Sooners Host First Dual Thursday Against OCU

Nov. 2, 2011

The University of Oklahoma Wrestling vs. Oklahoma City University
Date & Time	Nov. 3, 2011 at 7 p.m.
Location	Norman, Okla. \| McCasland Field House
Internet	Live Stats
Match Info	2011-12 Roster \| Oklahoma Coaching Staff
Tickets	Ticket Information
Schedule	2011-12 Sooner wrestling schedule

NORMAN, Okla. -- The University of Oklahoma wrestling squad, ranked preseason No. 16 by InterMat and 13 by Amateur Wrestling News, kicks off the 2011-12 season this Thursday, Nov. 3, when it hosts Oklahoma City University inside McCasland Field House at 7 p.m.

"I'm very excited for our program, staff and wrestlers to get the season started against Oklahoma City," head coach Mark Cody said. "I feel that we are going to see what we have as a team on Thursday. As a coach you never know what the guys are capable of until you actually go out and compete. We are excited to see these guys go out and show what is in their hearts and heads."

OU has seven Sooners individually ranked to begin the season, headlined by returning All-American Jarrod Patterson, ranked No. 3 at 125 pounds. Kendric Maple, a 2009-10 NCAA qualifier that redshirted last year, is ranked No. 11 at 141 pounds. Jordan Keller is No. 13 at 133 pounds, while Chase Nelson (157 pounds) and Elijah Madison (HWT) are ranked No. 14. Nick Lester, who started three matches last year, is the 17th-ranked wrestler at 149 pounds and two-time NCAA Qualifier, Erich Schmidtke, rounds out ranked Sooners at No. 20 among 184 pounders.

Oklahoma recorded a 43-0 defeat of the Stars in last year's Oklahoma Open and leads the overall series by a 5-0 margin.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and tickets are still available for purchase. Season tickets and single-meet tickets are now on sale online or by calling the OU Athletics Ticket Office at (405) 325-2424 or toll-free at (800) 456-GoOU.

RANKINGS RUNDOWN

Seven Sooners are ranked to begin the season, headlined by returning All-American Jarrod Patterson, ranked No. 3 at 125 pounds. Kendric Maple, a 2009-10 NCAA qualifier that redshirted last year, is ranked No. 11 at 141 pounds. Jordan Keller is No. 13 at 133 pounds, while Chase Nelson (157 pounds) and Elijah Madison (HWT) are ranked No. 14. Nick Lester is the 17th-ranked wrestler at 149 pounds and two-time NCAA Qualifier, Erich Schmidtke, rounds out ranked Sooners at No. 20 among 184 pounders.

Oklahoma City counters with seven ranked NAIA wrestlers, all of which are in the top-10. Kevin Hardy leads all Stars ranked No. 2 at 165 pounds. Nik Turner (157) is ranked third-nationally. Kidd Gomez (125) sits at No. 5, while Derek Peperas (165) and Andrew Pontikes (184) check in at No. 7. Tyson Campbell (174) and Mark Meyer (157) are the final ranked Stars at No. 8 and 10, respectively.

Sooner Participants (Weight)	Hometown (Year)	Record
Jarrod Patterson (125)	Cushing, Okla. (Jr.)	0-0
Jordan Keller (133)	Wichita, Kan. (Sr.)	0-0
Kendric Maple (141)	Wichita, Kan. (RSo.)	0-0
Nick Lester (149)	Eureka, Mo. (RSo.)	0-0
Matt Lester (157)	Eureka, Mo. (RSo.)	0-0
Bubby Graham (165)	Annapolis, MD (RJr.)	0-0
Nolan McBryde (174)	Eagle River, Alaska (RSo.)	0-0
Erich Schmidtke (184)	Aberdeen, Wash. (RJr.)	0-0
Keldrick Hall (197)	Dallas, Texas (RJr.)	0-0
Elijah Madison (HWT)	Kansas City, Mo. (Jr.)	0-0
Kyle Colling (HWT)	Arcade, N.Y. (RFr.)	0-0

SOONER WRESTLING NOTES

LAST ACTION
In its final preseason event of the season, the University of Oklahoma's wrestling squad saw the Red and White squads tie 18-18 at the annual Red/White scrimmage at McCasland Field House Thursday evening.

Sooner to Watch
	Jarrod Patterson \| So. \| 125 pounds \| No. 3 Patterson, a seventh place finisher at the 2011 NCAA Championships, takes on OCU's Kid Gomez, ranked No. 5 in NAIA. Patterson defeated Gomez by a 9-2 decision in last year's contest.

SCOUTING OKLAHOMA CITY
The Stars checked in at eighth in the team rankings, better than the No. 10 spot OCU held before the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons. OCU comes off a 10-7 dual season with nine qualifiers for the NAIA Championships in 2010-11.

RETURNING QUALIFIERS
OU returns six NCAA qualifiers and adds another in transfer Bubby Graham. Highlighting the returning group is 2011 All-American Jarrod Patterson (125), who collected a 29-9 overall record last season.

Other returning starters that qualified for the NCAA Championships include Jordan Keller (133), Matt Lester (149 pounds), Chase Nelson (157) and Erich Schmidtke (184) and Kendric Maple, a 2009-10 NCAA qualifier that redshirted last year.

BUBBY A SOONER
OU adds another NCAA qualifier in American transfer Bubby Graham. The talented wrestler from Annapolis, Md., looks to anchor the 165 pound spot for the Sooners. Graham was a two year starter for the Eagles where he competed at 157 and 165 pounds.

UP NEXT...
The Sooners travel to Brockport, N.Y., in search of their 13th-straight Oklahoma/Gold Brockport Invitational Title on Saturday, Nov. 12.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Sooners Host First Dual Thursday Against OCU

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