Sooners Compete in Las Vegas

April 28, 2008

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Select Sooner wrestlers continued to compete in international competitions this past week at the FILA Junior Nationals and the U.S. National Freestyle tournament in Las Vegas, Nev.

Freshman Kyle Bergstedt led the way for the Sooners at the FILA Junior Nationals (20 and under division) with a fourth place finish at 96 kilograms, going 4-2 overall. Redshirt freshman Pat Flynn also placed seventh at the tournament after going 5-2 at 84 kilograms and Ryan Smith took eighth at 74 kilograms with a 5-3 overall record. In turn, all three have qualified for the FILA World Team Trials in Colorado Springs, May 24-27.

Four current Sooners were also in action at the U.S. National Freestyles. Redshirt freshman Zack Bailey, who led the Sooner squad this past season in individual wins with 28 victories, and sophomore Shane Vernon both each finished 2-2, while true-freshman Seth Vernon picked up four wins and two losses. Sophomore Eric Lapotsky also went 3-2 at the Freestyles at 96 kilograms.

"We are excited to see our guys in these international competitions because it shows the commitment we have to year-round wrestling," head coach Jack Spates said. "We won a lot of matches this past weekend with Smith, Flynn and Bergstedt garnering medals while representing OU."

Additionally, four former OU wrestling standouts were in action competing to represent the U.S. in the Olympics. Two-time national champion Teyon Ware placed third and 2001 national champion Michael Lightner took fifth, both at 60 kilograms. Two-time Sooner All-American Jared Frayer finished third in the 66 kilogram weight class and four-time All-American Sam Hazewinkel finished fourth in the Greco division at 55 kilograms.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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