OU and Wolfpack in Special Event

Jan. 29, 2009

Wrestling vs. North Carolina State

Date Friday, Jan. 30 at 7 p.m.

Location Lloyd Noble Center

Tickets OU Athletics Ticket Office

Online Live Webcast in All-Access

Promotions Airline tickets, an iPod and more!

More Info Notes | Live Scoring

NORMAN, Okla. - Looking to bounce back after its first loss of the season, No. 12 Oklahoma (14-1, 1-1) hosts North Carolina State (4-8-1) in the second annual "Beauty and the Beast" event Friday evening, Jan. 30, inside the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman at 7 p.m.

Becoming a hit at universities around the country, the wrestling teams will share the floor with the seventh ranked OU women's gymnastics squad competing against No. 21 Minnesota.

Aside from the great competition, Sooner fans who attend the match will have the chance to win prizes, including IPods, airline tickets and gift certificates. Click here for ticket information.

Then-No. 3 Iowa State handed the Sooner grapplers their first defeat last Friday evening in Ames, Iowa, by a 23-15 final. Before the loss, Oklahoma was off to its best start in program history.

MATCH INFO

SOONER STARTER BIOS | SEASON STATS

Oklahoma aims to bounce back against NC State, a team OU has never lost to in program history (7-0). Last season, Oklahoma scored a victory over the Wolfpack on Nov. 15, 30-9.

Heading into the event, the Sooners have seven ranked nationally, led by No. 7 Jeff James at 174 pounds. Also ranked in the top 10 is sophomore 125-pound Joey Fio, ranked ninth. Eric Lapotsky is No. 11 at 197 pounds and Kyle Terry is No. 13 at 149 pounds. Shane Vernon is No. 16 at 157 pounds and heavyweight Nathan Fernandez is No. 19. Pat Flynn rounds out the group of ranked Sooners at No. 20 among 184-pounders.

North Carolina State has two ranked this week, led by No. 3 Darrion Caldwell at 149 pounds. Joe Caramanica is No. 15 at 141 pounds.

Probable Sooner Starters (Weight)	Hometown (Year)	Record
No. 10 Joey Fio (125)	Sandpoint, Idaho (So.)	14-3
Brian Shelton (133)	El Reno, Okla. (Jr.)	11-3
Seth Vernon (141)	Tulsa, Okla. (RFr.)	12-6
No. 13 Kyle Terry (149)	Midwest City, Okla. (RJr.)	20-1
Chad Terry (157)	Midwest City, Okla. (RJr.)	15-3
Ryan Smith (165)	Prineville, Ore. (RFr.)	15-6
No. 9 Jeff James (174)	El Reno, Okla. (RSo.)	20-1
No. 19 Pat Flynn (184)	Quakertown, Pa. (RSo.)	20-3
No. 11 Eric Lapotsky (197)	Mt. Carmel, Pa. (Jr.)	20-3
No. 19 Nathan Fernandez (HWT)	Lawton, Okla. (RSo.)	18-5

OKLAHOMA AND NC STATE HISTORY

The Sooners are a perfect 7-0 against North Carolina State all-time. Last season the two squads met in Norman on Nov. 11, with OU prevailing by a 30-9 final. The Wolfpack raced to a 9-0 lead to begin the dual but saw Oklahoma reel off seven straight victories to win easily.

Only two Sooners on this year's squad competed last year against the Wolfpack - Jeff James (174 pounds) and Nathan Fernandez (285).

SCOUTING THE PACK

NC State travels to Norman after winning its fourth match this season versus Navy on Jan. 24 by a 20-18 final. Overall, the Wolfpack are 4-8-1 with wins also against Seton Hall, Campbell and Anderson. On the road, North Carolina State is 1-5.

Members of the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Wolfpack claim 14 team conference championships, with the most recent in 2007. They are 0-2 to begin conference competition in 2009.

This season, NC State is led by No. 3 Darrion Caldwell at 149 pounds. The 2008 All-American is an unscathed 28-0 this season and looks to have better luck in Norman than the last trip. Last November, current Sooner senior Will Rowe recorded a pin against him. This year, Caldwell will meet No. 13 Kyle Terry, who is on a 19-match win streak. Terry beat out last year starter Rowe at the beginning of the season.

Coaching North Carolina State is Carter Jordan, who is entering his fourth year at the helm. Jordan is aiming to restore the Wolfpack dominance displayed in the 1980's and 90's. On staff with him are Noel Loban and Jerrod Sanders.

RANKINGS RUNDOWN

Oklahoma boasts seven ranked in this week's Intermat poll, led by No. 7 Jeff James. Also ranked in the top 10 is sophomore 125-pound Joey Fio, ranked ninth. Eric Lapotsky is No. 11 at 197 pounds and Kyle Terry is No. 13 at 149 pounds. Shane Vernon is No. 16 at 157 pounds and heavyweight Nathan Fernandez is No. 19. Pat Flynn rounds out the group of ranked Sooners at No. 20 among 184-pounders.

North Carolina State has two ranked this week, led by No. 3 Darrion Caldwell at 149 pounds. Joe Caramanica is No. 15 at 141 pounds.

MATCH NOTES

LAST TIME OUT...
The Oklahoma Sooners traveled to Ames, Iowa, to take on the then-No. 3 ranked Iowa State Cyclones last Friday, Jan. 23. Oklahoma was off to a school record 14-0 start and was attempting to improve to 2-0 in the Big 12 with a victory over ISU.

OU raced to a 12-3 to start the match, after victories by Joey Fio, Brian Shelton and Kyle Terry. Then-No. 10 ranked Fio upset then-No. 6 Tyler Clark, 4-0 to begin the match. Shelton won by injury default at 133 pounds and Terry defeated Mitch Mueller, 6-0, at 149 pounds.

