Three Sooners Stand on Podium at NCAAs

March 19, 2011

PHILADELPHIA – University of Oklahoma wrestler Tyler Caldwell fell one bout short of becoming the Sooners' 66th national champion as he fell to the No. 1 seed Jordan Burroughs of Nebraska, 11-3, in the 165 pound title match at the 2011 NCAA Championships.

Oklahoma finished the three day NCAA tournament with three All-Americans – Jarrod Patterson (125), Zack Bailey (141) and Caldwell – and had a wrestler in the finals for the first time since 2007 when Sam Hazewinkel placed second.

The Sooners finished 16th overall with 38 points. Penn State took home the team championship with 107.5 points. Cornell finished second with 93.5 points, while Iowa (86.5) and Oklahoma State (70.5) rounded out the top-four.

In Caldwell's championship bout the two-time All-American was taken down three times throughout the first period and was never able recover. Caldwell chose the bottom position to start the second where he earned an escape in 2-seconds but gave up another takedown at 1:04 mark. Burroughs chose the neutral position to start the third and added two more takedowns and riding time to get the 11-3 victory. The Wichita, Kan., native finished his sophomore year with 32 wins against only six losses.

“I am disappointed for him,” Jack Spates said. “I think he took a little blow getting taken down right away because it put us out of our game plan. He's young and a great one. He will be back.”

Results |

Brackets |

Team Standings |

Photos

Spates' finishes his OU career having coached 56 All-Americans, six national champions and his 243 wins ranks second most all-time at OU. The 2006 National Coach of the Year, will leave behind a long tradition of greatness in which his teams brought home seven team trophies from the NCAA tournament and won two Big 12 team titles.

“First of all, I am so proud to be associated with this sport and school,” Spates said. “I am so grateful for all the many experiences, all the great people and these kids that are so wonderful. Sooner wrestling is going to be upward and onward and I'll be following it with pride.”

OU FINAL'S RESULTS

165: No. 1 Jordan Burroughs (NEB) MD No. 3 Tyler Caldwell (OU), 11-3

2011 SOONER ALL-AMERICANS

125: Jarrod Patterson (So.)
141: Zack Bailey (Sr.) - Two-time All-American
165: Tyler Caldwell (So.) - Two-time All-American

UPDATED TEAM SCORES

1. Penn State (107.5)
2. Cornell (93.5)
3. Iowa (86.5)
4. Oklahoma State (70.5)
5. American (65)
16. Oklahoma (38)

2011 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

125: Anthony Robles (Arizona State)
133: Jordan Oliver (Oklahoma State)
141: Kellen Russell (Michigan)
149: Kyle Dake (Cornell)
157: Bubba Jenkins (Arizona State)
165: Jordan Burroughs (Nebraska)
174: Jonathan Reader (Iowa State)
184: Quentin Wright (Penn State)
197: Dustin Kilgore (Kent State)
285: Zachery Rey (Lehigh)

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Three Sooners Stand on Podium at NCAAs

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