Sooners' Depth Impresses in Red/White Scrimmage

Friday, October 22

Norman

4 PM

University of Oklahoma

Red/White Scrimmage

Oklahoma v Oklahoma StateFebruary 21, 2021

Photo by: Joshua R. Gateley

Sooners' Depth Impresses in Red/White Scrimmage

October 22, 2021 | Wrestling

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NORMAN – Four pins in the final matches made for fireworks at the annual OU wrestling Red/White Scrimmage in McCasland Field House on Friday night, but the depth Head Coach Lou Rosselli has built in his squad made for an eventful night from start to finish.

"Overall I like what I saw," said Rosselli after the scrimmage. "I think we've got some really good guys and I think it's going to be more fun than we've had in a while."

Those who came out saw exciting contests from many of the duels in both the preliminary rounds and the finals.

In the 125 weight class, Jack Creamer won a close one 3-1 over Jacob Zimmer to book his spot in the finals. There he would face Joey Prata, newcomer to the team who transferred from Virginia Tech. Prata, who will come into the season ranked as one of the best in the country according to FloWrestling, beat Cramer in a 7-2 decision in the first final of the night.

Next came the 133 weight class that features Big 12 finalist senior Tony Madrigal. He faced Caleb Tanner in the final after Tanner defeated newcomer Gabe Vidlak 9-4 in the preliminary round. Madrigal needed until about the middle of the second round, but suddenly lightning struck, and he had Tanner pinned. It was the first of many electric pins on the night for OU wrestling.

Dom Demas, the two-time Big 12 champion and regular starter, did not compete in the scrimmage which meant there were opportunities for his teammates to shine. All three of the matches were tightly contested, but Jacob Butler emerged victorious with a narrow 3-2 decision over Zack Zeamer.

Mitch Moore, another of this squad's Big 12 finalists from last season, dominated his matches in the 149-pound group on his way to a finals victory. Moore earned a 16-0 tech fall victory over Brice O'Hara, who won the opening match of the scrimmage 6-4 over Jackson Oplotnik. Moore then pinned redshirt freshman Willie McDougald, who scrapped for some points before succumbing to Moore.

One of the most exciting matches of the evening for OU fans came in the 157 weight class as redshirt senior Justin Thomas, one of the more decorated team members, faced Alejandro Herrera-Rondon, the true freshman and highly touted recruit. Thomas prevailed 3-0 over Herrera-Rondon in an extremely entertaining match that had fans excited about both the present and the future of the program.

Troy Mantanona faced Jared Hill in the only match in the 165 weight class. Hill wrestled well despite being outside of his typical weight class, but eventually was pinned by Mantanona in the second period.

The elder Anthony Mantanona pulled off a second-period pin of his own in the very next match against Eli Joseph in the 174-pound final.

The 184 weight class produced a trio of good matches as Darrien Roberts defeated Eli Joseph 2-0 and Carson Berryhill beat Talon Borror 3-2 in the first round of matches. Roberts would go on to earn a tight win over Berryhill in the final with 7-4 decision.

All-American Jake Woodley took care of business in his only match of the night, earning a 10-2 major decision over Talon Borror, who was wrestling up a weight class.

In the final match of the night, heavyweights Josh Heindselman and Ryder Wiese battled it out. Wiese held his own for two periods, but nine points from Heindselman in the third gave him an 11-2 major decision to win the final.

The competitiveness from almost all of the weight classes will be encouraging for the Sooners coaching staff as they head into their regular season in the coming weeks.

"I thought it was good, it was good to see them compete. I was proud to see the way some of them are, you know, living their life," Rosselli said. "If you want to be elite that's what you have to do. It's a comprehensive package. Coming to practice, working the way you're supposed to, and doing the little things right. Believing in what you're doing and being part of a team."

OU wrestling will see its first action of the regular season Nov. 6 at the Michigan State Open in East Lansing, Mich.

Red/White Scrimmage
Wt.	Result	Score
125	Creamer def. Zimmer	3-1
125	Prata def. Creamer	7-2
133	Tanner def. Vidlak	9-4
133	Madrigal def. Tanner	FALL
141	Butler def. George	9-4
141	Zeamer def. Ferguson	3-1 OT
141	Butler def. Zeamer	3-2
149	O'Hara def. Oplatnik	6-4
149	Moore def. O'Hara	TECH FALL 16-0
149	McDougald def. Chavez	2-1
149	Moore def. McDougald	FALL
157	Hill def. Lugafet	6-0
157	Vislosky def. Hall	9-5
157	Thomas def. Hill	TECH FALL 15-0
157	Herrera-Rondon def. Vislosky	14-0
157	Thomas def. Herrera-Rondon	3-0
165	T. Mantanona def. Hill	FALL
174	Mantanona def. Joseph	FALL
184	Roberts def. Joseph	2-0
184	Berryhill def. Borror	3-2
184	Roberts def. Berryhill	7-4
197	Woodley def. Borror	10-2
285	Heindselman def. Wiese	11-2