Wrestling Heads to Sunny California

Dec. 11, 2008

Wrestling at the Big 12/Pac-10 Challenge
Date	Saturday, Dec. 13
Location	San Luis Obispo, Calif. \| Madonna Inn Convention Center
Opponents	Cal Poly (9 a.m.) Cal Bakersfield (11 a.m.) and Cal Fullerton (1 p.m.)

NORMAN, Okla. – The No. 12th-ranked University of Oklahoma wrestling team will take its perfect 4-0 dual record on the road this weekend, Dec. 13, when it travels to San Luis Obispo, Calif., to compete in the Big 12/Pac-10 Challenge.

Competing against the Sooners on Saturday will be Cal Poly (9 a.m.), Cal-Bakersfield (11 a.m.), and Cal-Fullerton (1 p.m.). All matches are scheduled to be held at the Madonna Inn Convention Center.

Oklahoma is coming off its second-straight victory over in-state rival Oklahoma State last Sunday to open up Big 12 competition, winning by an 18-15 final margin. The Sooners are 1-0 to begin the Big 12 season for the first time since 1993.

Also for the first time this season, the Sooners boast seven nationally-ranked wrestlers, led by No. 9 Jeff James at 174 pounds. Joey Fio is No. 12 at 125 pounds and Kyle Terry and Eric Lapotsky are No. 14 at 149 and 197 pounds, respectively. Redshirt sophomore Zack Bailey is No. 15 at 141 pounds, Shane Vernon is No. 16 among 157-pounders and 133-pound David Armstrong ranks 19th.

Cal-Bakersfield leads Sooner competitors this weekend with four nationally-ranked wrestlers. Heavyweight Mitch Montiero is No. 4, Riley Orozco is No. 11 at 197 pounds, and Brandon Zoeteway is No. 15 among 125-pounders. Thomas Kimbrell rounds out the group ranked No. 12 at 133 pounds.

Cal Poly has two ranked, as Chase Pami is No. 13 at 157 pounds and Filip Novachkov is No. 20 among 141-pounders. Cal-Fullerton's Tim Hawkins is No. 16 at 184 pounds and T.J. Dillashaw is No. 17 at 133 pounds.

The Sooner squad will break for the holidays after this weekend's trip to California, and will resume competition at the Lonestar Duals on Jan. 3, in Arlington, Texas.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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