Weitzel Second, Four More Advance

March 9, 2008

STILLWATER, Okla. -- No. 6 Joshua Weitzel of No. 14 Oklahoma won his opening match at the Big 12 Championships to advance to the finals at 184 pounds.

With the victory, the senior was forced to upset undefeated and No. 1-ranked Jake Varner of Iowa State to claim the Big 12 crown (23-0 overall).

In the final, Varner scored a takedown in the opening seconds of the 184 pound match, followed by an escape by Weitzel to make the score 2-1 in favor of the Cyclone. No more points were awarded in the opening period.

An escape by Varner at 1:32 was the only point awarded in the second period, giving Varner a two point advantage, 3-1. Varner rode Weitzel the entire third period after the Sooner chose the down position. With a riding time point, Varner took the title at 184 pounds.

"I am very proud of Josh," Oklahoma head coach Jack Spates said. "He showed great effort in the semifinals by upsetting Jordan of Missouri. He is a great kid and we look forward to big things from him at nationals."

The third seeded Weitzel started the day upsetting the second seed and No. 5-ranked Raymond Jordan from Missouri by a 7-3 decision. Both Top-six nationally-ranked wrestlers scored takedowns and escapes in the first period for a 3-3 tie. Weitzel then rode Jordan for the entire second period and scored an escape to begin the third to take a 4-3 lead.

A takedown later in the period extended the lead for the Lincoln University, Pa., native, 6-3. Weitzel held on and was awarded a riding time point to end the match, advancing to the Big 12 Championship finals by a 7-3 decision over the second seeded Tiger.

OU QUALIFIER	Hometown (Year)	Record
Joey Fio (125)	Sandpoint, Idaho (Fr.)	20-8
Zack Bailey (141)	Kansas City, Mo. (RFr.)	27-11
Will Rowe (149)	Arlington, Texas (Jr.)	23-7
Joshua Weitzel (184)	Lincoln University, Pa. (Sr.)	24-3
Joel Flaggert (197)	Choctaw, Okla. (Sr.)	22-5

Three other Sooners bounced back from defeats in opening matches of the championships to claim third place in the consolation rounds, ultimately punching their tickets to the NCAA's.

Wrestlers must place in the Top-three in their respective weight classes to move on to the NCAA's, or must be selected as one of eight wild cards voted on by league coaches.

To begin the consolation final round matches, No. 15 Joey Fio needed a victory versus Tyler Clark (four seed) of Iowa State in the third place match at 125 pounds. Clark struck first, recording a takedown in the first period. Fio opted for the down position and quickly scored an escape to inch within one, 2-1.

The Sooner scored another takedown and forced a tie at three after a Clark escape to end the second period. Clark next scored an escape to begin the third to take a 4-3 lead. With seconds winding down, Fio scored a sudden takedown to an erupting Sooner crowd to steal the automatic berth to the NCAA Championships with a 5-4 victory.

After going 1-1 earlier in the day, Sooner Zack Bailey wrestled for third place versus No. 12 Mike Rowe (third seed) of Nebraska. After a scoreless first, Bailey posted the only points of the second period with an escape.

The 141 pound match was tied at one after an escape by NU's Rowe to start the third period. Bailey scored a takedown with 11 seconds to go and released Rowe for an escape as time expired, posting another Sooner third place finish, 3-2.

Will Rowe was next to try and punch a ticket to nationals at 149 pounds versus the second seed Josh Wagner (No. 14 nationally) of Missouri. The Sooner opened the match scoring a takedown and a nearfall to lead 5-0. Twenty-one points later the junior from Arlington, Texas, prevailed by a 16-13 final, grabbing the third place medal.

The win marked the third-straight Top-14 opponent Oklahoma took down in the consolation matches.

"Those three guys avenged earlier losses and stepped up big-time and got the wins," Spates said. "I am proud of their efforts and what they were able to accomplish after falling early."

FINAL BRACKETS

Iowa State won the team title by a commanding 13 points over second place-finisher Nebraska. Oklahoma State was third, followed my Missouri and Oklahoma.

Immediately following the Big 12 coaches voted on wild card selections to advance to St. Louis, Mo., for the NCAA's held March 20-22. Senior Joel Flaggert was selected and senior Max Dean was chosen as first alternate.

"It is a brand new season," Spates said. "We plan to return home and improve. The members of this team going to the NCAA's are looking forward to extending their season and competing."

Final Team Results

First: Iowa State (75.5 Points)
Second: Nebraska (62.5 Points)
Third: Oklahoma State (52.5 Points)
Fourth: Missouri (49.5 Points)
Fifth: Oklahoma (24 Points)

Individual Finals

125: No. 4 Paul Donahoe (NU) dec. No. 16 Tyler Shinn (OSU), 7-4
133: No. 7 Nick Fanthorpe (ISU) dec. Tyler McCormick (MU), 7-1
141: No. 12 Nick Gallick (ISU) dec. No. 3 Nathan Morgan (OSU), 3-1
149: No. 7 Jordan Burroughs (NU) maj. dec. Mitch Mueller (ISU), 15-6
157: No. 13 Cyler Sanderson (ISU) dec. No. 12 Michael Chandler (MU), 6-5
165: No. 2 Nick Marable (MU) dec. Stephen Dwyer (NU), 3-2
174: No. 5 Brandon Browne (NU) dec. No. 8 Brandon Mason (OSU) 7-6
184: No. 1 Jake Varner (ISU) dec. No. 6 Joshua Weitzel (OU), 4-1
197: No. 7 Max Askren (MU) dec. No. 8 Craig Brester (NU), 8-3
HWT: No. 7 Jared Rosholt (OSU) dec. No. 5 David Zabriskie (ISU), 9-4

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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