Wrestling Back to Action Saturday

Dec. 31, 2008

Wrestling at the Lonestar Duals
Date	Saturday, Jan. 3 All Day
Location	South Grand Prairie, Texas
Venue	South Grand Prairie High School Coliseum
Tickets	Ticket Prices and Info \| Live Scoring
Opponents	North Carolina (10 a.m.), Nebraska-Kearney (12 p.m.), Appalachian State (6 p.m.) and Stanford (8 p.m.)

NORMAN, Okla. – The University of Oklahoma wrestling squad (7-0) will ring in the New Year when it competes at the Lonestar Duals in South Grand Prairie, Texas, this weekend, Jan. 3.

Scheduled to battle against the Sooners are North Carolina (10 a.m.), Nebraska-Kearney (12 p.m.), Appalachian State (6 p.m.), and Stanford (8 p.m.). All matches Saturday will be held at the South Grand Prairie High School Coliseum.

The undefeated Sooners are off to their best start since 1985, when Stan Abel's squad began 10-0. The Sooners are also 1-0 in the Big 12 for the first time since 1993 after defeating in-state rival Oklahoma State on Dec. 7. With three or more victories this weekend, it will mark the 14th consecutive season of 10 wins or more under head coach Jack Spates.

OU boasts seven ranked to begin the New Year, with redshirt sophomore Jeff James leading the team ranked No. 9 at 174 pounds. Joey Fio (125 pounds) and Eric Lapotsky (197) are ranked 13th and Kyle Terry and Shane Vernon No. 14 at 149 and 157 pounds, respectively. Pat Flynn and Nathan Fernandez both enter the rankings for the first time this season, ranked No. 19.

Although the Lonestar Duals will mark the first team event for Oklahoma in three weeks, several OU wrestlers used the holiday break to compete in tournaments around the country. Three Sooners – Brian Shelton (133 pounds), Will Rowe (149) and Chad Terry (157) -- were crowned champions at the Wilkes Open in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., last weekend. Picking up third place at 141 pounds was redshirt freshman Seth Vernon.

Probable Sooner Starters (Weight)	Hometown (Year)	Record
No. 13 Joey Fio (125)	Sandpoint, Idaho (So.)	8-3
David Armstrong (133)	Cleveland, Ohio (Sr.)	9-5
Zack Bailey (141)	Kansas City, Mo. (RSo.)	10-4
No. 14 Kyle Terry (149)	Midwest City, Okla. (RJr.)	13-1
No. 14 Shane Vernon (157)	Broken Arrow, Okla. (RJr.)	10-4
Ryan Smith (165)	Prineville, Ore. (RFr.)	12-3
No. 9 Jeff James (174)	El Reno, Okla. (RSo.)	12-1
No. 19 Pat Flynn (184)	Quakertown, Pa. (RSo.)	14-2
No. 13 Eric Lapotsky (197)	Mt. Carmel, Pa. (Jr.)	15-1
No. 19 Nathan Fernandez (HWT)	Lawton, Okla. (RSo.)	11-4

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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