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University of Oklahoma Athletics
Two Sooners Added to NCAA Field, Brackets Revealed
March 09, 2011 | Wrestling
March 9, 2011
NORMAN, Okla. - Eight starters of the seventh-ranked University of Oklahoma wrestling squad will compete at the 2011 NCAA Championships next week in Philadelphia, Pa., as the NCAA granted 149-pounder Matt Lester and Chase Nelson, 157 pounds, at-large bids Wednesday evening.
The total matches the 2009 squad that also sent eight participants to the NCAA Championships. Last year Oklahoma (13-2, 3-2 Big 12) sent all ten wrestlers, the most ever for OU under the new NCAA selection format introduced in 2009.
Lester and Nelson, the only Sooners not to automatically qualify from the Big 12 Championships last weekend, will join teammates Jarrod Patterson (125), Jordan Keller (133), Zack Bailey (141), Tyler Caldwell (165), Erich Schmidtke (184) and Nathan Fernandez (HWT) at the NCAAs, March 17-19.
Additionally, first round matchups were announced by the NCAAs. Sooners awarded national seeds were No. 3 Caldwell, No. 8 Patterson, No. 8 Zack Bailey and No. 10 Fernandez.
Next week in Philadelphia, Oklahoma will attempt to garner its seventh team trophy at the NCAAs in the past 12 years. Additionally, Caldwell and Bailey will seek All-American honors for their second consecutive seasons.
NCAA action commences on March 17 inside the Wells Fargo Arena, and will conclude with the finals Saturday evening, March 19.
| Sooner Participants (Weight) | Hometown (Year) | Record |
| Jarrod Patterson (125) | Cushing, Okla. (So.) | 25-7 |
| Jordan Keller (133) | Wichita, Kan. (Jr.) | 17-9 |
| Zack Bailey (141) | Kansas City, Mo. (Sr.) | 24-3 |
| Matt Lester (149) | Eureka, Mo. (RFr.) | 18-7 |
| Chase Nelson (157) | Wichita, Kan. (So.) | 19-11 |
| Tyler Caldwell (165) | Wichita, Kan. (So.) | 28-5 |
| Erich Schmidtke (184) | Aberdeen, Wash. (RSo.) | 24-11 |
| Nathan Fernandez (HWT) | Lawton, Okla. (Sr.) | 20-5 |
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Sooner First Round Matchups |
133: Jordan Keller vs. Tony Ramos (Iowa) or No. 6 Frank Cagnina (LEHI)
141: No. 8 Zack Bailey vs. Cody Cleveland (CHATT)
149: Matt Lester vs. Scott Skaguchi (ORST)
157: Chase Nelson vs. No. 8 Jason Welch (NW)
165: No. 3 Tyler Caldwell vs. Patrick Graham (AMER)
184: Erich Schmidtke vs. Max Thomusseit (PITT)
HWT: No. 10 Nathan Fernandez vs. Peter Sturgeon (UNCG)
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