OU Hosts Top 20 Matchup Sunday

Nov. 21, 2008

Wrestling vs. Old Dominion
Date	Sunday, Nov. 23 at 4 p.m. CST
Location	Norman, Okla. \| McCasland Field House
Tickets	Admission is Free \| Live Scoring
Promotions	• Elementary School Day and Danny Hodge Night • Free foam fingers and post-match autographs with Danny Hodge and the Sooner team.

NORMAN, Okla. - The University of Oklahoma wrestling squad will host a top-20 battle this Sunday, Nov. 23, as Old Dominion visits Norman at 4 p.m., at McCasland Field House.

Oklahoma, now 2-0 after shutouts of Central Oklahoma (39-0) and Oklahoma City (47-0), faces its first top 25 opponent of the season. The Monarchs are No. 20 and boast three wrestlers ranked in the top 15 nationally.

“Old Dominion is a very good team and we look forward to a great matchup at home,” head coach Jack Spates said. “The key for us is to come out and wrestle like we know we are capable of, no matter who the opponent is.”

Spates won his 200th dual at Oklahoma on Thursday evening against OCU. The Sooners recorded three pins and recorded 28 takedowns while only giving up two in the dominant victory.

Season Stats | 2008-09 Media Guide | Sooner Bios | Elementary School Photo Gallery

Six Sooners remain ranked this week, beginning with 125-pound Joey Fio at No. 16. Zack Bailey is No. 9 at 141 pounds, Kyle Terry is No. 16 at 149 pounds and Shane Vernon is No. 14 among 157-pounders. Jeff James and Eric Lapotsky round out the group ranked No. 10 at 174 and 197 pounds, respectively.

Old Dominion has three nationally ranked grapplers headed into Sunday's matchups. James Nicholson is No. 5 at 125 pounds, 133-pounder Kyle Hutter is No. 12 and Ryan Williams is No. 14 at 141 pounds.

It will mark just the second meeting between the two schools, with the Sooners winning the first matchup by a 31-6 final during the 1995-96 season.

OU vs. ODU Promotions

Sunday's dual versus ODU is “Elementary School Day,” as all kids are encouraged to attend. The top 20 matchup will also feature “Danny Hodge Night.” First 250 fans to the match will receive an OU foam finger and a Danny Hodge photograph.

To encourage local students to attend Sunday's match, members of the OU team visited Roosevelt Elementary School Friday morning. Click here to view photos from the visit.

The Sooner squad and legendary Hodge will also be available for post-match autographs. Doors open at 3 p.m., and admission is free to the public.

Scouting ODU

The Monarchs will compete in its first dual on Saturday, Nov. 22, against the No. 7 Oklahoma State Cowboys in Stillwater, Okla., before traveling to Norman.

ODU is coached by Steve Martin, now in his fifth season as head coach. The Monarchs are coming off a record season that saw them rank in the top 20 for the first time in school history and send a record six qualifiers to the NCAA Championships.

Probable Sooner Starters (Weight)	Hometown (Year)	Record
No. 16 Joey Fio (125)	Sandpoint, Idaho (So.)	5-1
David Armstrong (133)	Cleveland, Ohio (Sr.)	3-2
No. 9 Zack Bailey (141)	Kansas City, Mo. (RSo.)	5-0
No. 16 Kyle Terry (149)	Midwest City, Okla. (RJr.)	6-1
No. 14 Shane Vernon (157)	Broken Arrow, Okla. (RJr.)	4-1
Ryan Smith (165)	Prineville, Ore. (RFr.)	4-2
No. 10 Jeff James (174)	El Reno, Okla. (RSo.)	4-1
Pat Flynn (184)	Quakertown, Pa. (RSo.)	6-1
No. 10 Eric Lapotsky (197)	Mt. Carmel, Pa. (Jr.)	6-0
Nathan Fernandez (HWT)	Lawton, Okla. (RSo.)	4-2

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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