Wrestling Earns Fourth at Cliff Keen Invitational

Dec. 4, 2010

LAS VEGAS -- The eighth-ranked University of Oklahoma wrestling team (5-0) took home five individual medals and placed fourth over a talented field of 42 teams at the 29th Annual Cliff Keen Invitational at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Cornell won the title with 140 points, followed by Wisconsin (101.5) and Boise State (101). Oklahoma checked in just behind Boise State with 99 points.

Oklahoma was led by senior Nathan Fernandez, ranked No. 11, who claimed the heavyweight title after going an impressive 5-0 and defeating Michigan's Ben Apland, 4-0. Fernandez (13-1) bested his performance from last year when he placed third overall.

Eighth-ranked Jarrod Patterson claimed second place at 125 pounds after defeating Ohio State's No. 5 Logan Stieber, 2-1, in the semifinals before falling to ASU's third-ranked Anthony Robles, 13-1, in the finals. The sophomore and reigning Big 12 Champion is now 12-2 on the year after posting a 4-1 record at the Invitational.

Fellow sophomore Tyler Caldwell (12-2) finished in fourth place in the 174-pound weight class. In rout to his fourth place finish the nation's No. 7-ranked wrestler went 4-2 and defeated Oregon State's 12th-ranked Colby Covington, 6-0, in the quarterfinals and Illinois' fifth-ranked Jordan Blanton, 2-0, in consolation action.

Senior Zack Bailey (141 pounds) and redshirt-sophomore Erich Schmidtke (184) each placed fifth in their respective weight classes. Bailey, ranked No. 1 among 141-pounders, defeated Hofstra's Vicente Vareta, 4-1, and Schmidtke routed Illinois Tony Dallago by a major decision of 19-7 to earn the top-five finish. Bailey posted his first and second losses of the season, but still holds an astounding 13-2 record. Schmidtke went 4-2 on the weekend and claimed an impressive, 7-2, victory over Navy's 12th-ranked Luke Rebertus.

Oklahoma will return to action to face in-state foe and second-ranked Oklahoma State for Bedlam on Sunday, Dec. 12 in Stillwater.

For a Detailed look at how the Sooners faired on Saturday check out the OU wrestling blog.