Top-10 Bedlam Battle Ends Wrestling Regular Season

Feb. 19, 2010

No. 9 Oklahoma at No. 3 Oklahoma State
Date	Sunday, Feb. 21 at 2 p.m.
Location	Stillwater, Okla. \| Gallagher-Iba Arena
Television	Cox Channel 7 in OKC, Channel 3 in Tulsa
Stats	Live Stats

NORMAN, Okla. - Bedlam wrestling round two hits Stillwater, Okla., this Sunday, Feb. 21 when the ninth-ranked University of Oklahoma squad challenges third-ranked Oklahoma State inside Gallagher-Iba Arena at 2 p.m.

The top-10 matchup marks the regular season finale for both squads. Oklahoma (16-2-1, 2-1-1 Big 12) will attempt to top the Cowboys (13-2-1, 2-1-1 Big 12) in Stillwater for the first time since Nov. 28, 1995.

Earlier this season on Dec. 1, the in-state foes battled to a 15-15 tie in Norman. Oklahoma is 2-2-1 against the Cowboys in the past five meetings, with both losses coming on the road.

Bedlam Match Notes

The Sooners are coming off of their sixth win over a ranked team this season last Sunday, Feb. 14, against No. 15 Oregon State (25-6 final). Oklahoma is on a four-match winning streak and is attempting to win its third Big 12 match in a season for the first time since the 2001-02 campaign.

The rivalry is set to be broadcast by Cox Channel 7 in Oklahoma City and Channel 3 in Tulsa.

RANKINGS RUNDOWN

Oklahoma travels to Stillwater with eight ranked in this week's InterMat individual rankings, led by third-ranked Zack Bailey and Kyle Terry at 141 and 149 pounds, respectively. Also ranked in the Top 10 is No. 6 Eric Lapotsky competing at 197 pounds.

Shane Vernon stands 11th at 157 pounds, followed by Jarrod Patterson (125 pounds), Tyler Caldwell (165) and Nathan Fernandez (HWT) each ranked No. 15. Junior Jeff James rounds out the rankings at No. 17 wrestling at 174 pounds.

Oklahoma State counters with nine ranked, including seven in InterMat's Top 10. Jared Rosholt leads all Cowboys ranked No. 1 at heavyweight. Jordan Oliver is No. 5 at 133 pounds, followed by seventh-ranked Jamal Parks and Mike Benefiel at 141 and 174 pounds, respectively. Ranked eighth are 165-pound Alex Meade and 184-pound Clayton Foster.

Also ranked in the Top 10 is tenth-ranked Chris Notte wrestling at 125 pounds. Ranked 11th is 197-pound Alan Gelogaev, followed by No. 14 Neil Erisman competing at 157 pounds.

SCOUTING THE COWBOYS

Oklahoma State has racked up a 13-2-1 record this season, including a 2-1-1 mark in Big 12 action. In their wins, the Cowboys have outscored opponents by an average of 37-6. OSU's conference wins are against Missouri, 24-9, on Feb. 7, followed by a 31-6 win over Nebraska on Feb. 12.

The Cowboys have also experienced success in tournament action, as they crowned seven champions at the University of Central Missouri Open on Nov. 14, followed by a first-place team finish at the Reno Tournament of Champions on Dec. 20.

OSU is a 6-1 at home this season inside Gallagher-Iba Arena, with the lone loss coming against No. 2 Iowa State by a 20-18 final on Jan. 24. Its other loss came on the road from the hands of No. 1 Iowa, 19-16, on Jan. 16.

SERIES VS. OKLAHOMA STATE

Oklahoma has experienced recent success against Oklahoma State, as the Sooners are 2-2-1 since 2008 against the squad from Stillwater (2-1-1 last four meetings). Both Oklahoma losses have come inside Gallagher-Iba arena in Stillwater. During this stint, OU posted back-to-back wins against OSU (Feb 2008, Dec. 2009) for the first time since 1993.

Earlier this season, the two squads ended deadlocked, 16-16, in Norman on Dec. 1 in the first Bedlam meeting, marking the first tie between the in-state foes since 2000. Oklahoma is competing for its first win in Stillwater since Nov. 28, 1995.

Probable Sooner Starters (Weight)	Hometown (Year)	Record
No. 15 Jarrod Patterson (125)	Cushing, Okla. (Fr.)	25-9
Kendric Maple (133)	Wichita, Kan. (Fr.)	29-8
No. 3 Zack Bailey (141)	Kansas City, Mo. (Jr.)	22-5
No. 3 Kyle Terry (149)	Midwest City, Okla. (Sr.)	23-2
Chad Terry (157) -or- No. 11 Shane Vernon	Midwest City, Okla. (Sr.) Broken Arrow, Okla. (Sr.)	8-2 18-4
No. 15 Tyler Caldwell (165)	Wichita, Kan. (Fr.)	25-10
No. 17 Jeff James (174)	El Reno, Okla. (Jr.)	21-7
Erich Schmidtke (184)	Aberdeen, Wash. (RFr.)	15-14
No. 6 Eric Lapotsky (197)	Mt. Carmel, Pa. (Sr.)	21-5
No. 15 Nathan Fernandez (HWT)	Lawton, Okla. (Jr.)	24-9

SOONER NOTES

SHOOTING FOR THREE
Oklahoma (2-1-1 Big 12) will attempt to win its third Big 12 match of the season against the Cowboys on Sunday for the first time since the 2001-02 campaign. With wins over Nebraska and Missouri this season, Oklahoma earned two Big 12 wins for the first time since the 2002-03 campaign.

YOUNG PUPS
The Sooners will fire three true freshmen -- Jarrod Patterson, Kendric Maple and Tyler Caldwell -- onto the mat Sunday against the Cowboys. The trio were a part of the nation's No. 2 recruiting class last season and are an impressive 80-27 overall on the season. Additionally, redshirt freshman Erich Schmidtke (15-14) starts at 184 pounds for OU.

LAST TIME OUT
Oklahoma posted its sixth win over a Top 20 team last Sunday by toppling No. 15 Oregon State by a 25-6 final. On Senior Day, three Sooners - Kyle Terry, Chad Terry and Eric Lapotsky -- won their final home duals of their careers. Also honored was Shane Vernon, who shares time with Chad Terry at 157 pounds.

Oklahoma won eight of 10 bouts against the Beavers, three of which came in sudden victory overtime, to record the dual victory. The win gave Oklahoma 16 dual victories for the second straight season.

20-WIN SOONERS
Six Oklahoma starters have recorded over 20 wins this season, led by 133-pound true-freshman Kendric Maple with 29. Other Sooners to record at least 20 victories are Tyler Caldwell (26), Nathan Fernandez (24), Kyle Terry (23), Zack Bailey (22) and Eric Lapotsky (21).

SOONERS STREAKING
Entering Sunday's Bedlam dual, Sooner senior Kyle Terry (23-2) is on a 33-dual winning streak dating back to last season. His two losses of the season have come in tournament action. The reigning Big 12 champion is a perfect 15-0 this season in dual action and was 18-0 last year. Over the past two seasons he is 9-0 against Big 12 competition, and is currently on a 14-match winning streak.

Junior Zack Bailey is also riding a 12-match winning streak dating back to Jan. 8 at 141 pounds heading into Bedlam.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Top-10 Bedlam Battle Ends Wrestling Regular Season

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