Wrestling Splits Duals in Virginia

Friday, January 12

Hamptom, Va. | Hamptom Coliseum

All Day

University of Oklahoma

Navy

January 12, 2024 | Wrestling

Results (Navy)Results (Wisconsin)

By: OU Athletics Communications

HAMPTON, Va. – No. 19 Oklahoma split its pair of duals at the Virginia Duals on Friday, defeating No. 16 Navy, 24-11, before falling to Wisconsin, 22-16, in the Sooners' final dual of the event.

Stephen Buchanan, Jared Hill and Josh Heindselman each went 2-0 on the day as Oklahoma (5-3, 2-2 Big 12) closed its non-conference slate at the event.

At 125 pounds, Conrad Hendriksen earned an 18-2 technical fall in his first bout of the day over Navy's Grant Treaster to secure five team points for the Sooners. In the afternoon dual, he was majored by Wisconsin's No. 4 Eric Barnett, 14-2.

Jace Koelzer opened his day with a 2-1 decision over top-30 Midshipman Brendan Ferretti at 133 pounds but was downed by Nicolar Rivera of Wisconsin in a 16-3 major decision.

True freshman KJ Evans was pinned by No. 20 Josh Koderhandt (Navy) in 2:22, but the Sooners got points at 141 pounds vs. the Badgers when Carter Schmidt knocked off Felix Lettini, 10-3.

In the 149-bout vs. Navy, No. 30 Willie McDougald was victorious over Kaamen Smith in a 12-6 decision to give the Sooners a commanding 11-6 lead through four matches. McDougald suffered a narrow 2-1 loss in a top-25 battle vs. No. 22 Joseph Zargo in OU's dual with Wisconsin.

No. 33 Jared Hill went 2-0 at 157 pounds, earning a 4-1, sudden-victory win over Navy's Jonathan Ley. Hill shined in his second match, dominating Wisconsin's Luke Mechler to secure the 7-3 victory.

165-pounder No. 29 Cael Carlson dropped both matches on Friday, falling to Navy's No. 21 Andrew Cerniglia (7-0) and Wisconsin's No. 6 Dean Hamiti (19-5).

No. 29 Picklo also fell twice at 174 pounds, dropping a 5-0 decision to Navy's No. 26 Daniel Wask and a 12-1 major decision to No. 18 May Maylor of Wisconsin.

At 184 pounds, Giuseppe Hoose split his tilts, defeating Navy's No. 33 David Key in sudden victory, 7-4, before dropping a tight 6-3 result to No. 16 Shane Liegel.

Second-ranked Stephen Buchanan racked up the bonus points for the Crimson and Cream on Friday. In his match with Navy's Cael Crebs, the 197-pounder secured a 14-5 major decision to help Oklahoma secure the win over the Midshipmen. In the afternoon, the All-American rolled to a dominant 17-2 technical fall of Michael Tal-Shahar by collecting multiple near falls. Buchanan raised his bonus-point victory season total to 14 on Friday.

Heavyweight grappler No. 14 Josh Heindselman battled with No. 18 Grady Griess (Navy) to a 1-1 stalemate after seven minutes but found a way in the first sudden victory period to notch a 4-1 decision. In his bout with Wisconsin's Brooks Empey, Heindselman cruised to a 21-4 technical fall as the Sooners fell 22-16.

OU's win over the ranked Midshipmen marked the second of the season and Roger Kish era. The loss to the Badgers moved the Sooners to 5-3 on the season, with all three losses coming from top-30 foes.

Oklahoma returns to Norman, where it hosts Iowa State at 7 p.m. on Jan. 26 and Northern Iowa the following night at 7 p.m. Both contests will be held at historic McCasland Field House and aired on ESPN+.