Top-20 Showdown Awaits Sooners at ASU

Nov. 16, 2010

Wrestling at Arizona State (Nov. 18)
Date	Thursday, Nov. 18 at 8 p.m. (CST)
Locations	Tempe, Ariz.
Match Information	FoxSportsArizona Webcast
Sooner Info	2010-11 Roster \| Season Schedule
Dual Notes	Oklahoma Notes

NORMAN, Okla. -- The eighth-ranked University of Oklahoma wrestling squad will travel to Tempe, Ariz., to battle No. 14 Arizona State this Thursday, Nov. 18 at 8 p.m. inside the Wells Fargo Arena.

The Sooners (2-0) are coming off their 12th-straight Brockport/Oklahoma Gold Classic team championship last weekend in Brockport, N.Y. OU ran away with the title with 145.5 points and out-paced second place Rutgers (124.5). Winning individual titles were Jarrod Patterson (125 pounds), Zack Bailey (141), Matt Lester (157), Tyler Caldwell (174) and Jeff James (184).

"We are really looking forward to this matchup," head coach Jack Spates said. "ASU is a great program and one of the most competitive programs in the country, historically. We're feeling good about our team. We're in good shape overall and ready to go."

SCOUTING THE SUN DEVILS

The Sun Devils boast two All-Americans on their roster in Anthony Robles (Two-time All-American) and Penn State transfer Bubba Jenkins (placed second in 2008). ASU is led by second year head coach Shawn Charles. Charles was the assistant freestyle wrestling coach at Oklahoma (1996-97).
Arizona State enters Thursday's showdown with the Sooners 2-0 after drubbing Embry-Riddle (41-6) and Grand Canyon (29-8).

"They have a great, relatively young, coach in Shawn Charles who took over last year," Spates said. "He was actually on our staff at one time at the University of Oklahoma and we are real proud of his success. He's got some top-ranked wrestlers. Most notably, Anthony Robles at 125 pounds who will be competing in the Coaches All-Star Meet. That will be a great battle right out of the gate between him and Jarrod Patterson."

SOONERS AND SUN DEVILS HISTORY

Oklahoma owns an impressive 26-13-1 overall record against Arizona State. Last season, OU rallied to defeat ASU by a 24-11 final in Norman, Okla., on Nov. 22. Four current Sooners - Tyler Caldwell, Erich Schmidtke and Nathan Fernandez - posted wins a year ago.

FREE WEBCAST OF DUAL

Oklahoma's top-20 matchup against Arizona State will be broadcast live on Fox Sports Arizona. To watch the free web cast, visit the FoxSportArizona.com (a link will be placed on that page on Thursday).

Probable Sooner Starters (Weight)	Hometown (Year)	Record
No. 8 Jarrod Patterson (125)	Cushing, Okla. (So.)	6-0
Jordan Keller (133)	Wichita, Kan. (Jr.)	3-1
No. 1 Zack Bailey (141)	Kansas City, Mo. (Sr.)	6-0
Nick Lester -or- Seth Vernon (149)	St. Louis, Mo. (RFr.)/ Tulsa, Okla. (RJr.)	2-1/5-1
No. 16 Matt Lester (157)	Eureka, Mo. (RFr.)	4-1
Chase Nelson (165)	Wichita, Kan. (So.)	3-2
No. 9 Tyler Caldwell (174)	Eagle River, Alaska (RFr.)	5-0
No. 18 Erich Schmidtke (184)	Aberdeen, Wash. (RSo.)	7-1
Keldrick Hall (197)	Dallas, Texas (RSo.)	6-1
No. 12 Nathan Fernandez (HWT)	Lawton, Okla. (Sr.)	6-1

RANKINGS RUNDOWN

The Sooners have six Sooners individually ranked in this week's Intermat top-20. Leading all Sooners is No. 1 Zack Bailey at 141 pounds, followed by No. 8 Jarrod Patterson at 125 pounds. Tyler Caldwell is also in the top 10, ranked No. 9 at 174 pounds

Nathan Fernandez checks in at No. 12 among heavyweights and Jeff James ranks 17th at 184 pounds. Freshman Matt Lester entered the rankings for the first time of his career, ranked No. 16 at 157 pounds.

Erich Schmidtke, ranked No. 18 by Amateur Wrestling News, continues to man the 184 pound position for the Sooners after defeating James by a 2-1 decision in the Red/White Classic.

Arizona State has three ranked among the nation's elite, headlined by No. 3 Anthony Robles at 125 pounds. Bubba Jenkins, a transfer from Penn State, is ranked fifth at 157 pounds and Ben Ashmore is ranked No. 13 at 133 pounds.

SOONER NOTES

NOVEMBER EQUALS SUCCESS...
Entering his 18th season as head coach, Jack Spates has yet to lose a November dual at Oklahoma. His record stands at 28-0-1 for the month.

W.I.N POWER RANKINGS (11/15)...
The Sooners held steady at No. 6 in the latest Wrestling Insider News Tournament Power Index rankings after an impressive showing at the Brockport/Oklahoma Gold Classic. The Sooners made the initial jump after a strong outing at the Oklahoma City Open.

12th-straight Brockport/Oklahoma Gold Title...
The Oklahoma wrestling team won its 12th straight Brockport/Oklahoma Gold Classic title Saturday, Nov. 12, and remains the only team to ever win the event. The Sooners won the team portion with 145.5 total points. The Sooners closest competition was Rutgers who finished with 124.5 points.

Additionally, five Sooners claimed individual titles and five more garnered top-three finishes. Winning individual titles were Jarrod Patterson (125 pounds), Zack Bailey (141), Matt Lester (157), Tyler Caldwell (174) and Jeff James (184).

Oklahoma City Open Champions...
In the Open Erich Schmidtke and Joe Bach each claimed individual titles. Schmidtke upset Oklahoma State's fifth-ranked Chris Perry in the title bout.

NEXT UP... Oklahoma is set to host its annual Oklahoma Open next weekend, Nov. 27 at the Mosier Indoor track facility in Norman. The Sooners will take on Oklahoma City University at 9 a.m. and North Carolina State at 3 p.m. OCU and NCST will meet at 11 a.m. Admission is free to the public.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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