OU Adds Two More All-Americans, Caldwell in Finals

March 18, 2011

PHILADELPHIA – Oklahoma sophomore Tyler Caldwell will compete for a national title against Nebraska's Jordan Burroughs inside the Wells Fargo Arena tomorrow after he upset the defending national champion, Andrew Howe, of Wisconsin in semifinals of the 2011 NCAA Championships.

Additionally, The Sooners added two more wrestlers to its All-American list Friday evening as Jarrod Patterson (125 pounds) and Zack Bailey (141) each recorded wins in the consolation bracket. The duo joins Caldwell who secured All-America honors earlier in the day, giving Oklahoma 263 All-Americans honorees.

Caldwell and Bailey become OU's first two-time All-Americans since Joel Flaggert (2005-06) and are the 36th and 37th Sooners to accomplish this feat.

“It's kind of a bitter-sweet day, but I am very proud of our All-Americans, especially Tyler Caldwell,” Jack Spates said. “His path to the finals was to go through the defending national champion and one of the most dominant wrestlers in recent America history. He was nothing short of magnificent.”

Results |

Brackets |

Team Standings |

Photos | Quotes | Live Results | Blog Updates

Caldwell and Howe's bout lasted 13 minutes and was decided by an 18 seconds advantage in riding time by the Sooner. The wrestlers were tied 1-1 after regulation and each managed to ride out in the first two sets of tiebreakers. In the third round of tiebreakers, Howe escaped in 26 seconds, but Caldwell earned his escape in just 8 seconds.

Caldwell will take on Burroughs for the third time this season in the 165 pound Championship. Burroughs defeated Caldwell 7-3 in the regular season and narrowly defeated Caldwell in the Big 12 Championship match with 2-1 victory.

Patterson became OU's second All-American of the night after he defeated Michigan's Sean Boyle 4-2. After a scoreless first period, Patterson rode out Boyle in the second but was penalized for using a figure four move, giving Boyle the 1-0 lead. Patterson chose the bottom position to start the third period and earned an escape with 0:45 seconds left. With the score knotted at 1-1 Patterson took to the offensive where he earned a takedown. Patterson cut Boyle with 0:03 remaining and added 1:09 of riding time.

Bailey became the Sooners' second two-time All-American of the evening after he downed Lehigh's Stephen Dutton by a final of 9-5. Bailey earned three takedowns, two escapes and added 1:12 of riding time.

Patterson and Bailey each dropped their second bout of the evening and will challenge for a seventh place finishes tomorrow.

OU's Nathan Fernandez fell one match shy of earning All-America status. Fernandez fell in overtime to Minnesota's No. 8 seed Anthony Nelson, 3-2. Fernandez ends his Sooner career with 83 wins to just 46 losses.

“I'm proud of Jared (Patterson) and Zack (Bailey). Our heart goes out to Nathan. It breaks your heart to see a kid that has given so much, battle so hard and come so close just to be denied. We're very proud of Nathan Fernandez.”

Patterson and Bailey will take to the mats tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. CT and will be aired on ESPNU. The championship bouts will be broadcast on ESPN and will begin at 6:30 p.m. CT.

SESSION IV RESULTS

CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
165: No. 3 Tyler Caldwell (OU) dec. No. 2 Andrew Howe (WISC), 2-2 RT;TB3

WRESTLEBACK RESULTS
125: No. 8 Jarrod Patterson (OU) dec. Sean Boyle (MICH), 4-2
125: No. 5 Zachary Sanders (MINN) dec. No. 8 Jarrod Patterson (OU), 3-1; SV1
141: No. 8 Zack Bailey (OU) dec. Stephen Dutton (LEHI), 9-5
141: No. 4 James Kennedy (ILL) dec. No. 8 Zack Bailey (OU), 3-2
HWT: No. 10 Nathan Fernandez (OU) vs. No. 8 Anthony Nelson (MINN), 3-2; TB1

SATURDAY'S MATCHUPS

FINALS MATCHUP
165: No. 3 Tyler Caldwell (OU) vs. No. 1 Jordan Burroughs (NEB)

SEVENTH PLACE CONSOLATION MATCHUPS
125: No. 8 Jarrod Patterson (OU) vs. No. 4 James Nickolson (ODU)
141: No. 8 Zack Bailey (OU) vs. No. 12 Zack Kemmerer (PENN)

UPDATED TEAM SCORES

1. Penn State (92.5)
2. Cornell (75)
3. Iowa (74)
4. Oklahoma State (65.5)
5. American (56)
13. Oklahoma (36)