Sooners Dominate Oklahoma Open

Nov. 29, 2008

NORMAN, Okla. – The University of Oklahoma wrestling squad dominated its annual Oklahoma Open Saturday, claiming eight individual championships at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman.

The No. 19 Sooners (3-0 in duals) won eight straight championship finals beginning at 141 pounds, with five of those bouts matching teammates.

Redshirt sophomore Zack Bailey, ranked 12th nationally, went 4-0 on the day at 141 pounds to claim first, defeating teammate Seth Vernon by a 7-3 decision in the finals. Kyle Terry, ranked No. 15, also was perfect on the day and defeated Sooner Will Rowe, 7-3, at 149 pounds. Terry was voted most valuable wrestler in the college division.

Chad Terry and Ryan Smith also went 4-0 on the day at 157 and 165 pounds, respectively. Terry upset teammate and No. 14th-ranked Shane Vernon in the finals, winning 5-3, and Smith won a 3-2 decision over Alex Meade of Oklahoma State.

The OU titles continued at 174 pounds, with Jeff James posting an 11-7 victory over Kyle Barnett of Stanford. The redshirt sophomore has climbed to No. 9 in the nation, the best of his career.

OU's Pat Flynn then defeated teammate Josh Hinton, 6-3, at 184 pounds, followed by a win by Eric Lapotsky over Jake Johnson of Stanford. The No. 8th-ranked junior recorded three falls in four total bouts on his way to the 197-pound title.

Sooner Joe Bach ended the evening by defeating teammate Nathan Fernandez by a 3-2 decision at heavyweight.

Ben Ashmore of Arizona State won the 125-pound title and Jordan Oliver of Oklahoma State claimed the 133-pound championship.

Also placing for Oklahoma was J.R. Roman at 125 pounds, claiming third.

Oklahoma will return to dual action next Sunday, Dec. 7, against the Cowboys of Oklahoma State at 2 p.m., at the Howard McCasland Field House in Norman.

COLLEGE DIVISION BRACKETS HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION BRACKETS JUNIOR HIGH DIVISION BRACKETS

Championship Finals

125: Ben Ashmore (ASU) fall Drew Partain (OSU), 0:47
133: Jordan Oliver (OSU) dec. David Armstrong (OU), 2-1
141: Zack Bailey (OU) dec. Seth Vernon (OU), 7-3
149: Kyle Terry (OU) dec. Will Rowe (OU), 7-3
157: Chad Terry (OU) dec. Shane Vernon (OU), 5-3
165: Ryan Smith (OU) dec. Alex Meade (OSU), 3-2
174: Jeff James (OU) dec. Kyle Barnett (SU), 11-7
184: Pat Flynn (OU) dec. Josh Hinton (OU), 6-3
197: Eric Lapotsky (OU) fall Jake Johnson (SU), 1:42
HWT: Joe Bach (OU) dec. Nathan Fernandez (OU), 3-2

Most Valuable Wrestlers

Junior High Division: Gary Harding (Collinsville, Okla.) 94 Pounds
High School Division: Ladd Rupp (Perry, Okla.) 125 Pounds
College Division: Kyle Terry (University of Oklahoma) 149 Pounds

Top-Four Finishers by Weight Class

125 Pounds:
1st Ben Ashmore (Arizona State)
2nd Drew Partain (Oklahoma State)
3rd J.R. Roman (Oklahoma)
4th Justin Forrest (Oklahoma)

133 Pounds:
1st Jordan Oliver (Oklahoma State)
2nd David Armstrong (Oklahoma)
3rd Tim Elliott (Central Oklahoma)
4th Mitch Finton (Oklahoma City)

141 Pounds:
1st Zack Bailey (Oklahoma)
2nd Seth Vernon (Oklahoma)
3rd Luke Ashmore (Oklahoma State)
4th Cam Teitelman (Stanford)

149 Pounds:
1st Kyle Terry (Oklahoma)
2nd Will Rowe (Oklahoma)
3rd Max Rose Figura (Stanford)
4th Michael Brady (Labette)

157 Pounds:
1st Chad Terry (Oklahoma)
2nd Shane Vernon (Oklahoma)
3rd Lucao Espericueta (Stanford)
4th Johnny Koepp (Oklahoma State)

165 Pounds:
1st Ryan Smith (Oklahoma)
2nd Alex Meade (Oklahoma State)
3rd Ace Adamson (Oklahoma State)
4th Derek Peperas (Unattached)

174 Pounds:
1st Jeff James (Oklahoma)
2nd Kyle Barnett (Stanford)
3rd David Weske (Labette)
4th Allen Rutherford (Labette)

184 Pounds:
1st Pat Flynn (Oklahoma)
2nd Josh Hinton (Oklahoma)
3rd David Benson (Labette)
4th Erich Schmidtke (Oklahoma)

197 Pounds:
1st Eric Lapotsky (Oklahoma)
2nd Jake Johnson (Stanford)
3rd Luke Feist (Stanford)
4th Kyle Bergstedt (Oklahoma)

Heavyweight:
1st Joe Bach (Oklahoma)
2nd Nathan Fernandez (Oklahoma)
3rd Corey Johnson (Oklahoma City)
4th Ronnie Hood (Oklahoma City)

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