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University of Oklahoma Athletics
Sunday, December 3
Morgantown, WV
1 PM
University of Oklahoma
21
at
19
West Virginia
Sooners Bounce Back with Win Over No. 21 West Virginia
December 03, 2023 | Wrestling
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Oklahoma wrestling picked up its first road conference win of the season after defeating No. 21 West Virginia 21-19 on Sunday.
The Sooners (4-1 overall, 2-1 Big 12) bounced back from Friday night's loss at No. 3 Missouri by winning six matches against the Mountaineers, earning bonus points in two bouts. The Big 12 battle was highlighted by the match winning takedown in the closing seconds of the heavyweight bout for Josh Heindselman and the fifth tech fall victory of the season for Stephen Buchanan.
The 125-pounders started the match, which meant Conrad Hendriksen (5-2) was the first to take the mat for the Sooners. He faced No. 26 Jett Strickenberger and delivered the Mountaineer lightweight his first defeat of the season. A takedown, two escapes and a stalling point helped Hendriksen to his first ranked win of the year, winning by a 6-4 decision.
Next up was No. 33 Jace Koelzer (7-2), who was looking for his second win of the weekend. The Northern Colorado transfer faced off against Davin Rhoads and wasted no time getting points on the board. Three takedowns, a pair of escapes and three minutes of riding time helped the redshirt senior cruise to a 12-4 major decision in the 133-pound bout.
At 141, No. 8 Mosha Schwartz (4-0) suffered a first period injury during an escape attempt by his opponent No. 17 Jordan Titus. Titus was credited the win via injury default to give the Mountaineers six team points.
No. 20 Willie McDougald (3-4) won his bout with No. 16 Ty Watters via 8-5 decision. The redshirt junior from Niagra Falls, N.Y., scored two takedowns and two escapes which proved to be enough for the 149-pounder despite giving up a riding time point.
Taking the mat next at 157 pounds was John Wiley (2-5), who was still searching for his first win in dual action this season. The bout was low scoring, but the Mustang, Okla., native got his win via 4-3 decision over Caleb Dowling.
At 165, No. 15 Cael Carlson (6-2) matched up with his second top-15 opponent of the weekend in WVU's No. 13 Peyton Hall. Carlson wrestled well early, but Hall came away with the big pinfall victory at 6:04.
Junior Gerrit Nijenhuis (2-1) made his dual debut for the Sooners today when he wrestled West Virginia's No. 25 Brody Conley. Nijenhuis took a one-point lead into the final period but couldn't keep the defensive effort up, losing in a 5-1 decision.
No. 29 Giuseppe Hoose (5-3) was defeated by No. 23 Dennis Robin in the 184-pound match via 11-0 major decision to give West Virginia a six-point lead over the Sooners.
At 197 pounds, No. 2 Stephen Buchanan (7-0) picked up his fifth tech fall victory of the season by defeating WVU's No. 33 Austin Cooley. Buchanan earned four takedowns to score his team crucial bonus points in a 18-3 win.
Trailing 19-18 heading into the final bout, it was all up to No. 14 Josh Heindselman (7-1) to pull out the match win for OU. The heavyweight delivered in a big way, scoring a danger zone takedown with 14 seconds left to defeat No. 26 Michael Wolfgram 9-7 in comeback fashion at 285. The fourth-year starter found himself trailing 7-5 heading into the third period before securing the thrilling victory. It was the fourth career win for the redshirt senior over Wolfgram in their sixth all-time meeting.
The Sooners now turn their focus to Oklahoma State for a Bedlam showdown in McCasland Field House on Dec. 10. Fans can purchase tickets to the dual by visiting SoonerSports.com or calling the OU Athletics Ticket Office at (405) 325-2424 or toll-free at (800) 456-GoOU.
For updates, follow @OU_Wrestling on Twitter or like Oklahoma Wrestling on Facebook
Match Results vs. No. 21 West Virginia
125: Conrad Hendriksen (OU) dec. No. 26 Jett Strickenberger (WVU), 6-4
133: No. 33 Jace Koelzer (OU) major dec. Davin Rhoads (WVU), 12-4
141: No. 17 Jordan Titus (WVU) won by injury default No. 8 Mosha Schwartz (OU), [T – 1:01]
149: No. 20 Willie McDougald (OU) dec. No. 16 Ty Watters (WVU), 8-5
157: John Wiley (OU) dec. Caleb Dowling (WVU), 4-3
165: No. 13 Peyton Hall (WVU) won by fall over No. 15 Cael Carlson (OU), [T – 6:04]
174: No. 25 Brody Conley (WVU) dec. Gerrit Nijenhuis (OU), 5-1
184: No. 23 Dennis Robin (WVU) major dec. No. 29 Giuseppe Hoose (OU), 11-0
197: No. 2 Stephen Buchanan (OU) tech. fall over No. 33 Austin Cooley (WVU), 18-3 [T – 7:00]
HWT: No.14 Josh Heindselman dec. No. 26 Michael Wolfgram (WVU), 9-7
The Sooners (4-1 overall, 2-1 Big 12) bounced back from Friday night's loss at No. 3 Missouri by winning six matches against the Mountaineers, earning bonus points in two bouts. The Big 12 battle was highlighted by the match winning takedown in the closing seconds of the heavyweight bout for Josh Heindselman and the fifth tech fall victory of the season for Stephen Buchanan.
