-1 on the day after topping Michigan State (3-5) in the first match of the day by a final of 21-14.

"Our guys learned a great lesson today," Spates said. "We found out that if we battle hard and stay aggressive, good things happen."

The Sooners will return to the Howard McCasland Field House next Friday, Jan. 18 for a dual versus another Top 20 team in No. 16 Tennessee-Chattanooga at 7 p.m. Doors will open to the public at 6 p.m. and admission is free.

The first 500 fans entering the match will receive an OU team picture. A drawing will also be held, with the winner taking home a 26-inch flat screen television. Sooner wrestlers will also take part in an autograph session for fans at the conclusion of the dual.

Match-by-Match Results

OKLAHOMA 29, MICHIGAN STATE 7
125: Joey Fio (OU) maj. dec. Joel Trombly (MSU), 15-6
133: No. 3 Franklin Gomez (MSU) maj. dec. (MSU) No. 18 Brian Shelton (OU), 9-1
141: No. 12 Zack Bailey (OU) tech. fall Micah Carter (MSU), 17-0
149: No. 8 Will Rowe (OU) maj. dec. Tim Hammer (MSU), 18-9
157: Chad Terry (OU) dec. John Fulger (MSU), 7-2
165: No. 14 Max Dean (OU) maj. dec. Rex Kendle (MSU), 15-5
174: Nick Palmieri (MSU) dec. Jeff James (OU), 4-1
184: No. 7 Joshua Weitzel (OU) dec. Nick Palmieri (MSU), 9-2
197: No. 5 Joel Flaggert (OU) dec. No. 18 Joe Williams (MSU), 3-2
HWT: Nathan Fernandez (OU) dec. Alan O'Donnell (MSU), 5-2

OKLAHOMA 17, PITTSBURGH 15
125: Joey Fio (OU) dec. Ryan Boss (PITT), 3-2
133: Jimmy Conroy (PITT) dec. J.R. Roman (OU), 8-3
141: Drew Headlee (PITT) dec. No. 12 Zack Bailey (OU), 2-0
149: No. 8 Will Rowe (OU) maj. dec. Joe Ciampoli (PITT), 11-1
157: No. 4 Matt Kocher (PITT) dec. Chad Terry (OU), 2-1
165: No. 14 Max Dean (OU) dec. Shawn Richards (PITT), 3-1
174: No. 1 Kevin Gavin (PITT) dec. Jeff James (OU), 9-5
184: No. 8 Joshua Weitzel (OU) dec. David Sullivan (PITT), 5-0
197: No. 5 Joel Flaggert (OU) maj. dec. David Crowell (PITT), 12-2
HWT: No. 11 Zach Sheaffer (OU) dec. Nathan Fernandez (OU), 2-0

PITTSBURGH 21, MICHIGAN STATE 14
125: Joel Trombly (MSU) dec. Ryan Bosso (PITT), 6-0
133: No. 3 Franklin Gomez (MSU) maj. dec. Jimmy Conroy (PITT), 13-4
141: Drew Headlee (PITT) maj. dec. Micah Carter (MSU), 12-1
149: Joe Ciampoli (PITT) dec. Tim Hammer (MSU), 5-3
157: No. 4 Matt Kocher (PITT) Tech. Fall. John Fulger (MSU), 17-2
165: Rex Kendle (MSU) dec. Sean Richmond (PITT), 4-2
174: No. 1 Kevin Gavin (PITT) dec. John Murphy (MSU), 9-4
184: David Sullivan (PITT) dec. Nick Palmieri (MSU), 4-2
197: Joe Williams (MSU) maj. dec. David Crowell (PITT), 11-2
HWT: No. 11 Zach Sheaffer (PITT) dec. Alan O'Donnell (MSU), 10-3

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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