The Sooners were unable to hold on to the lead, however, as Iowa State flexed its muscles in the later weight classes by winning the final three bouts. Also recording a victory against the Cyclones was Jeff James. James, who was ranked ninth last week, upset then-No. 8 ranked Duke Burk by a 4-0 margin.

SPATES TOUGH AT HOME...
Now in his 16th season, OU Head Coach Jack Spates owns an 83-24-2 overall record (.771). During the 2001-02 year, he posted the most wins at home (10) in his tenure.

Last season, the Sooners boasted a 7-2 mark, including the win over OSU. Oklahoma is 5-0 so far this season, with wins over Central Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, then-No. 20 Old Dominion, then-No. 9 Oklahoma State and Maryland.

SPATES NOW THIRD IN WINNING PERCENTAGE...
Head Coach Jack Spates has climbed to third in all-time winning percentage at Oklahoma with the successful start to the season. He now owns a .697 percentage, overtaking Stan Abel (.690). Spates trails the legendary OU coaches Tommy Evans (.775) and Port Robertson (.750).

WRESTLERS HONORED BY BIG 12...
Oklahoma's Joey Fio and Nathan Fernandez have both been honored this season as Big 12 Wrestlers of the Week after impressive wins to begin the season.

Fernandez was awarded on Dec. 15 after a dominant performance at the Big 12/Pac-10 Challenge in San Luis Obispo, Calif. The Lawton, Okla., native recorded a three-match sweep at the California tournament, pinning two of three opponents, including No. 4-ranked Mitch Monteiro of Cal-Bakersfield early in the second period (3:19). The redshirt sophomore also recorded a fall versus Kelan Bragg (6:55) of Cal Poly and won by a 14-6 major decision over Kurt Klimek of Cal-Fullerton.

The Big 12 selected Fio on Jan. 19, after helping guide the then-11th-ranked Sooners to two victories over Maryland (22-15) and Arizona State (36-7). Highlighting his two victories was a pin over eighth-ranked and 2008 NCAA qualifier Anthony Robles of Arizona State. The sophomore needed only the first period to record the fall, posting his second this season with a time of 2:08.

SOONERS STREAK BROKEN...
Before last Friday versus Iowa State, the Sooners were on a 16 match winning streak dating back to last season. Oklahoma defeated Cal Poly and then-No. 3 Oklahoma State to end last season, and were 14-0 to begin this season.

SPATES MILESTONE...
Jack Spates picked up his 200th victory at Oklahoma with the 47-0 win over Oklahoma City on Nov. 20 and now owns a record of 210-88-11. Averaging 14 wins a season, Spates has led OU to 14 straight campaigns of 10 wins or more and is second in all-time victories by a head coach in OU wrestling history.

He became just the second coach in school history to notch 200 wins, joining Stan Abel (coached from 1973-93, 279 wins). Dating back to Cornell, Spates' career record stands at 286-103-12.

FOLLOW THE SOONERS TO NATIONALS...
College wrestling fans still have the opportunity to secure excellent seats when the NCAA® Division I Wrestling Championships arrive in St. Louis in March. Don't miss your chance to take in all the action at the Scottrade Center.

All-session tickets to the 2009 championships are on sale now. To order your tickets, call (800) 745-3000 (toll free) or log on to www.ticketmaster.com.

STOUT 2008 RECRUITING CLASS...
Oklahoma wrestling head coach Jack Spates signed five top-70 recruits in the early signing period to wrap up one of the most impressive recruiting classes at OU in recent years. Additionally, the Sooners will welcome a talented Kansas senior and a transfer from Old Dominion in January.

Headlining the class is Jake Kemerer from Hempfield Area, Pa., ranked No. 16 overall according to Intermat and rated No. 4 in the 171-pound class by Amateur Wrestling News. Also inked for next season is Alex Ekstrom from Palmyra-Macedonia, N.Y., ranked No. 31 overall and rated the third-best among 140-pounders.

Joining them are the Lester twins, Matt and Nick, ranked No. 33 and No. 38 overall, respectively. The two hail from Eureka, Mo., and each own Missouri state titles. Matt is ranked No. 2 overall among 152-pounders and is Nick No. 5 at 140 pounds.

Jarrod Patterson from Cushing, Okla., is a three-time Oklahoma state champion entering his senior year and ranked No. 6 in the 125 pound weight class nationally.

Kyle Detmer rounds out the group of seniors, garnering a 135-5 record in high school, including posting pins in 31 of 35 matches for Bishop Caroll High School in Wichita Kan., last season.

Derek Peperas, a transfer from Old Dominion, joined the Sooner program in January. The redshirt freshman is immediately eligible for OU upon arrival and will provide depth at 165 pounds. Winner of two New Mexico state championships, Peperas also was a two-time state runner-up.

FORMER SOONER CHAMPION JOINS STAFF...
Former Sooner wrestler Michael Lightner joined the staff this season as the volunteer assistant coach. The Marlow, Okla., native claimed the national title in 2001 and was crowned Big 12 champion four times at 141 pounds.

Lightner can be found in various OU records, including second in career wins with a 144-16 record. His 37-0 record during his senior campaign led him to the national title and he became the 13th Sooner in school history to go undefeated in a season.

Wrestling vs. North Carolina State
Date	Friday, Jan. 30 at 7 p.m.
Location	Lloyd Noble Center
Tickets	OU Athletics Ticket Office
Online	Live Webcast in All-Access
Promotions	Airline tickets, an iPod and more!
More Info	Notes \| Live Scoring

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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