Maple Secures Third Big 12 Honor

Jan. 30, 2012

NORMAN, Okla. - Kendric Maple of the 10th-ranked University of Oklahoma wrestling team has been chosen as the Big 12 Conference Wrestler of the Week for matches from Jan. 23-29, announced Monday by the league office. Throughout that span, he helped the Sooners upend No. 23 Virginia Tech on Friday, Jan. 27, and rally to defeat 14th-ranked Lehigh on Sunday, Jan. 29, by downing two ranked opponents.

It marks the third career conference honor for the redshirt-sophomore from Wichita, Kan., who also won the award on Jan. 2 and was named the Wrestler of the Month for November. He is the first wrestler to take home three honors in one season since Jordan Oliver (Oklahoma State) accomplished the feat in 2010-11.

“We are very proud of Kendric Maple,” Mark Cody said. “He has made a major contribution in every dual meet win that we've accumulated this year. We look forward to his continued success throughout the rest of the season.”

Maple has accrued a 22-1 overall record and is 13-1 in dual action on the year. The nation's third-ranked 141-pounder opened action over the weekend with the first of his two major decision victories against Virginia Tech's 19th-ranked Zach Neibert. En route to earning OU's only bonus against the Hokies, he acquired three takedowns, five nearfall points, an escape and 3:25 of riding time to earn the 13-1 win and helped secure a 19-12 team victory over Virginia Tech.

Big 12 Wrestler of the Month Release | OU Season Statistics | Kendric Maple Bio

Against Lehigh, the Sooners fell behind 16-0 after dropping the first five bouts of the day. Maple earned OU its third-straight bonus-point victory after he fought for a 14-5 major over the Mountain Hawks' No. 15-ranked Steve Dutton. Maple's five takedowns, two escapes and 4:29 of riding time put the Sooners within two of Lehigh at 16-14. OU eventually completed the comeback for a 22-16 win.

Over the course of the season, Maple has amassed a team-best 61 dual points, 11 major decisions, four technical falls and four falls. Additionally, his 54 takedowns and 21 nearfalls in dual action are tops among the squad.

Maple and the Sooners will be in action on Sunday, Jan. 5, when they travel to Columbia, Mo., to battle No. 15 Missouri.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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