Upcoming Event: Wrestling versus Tiger Style Invite on November 9, 2025 at 10 AM
10 AM
Wrestling
vs Tiger Style Invite
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Sooners Aim for Conference Crown
March 05, 2008 | Wrestling
| 2008 Big 12 Wrestling Championships | |
| Date | Saturday, March 8 (All Day) |
| Location | Stillwater, Okla. | Gallagher-Iba Arena |
| TV/Radio | Fox Sports Net (Tape Delay) |
| Online | Live Webcast at Big12Sports.com |
NORMAN, Okla. - No. 14 Oklahoma will compete for its third Big 12 wrestling title this Saturday, March 8, at the Big 12 Championships in Stillwater, Okla.
Action begins at 11 a.m. (CST) inside Gallagher-Iba Arena, with finals getting underway at 7 p.m.
The Sooners (14-5, 1-4 Big 12) enter the postseason riding a two-match winning streak. OU defeated Cal Poly on Feb. 15 by a 32-9 final and most recently knocked off in-state rival and then-No. 3 Oklahoma State on Feb. 21 (18-15).
"The past two wins have really bolstered our team's confidence," head coach Jack Spates said. "We know anything can happen in the postseason, so if we go out and wrestle as hard as we can, good things will happen."
Live video coverage of the championships will be available for the first time at www.big12sports.com. Finals will be provided courtesy of FSN (Cox Channel 37 in OKC), which will also be showing the event in its entirety on a tape delay basis at 1 p.m. on Friday, March 14 and 1:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 15.
|
OU boasts six nationally-ranked wrestlers heading into the weekend. Seniors Joshua Weitzel at 184 pounds and Joel Flaggert at 197 pounds lead the way at No. 6 and No. 9, respectively. Freshman Joey Fio is enjoying his highest ranking of the season at No. 15 at 125 pounds, while 141-pound Zack Bailey is No. 16. Will Rowe and Chad Terry are Nos. 17 at 149 and 157 pounds, respectively.
Oklahoma has claimed at least one individual title in 10 of the past 11 Big 12 Championships (no titles in 2005). The Sooners were crowned team champions in 1999 and 2002.
Last season, departed seniors Sam Hazewinkel (125 pounds) and Matt Storniolo (149 pounds) claimed individual crowns for OU. The Sooners return three wrestlers in this year's lineup who also advanced to nationals from last year's championships.
Flaggert placed third to advance and Rowe and Weitzel were selected as wild-cards.
"Our guys are extremely excited about this weekend," Spates said. "The Big 12 Conference is a force nationally, so competition is expected to be fierce."
After the Big 12 Championships, qualified Sooners will return home to prepare for the NCAA Championships in St. Louis, Mo., beginning March 20.
| Starter (Weight) | Hometown (Year) | Record |
| Joey Fio (125) | Sandpoint, Idaho (Fr.) | 18-7 |
| Brian Shelton (133) | El Reno, Okla. (So.) | 7-5 |
| Zack Bailey (141) | Kansas City, Mo. (RFr.) | 25-10 |
| Will Rowe (149) | Arlington, Texas (Jr.) | 21-6 |
| Chad Terry (157) | Midwest City, Okla. (So.) | 18-5 |
| Max Dean (165) | Cincinnati, Ohio (Sr.) | 18-7 |
| Pat Flynn (174) | Quakertown, Pa. (RFr.) | 5-4 |
| Joshua Weitzel (184) | Lincoln University, Pa. (Sr.) | 23-2 |
| Joel Flaggert (197) | Choctaw, Okla. (Sr.) | 21-3 |
| Nathan Fernandez (HWT) | Lawton, Okla. (RFr.) | 14-11 |
WR Highlights: Big 12 Championships (Day Two)
Sunday, March 09
WR Highlights: Big 12 Championships (Day One)
Saturday, March 08
WR Highlights: OU 32, Arizona State 6
Sunday, February 16
WR Highlights: OU 23, Missouri 13
Saturday, February 01