The 125-pounders started the match, which meant Conrad Hendriksen (5-2) was the first to take the mat for the Sooners. He faced No. 26 Jett Strickenberger and delivered the Mountaineer lightweight his first defeat of the season. A takedown, two escapes and a stalling point helped Hendriksen to his first ranked win of the year, winning by a 6-4 decision.
Next up was No. 33 Jace Koelzer (7-2), who was looking for his second win of the weekend. The Northern Colorado transfer faced off against Davin Rhoads and wasted no time getting points on the board. Three takedowns, a pair of escapes and three minutes of riding time helped the redshirt senior cruise to a 12-4 major decision in the 133-pound bout.
At 141, No. 8 Mosha Schwartz (4-0) suffered a first period injury during an escape attempt by his opponent No. 17 Jordan Titus. Titus was credited the win via injury default to give the Mountaineers six team points.
No. 20 Willie McDougald (3-4) won his bout with No. 16 Ty Watters via 8-5 decision. The redshirt junior from Niagra Falls, N.Y., scored two takedowns and two escapes which proved to be enough for the 149-pounder despite giving up a riding time point.
Taking the mat next at 157 pounds was John Wiley (2-5), who was still searching for his first win in dual action this season. The bout was low scoring, but the Mustang, Okla., native got his win via 4-3 decision over Caleb Dowling.
At 165, No. 15 Cael Carlson (6-2) matched up with his second top-15 opponent of the weekend in WVU's No. 13 Peyton Hall. Carlson wrestled well early, but Hall came away with the big pinfall victory at 6:04.
Junior Gerrit Nijenhuis (2-1) made his dual debut for the Sooners today when he wrestled West Virginia's No. 25 Brody Conley. Nijenhuis took a one-point lead into the final period but couldn't keep the defensive effort up, losing in a 5-1 decision.
No. 29 Giuseppe Hoose (5-3) was defeated by No. 23 Dennis Robin in the 184-pound match via 11-0 major decision to give West Virginia a six-point lead over the Sooners.
At 197 pounds, No. 2 Stephen Buchanan (7-0) picked up his fifth tech fall victory of the season by defeating WVU's No. 33 Austin Cooley. Buchanan earned four takedowns to score his team crucial bonus points in a 18-3 win.
Trailing 19-18 heading into the final bout, it was all up to No. 14 Josh Heindselman (7-1) to pull out the match win for OU. The heavyweight delivered in a big way, scoring a danger zone takedown with 14 seconds left to defeat No. 26 Michael Wolfgram 9-7 in comeback fashion at 285. The fourth-year starter found himself trailing 7-5 heading into the third period before securing the thrilling victory. It was the fourth career win for the redshirt senior over Wolfgram in their sixth all-time meeting.
The Sooners now turn their focus to Oklahoma State for a Bedlam showdown in McCasland Field House on Dec. 10. Fans can purchase tickets to the dual by visiting SoonerSports.com or calling the OU Athletics Ticket Office at (405) 325-2424 or toll-free at (800) 456-GoOU.
For updates, follow @OU_Wrestling on Twitter or like Oklahoma Wrestling on Facebook
Match Results vs. No. 21 West Virginia
125: Conrad Hendriksen (OU) dec. No. 26 Jett Strickenberger (WVU), 6-4
133: No. 33 Jace Koelzer (OU) major dec. Davin Rhoads (WVU), 12-4
141: No. 17 Jordan Titus (WVU) won by injury default No. 8 Mosha Schwartz (OU), [T – 1:01]
149: No. 20 Willie McDougald (OU) dec. No. 16 Ty Watters (WVU), 8-5
157: John Wiley (OU) dec. Caleb Dowling (WVU), 4-3
165: No. 13 Peyton Hall (WVU) won by fall over No. 15 Cael Carlson (OU), [T – 6:04]
174: No. 25 Brody Conley (WVU) dec. Gerrit Nijenhuis (OU), 5-1
184: No. 23 Dennis Robin (WVU) major dec. No. 29 Giuseppe Hoose (OU), 11-0
197: No. 2 Stephen Buchanan (OU) tech. fall over No. 33 Austin Cooley (WVU), 18-3 [T – 7:00]
HWT: No.14 Josh Heindselman dec. No. 26 Michael Wolfgram (WVU), 9-7
Players Mentioned
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