Completed Event: Wrestling versus Tiger Style Invite on November 9, 2025 , , 2 Titles, Second Place
Final
Wrestling
vs Tiger Style Invite
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Sunday, February 6
Norman
3:00 PM
University of Oklahoma
16
vs
15
South Dakota State
Photo by: Ty Russell
Sooners Battle for Close Win on Senior Day
February 06, 2022 | Wrestling
25 Oklahoma
16
23 South Dakota State
15
NORMAN – Oklahoma wrestling came out on top of a tight contest with No. 23 South Dakota State (10-4, 3-2 Big 12), winning 16-15 on the tiebreaker criteria.
After all ten matches were finished, the No. 25 Sooners (8-5, 3-4 Big 12) and the Jackrabbits sat tied at 15-15. The two squads split the matches at five apiece with neither team earning bonus points. Therefore, tiebreaker criteria would be called upon to decide the dual. The deciding factor was most individual match points scored, which favored the Sooners 39-33, giving them the win.
"It's always good to get a win," said head coach Lou Rosselli. "They have a good team. They are really solid, but I think we are really solid too. I like getting the win. That absolutely matters. But I know we still have a lot to do to get where we want to go. We're starting to do the little things better and I think that was the difference today."
The seniors that were honored before the match came through in a big way to make sure they left McCasland Field House for the last time on a high note. OU got wins in three straight matches from seniors Justin Thomas, Joe Grello and Anthony Mantanona that built a lead that proved to be insurmountable.
Sixth year senior and team captain No. 14 Justin Thomas (15-5) made the most of his big day, racking up takedowns in all three periods to amass crucial points for the Sooners in an 8-3 decision win. Thomas has won eight of his last nine bouts, with his only loss coming in a close contest against the top-ranked 157-pounder in the country.
Sooner Nation let sixth year senior @justin_thomass hear the love after his final home match ?? pic.twitter.com/S6QiJ5Zew2
— Oklahoma Wrestling (@OU_Wrestling) February 6, 2022
No. 29 Joe Grello (4-6) rode the length of the third period to pick up a 2-0 decision in a rematch with SDSU's No. 30 Tanner Cook, who was an NCAA qualifier in 2020. Grello got a pin in their first encounter this season, and did just enough to win this one.
At 174, No. 20 Anthony Mantanona (14-5) upset the Jackrabbit's No. 9 Cade DeVos in dramatic fashion with a takedown in sudden victory. It is the highest ranked win for Mantanona since beating No. 11 Dustin Plott of Oklahoma State in Stillwater at the end of last season. The California kid has won eight of his last nine bouts.
Extending his win streak to five matches, No. 32 Joey Prata (13-5) gave the Sooners a boost from the beginning with an 8-2 decision win. It is the largest margin of victory for Prata this season and it could not have come at a better time. In one of his most impressive singular periods of the season, he grabbed a quick takedown, rode his opponent long enough to secure riding time, cut him and proceeded to bag another takedown to end the period on top.
On the subject of impressive feats, No. 21 Willie McDougald (12-3) won yet again to push his active win streak to nine and remain undefeated in dual action since cementing his place as a starter at 149 pounds six duals ago. In a rematch with the Jackrabbits' Daniel Kimball, McDougald built a big lead with an escape and two takedowns in the second period to secure the victory.
The Sooners will have two weeks to build on their momentum and prepare for their regular season finale in Stillwater, Okla., against Oklahoma State on Sunday, February 20.
For updates, follow @OU_Wrestling on Twitter and Instagram, or like Oklahoma Wrestling on Facebook.
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