Sooners too Strong for Mustangs

NORMAN, Okla. -- Oklahoma rebounded strong after two tough Big 12 losses last weekend with a win over Cal Poly (5-7) Friday night, 32-9.

The Sooners (13-5, 0-4 in Big 12) recorded the victory in the first annual "Beauty and the Beast" event at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, where they shared the floor with the OU women's gymnastics team competing against Iowa State.

"Last weekend we fought hard and gained a lot of confidence despite the loss," head coach Jack Spates said. "Our team was excited to come out tonight and get a victory."

Greg Cannon opened up the event with a 7-0 decision win for the Sooners at 125 pounds over Micah Ferguson. Cannon, filling in for the injured No. 17 Joey Fio, recorded a takedown in the first period and a nearfall in the third to post the victory.

A takedown with two seconds to go in the 133 pound match gave OU's Brian Shelton a major decision win, 13-5, to put the Sooners up seven. He scored a total of four takedowns and a nearfall in the win over Boris Novachkov, marking his seventh victory on the season.

Zack Bailey then fell short at 141 pounds, losing to the No. 1 ranked wrestler in the country, Chad Mendes. Mendes picked up his 22nd victory on the season (22-0) with the 9-2 win, bringing the Mustangs back to within four team points, 7-3.

An overtime victory by No. 17 Will Rowe at 149 pounds made it a 10-3 Sooner lead. With the match tied at seven after three, Rowe scored a takedown in the sudden death period to garner his 20th win on the season.

Cal Poly closed within one point, 10-9, after a fall was recorded by No. 14 Chase Pami at 157 pounds over No. 16 Chad Terry. Max Dean at 165 pounds quickly put Oklahoma back on track, winning in a 5-4 decision over Ryan Williams. Leading 5-3 to begin the third, Dean only gave up an escape in the final period to take the win.

Jeff James extended the Sooner lead to 16-9 with a 10-4 decision over Mike Williams at 174 pounds. The El Reno, Okla., native scored two takedowns and a nearfall in the win. Joshua Weitzel then blanked Ernie Varela in the 184 pound match, 12-0.

Weitzel recorded a takedown and an escape and used three penalty points by Varela to get the major decision victory.

Oklahoma made it a rout after the final two bouts, scoring two falls to win, 32-9.

Joel Flaggert only needed the first period to record his second fall of the year over Arturo Basulto in the 197 pound match. The senior from Choctaw led 4-1 after two takedowns before the pin, picking up his 20th on the season.

Fernandez at heavyweight followed suit, pinning Jim Powers in the third period to end the dual. The fall was Fernandez's second on the year.

It was a successful night for the Sooners, as the gymnastics team defeated Big 12 rival Iowa State, 196.375-193.674.

The Sooners will look for their first Big 12 victory versus in-state rival Oklahoma State next Thursday, Feb. 21, at the Howard McCasland Field House in Norman. The match is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., and doors will open at 5:30.

Tickets are still available by calling the OU Athletics Ticket Office at (405) 325-2424 or 800-456-GoOU. Reserved tickets for the dual are $15, while general admission is $10. Group rates are also available.

"Tonight was a great outing for the Sooners," Spates said. "We can take this victory and use it as a building block--next week it's Bedlam."

Match-by-Match Results

125: Greg Cannon (OU) dec. Micah Ferguson (CP), 7-0
133: Brian Shelton (OU) maj. dec. Boris Novachkov (CP), 13-5
141: No. 1 Chad Mendes (CP) dec. No. 16 Zack Bailey (OU), 9-2
149: No. 17 Will Rowe (OU) dec. Eric Maldonado (CP), 9-7
157: No. 14 Chase Pami (CP) fall No. 16 Chad Terry (OU), 4:43
165: Max Dean (OU) dec. Ryan Williams (CP), 5-4
174: Jeff James (OU) dec. Mike Williams (CP), 10-4
184: No. 6 Joshua Weitzel (OU) maj. dec. Ernie Varela (CP), 12-0
197: No. 9 Joel Flaggert (OU) fall Arturo Basulto (CP), 2:28
HWT: Nathan Fernandez (OU) fall Jim Powers (CP), 5:41

Next Event

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma Athletics