Sooners Roll to Season-Opening Dual Win over Air Force

Friday, November 8

USAF Academy, CO | Clune Arena

9 PM

University of Oklahoma

Air Force

Sooners Roll to Season-Opening Dual Win over Air Force

November 09, 2024 | Wrestling

Results

By: OU Athletics Communications

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The No. 22 Oklahoma wrestling team opened its season with a 32-3 win over Air Force inside Clune Arena on Friday night.

The Sooners (1-0, 1-0 Big 12) won their first five matches to take an 18-0 lead in the dual, an advantage they would hold on to until the final whistle. Two of OU's nine wins on the evening came with bonus points. The night was highlighted by junior Willie McDougald's third period fall (6:04) and DJ Parker's tech fall (4:43).

It is the second straight season in which Oklahoma has opened conference action with a win, knocking off North Dakota State early in the 2023 campaign. Friday also marked Oklahoma's largest margin of victory in a dual match since blanking Little Rock, 37-0, on Nov. 18, 2022.

In the first match of the contest, senior No. 30 Antonio Lorenzo made his debut for the Sooners in a 5-1 decision win over Air Force's Bubba Wright. The Cal Poly transfer did not compete last season after becoming a two-time NCAA qualifier with the Mustangs.

At 133 pounds, senior Cleveland Belton was the next starter to rep the crimson singlet for the first time. The No. 16-ranked Oregon State transfer and former Pac-12 champion rode a first period takedown to a 4-2 decision victory over AF's Gavin Caprella.

Returning to the mat for the first time since suffering a season-ending injury in December 2023, No. 18 Mosha Schwartz picked up right where he left off, racking up eight first period near fall points en route to a 16-9 win. Schwartz is in his third season starting for the Sooners at 141 pounds.

No. 21 Willie McDougald earned his first fall since 2022 with a (6:04) pin of Alec Viduya. McDougald is the lone returning NCAA qualifier from last season's Oklahoma squad that secured their highest NCAA finish (23rd) since ending the 2016 tournament in 13th place.

Redshirt freshman Carter Schubert helped the Sooners stay perfect before the intermission, collecting a takedown, reversal and riding time point to defeat EJ Beloncik, 6-2. The Cal Baptist transfer improved his career dual record to 4-1.

Adding to the list of impressive Sooner debuts, senior No. 9 Gaven Sax shut out Jack Ganos, 6-0 in the 174-pound bout. The North Dakota State transfer is coming off a career-high 20-win season in which he reached the blood round at the NCAA Championships.

The night ended with Parker dominating AF's Owen Heiser via 19-1 tech fall at 184 pounds, followed by back-to-back Bradley Hill and Juan Mora decisions in their respective weight classes over Brian Burburija and Antonio Ramos.

The Sooners will travel to Brookings, S.D., to participate in the Warren Williamson Daktronics Invitational on Sunday, Nov. 17.

For updates and more information on Oklahoma wrestling, follow the Sooners on Twitter and Instagram (@OU_W restling) and like Oklahoma W restling on Facebook.

#22 Oklahoma 32, Air Force 3
125: #30 Antonio Lorenzo (OU) over Bubba Wright (AF), 6-1 | OU 3, AF 0
133: #16 Cleveland Belton (OU) over Gavin Caprella (AF), 4-2 | OU 6, AF 0
141: #10 Mosha Schwartz (OU) over Carter Nogle (AF), 16-9 | OU 9, AF 0
149: #14 Willie McDougald (OU) over Alec Viduya (AF), F (6:04) | OU 15, AF 0
157: Carter Schubert (OU) over EJ Beloncik (AF), 6-2 | OU 18, AF 0
165: Andrew Harmon (AF) over Mannix Morgan (OU), 7-3 | OU 18, AF 3
174: #9 Gaven Sax (OU) over Jack Ganos (AF), 6-0 | OU 21, AF 3
184: #26 DJ Parker (OU) over Owen Heiser (AF), TF 19-1 (4:43) | OU 26, AF 3
197: #21 Bradley Hill (OU) over Brian Burburija (AF), 4-1 | OU 29, AF 3
285: #31 Juan Mora (OU) over Antonio Ramos (AF), 8-3 | OU 32, AF 3