Oklahoma State University Athletics
Wrestling Squad to Take on No. 14 Nebraska
June 21, 1999 | Cowboy Wrestling
December 28, 1998
#1 Oklahoma State (8-0, 1-0 Big 12)
vs.
#14 Nebraska (5-1, 0-0 Big 12)
The Cowboys - Oklahoma State is the winningest program in the nation, in any sport. No other team compares as far as winning percentage and national team titles. The Cowboys are in their 80th season as a collegiate program and have amassed a 798-81-19 record. The Cowboys have also had 78 wrestlers win 119 individual titles, including two Cowboys that are on the current team. As ironic as it sounds the Cowboys have a losing record to one team in the nation in career match-ups and that is Illinois. The Fightin' Illini defeated the Cowboys in 1993, a year when the Cowboys redshirted most of their front line starters because of NCAA sanctions, and hold a 1-0 advantage over the Cowboys. The only other team the Cowboys don't hold an advantage over is Iowa. The two storied programs are tied in their series at 15-15-1.
In The Polls - The Cowboys started the season ranked No. 1 and have remained there throughout the season. Nebraska comes into the dual ranked 13th.
The Series - Oklahoma state leads the all-time series 37-2-1. The Pokes have won three straight in the series including a 25-19 win last season in Lincoln. The two teams tied in the 1995 Reno Duals and before that the Cowboys won four in a row. The last time the Huskers defeated the Cowboys was the probation year of 1993. Before that the Huskers had not won since 1922.
Top Match - The match to look out for in this dual is the 184 pound match between two up and coming stars around the nation. Mark Mu-oz and Brad Vering are ranked seventh and eighth respectively and are both only sophomores. The two met last season for the Big 12 title with Vering coming out on top.
Next-The Cowboys will host 17th-ranked Michigan State in a 7 p.m. dual on January 7th in Stillwater. In that dual, top-ranked Eric Guerrero will face second-ranked Pat McNamara in the 133-pound match. Looking Back - The Cowboys extended their winning streak to 53 with five wins in two days. The Cowboys defeated Fresno State, Cal Poly, Cal-Bakersfield, Boise State and Central Michigan before the Christmas break.
Tough Road - January brings about a tough month for the Cowboy wrestlers. The Pokes will wrestle 12 matches in the month including the national duals. Also included are two double duals, with North Carolina and North Carolina State and Oregon and Oregon State, Big 12 duals with Nebraska and Iowa State and duals with Michigan State and Arizona State. Most of the Cowboys' starters have only eight or fewer matches under their belt this season.
Pin 'Em - Transfer heavyweight Dave Anderton is off to an impressive debut season. He has recorded seven falls in his first 12 matches, including a big fall to bring the Cowboys from behind to beat Minnesota. He had three falls in the St. Louis Open including one in 17 seconds. In all 10 of his 12 matches have ended in a fall. In comparison, the Cowboys heavyweight last season had one fall all year long.
Pin 'Em II - The Cowboys have started off their last five duals with a fall. Mark Smith had two of the falls and Teague Moore has had three straight. Last season the Cowboys had 46 falls as a team, through eight matches this season the Pokes have 20.
NWCA All-Star Dual - The National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Dual will be held February 1 in Gallagher-Iba Arena. The event is a great chance to see a mini Saturday Night at the NCAAs when the best wrestlers at each weight square off. Four Cowboys are slated for the event: Eric Guerrero, Teague Moore, Mark Smith and Jimmy Arias, who will wrestle an exhibition match against Jody Marple of Central Oklahoma.
It Could Happen - Eric Guerrero is looking to become OSU's 13th three-time NCAA Champion this season. He is also looking to become the seventh four-time All-American. Teague Moore looks to become the Cowboys 31st wrestler with two or more individual national championships. Moore and Mark Smith look to become No. 52 and 53 on the Cowboys three-time All-American charts.
Guerrero Named Hodge Award Finalist - Eric Guerrero has been named a finalist for the Dan Hodge Award. The award is given to the Most Outstanding wrestler in the nation. Stephen Neal of Cal State-Bakersfield and Tim Hartung of Minnesota are other finalist for the award. Guerrero is a two-time NCAA champion and a three-time All-American.
The Streak - A little bit about the Cowboys current 53-dual winning streak. The streak is the third longest streak in school history behind 76 and 70 match skeins. The Cowboys have the longest current streak in any sport in the country. The Pokes have won 43 straight duals on the road. In the current streak 37 of the 53 teams were ranked at the time of the dual.
The Schedule - The Cowboys have one of the toughest schedule in the nation. They open the season in hostile Big 10 territory against Wisconsin and Minnesota. They also have several duals against other ranked opponents including Iowa, Oklahoma (twice), Iowa State and possible showdowns with several top opponents at the Reno Duals and the National Duals. Oklahoma State will also host the NWCA All-Star Dual February 1 in Stillwater.
Surprise, Surprise- Two Cowboy wrestlers who were not ranked in the preseason are now both ranked in the top 12 in the country. Reggie Wright is sixth and Dave Anderton is 12th. Here is a look at how the Cowboys have fared from the preseason until now.
Wrestler Preseason 12/22 Teague Moore 1 1 Eric Guerrero 1 1 Jamill Kelly 8 14 Reggie Wright NR 6 Jimmy Arias 4 6 Ty Wilcox NR NR Mark Smith 1 1 Mark Mu-oz 7 8 Pat Popolizio 10 NR Josh Cruzan NR NR Dave Anderton NR 12John Smith - The most decorated wrestler in U.S.A. history returns for his seventh season at the helm of the Cowboys. Smith has posted an 86-14-2 record as the Cowboys' skipper. He also has coached the U.S. National Team in a couple of major international events. He first coached Team USA to a gold medal at the Goodwill Games in New York this past summer. He then took the Americans to Tehran, Iran, for the World Championships where the Red, White and Blue took home a bronze. The trip to Iran was the first time in almost 20 years an American flag had flown in Iran. As a wrestler Smith won six world titles, two Olympic titles and two NCAA crowns.
Teague Moore (125) - Recorded three straight falls at the Reno Duals to be named the outstanding wrestler of the event. He won last seasons title with a fall over previously unbeaten David Morgan of Michigan State. He is a two-time All-American. He is ranked No.1 in both polls (Intermat & Amateur Wrestling News). 1999: 6-0; OSU Career 83-21; Rank 1
Eric Guerrero (133) - He has been very impressive this season. He has five technical falls on the season. His only tough match of the season came against second-ranked 125-pounder Stephan Abas of Fresno State. Two-time defending national champion. He looks to become the seventh four-time All-American in school history and the 13th three-time national-champion the history of the school. He won his national title last season with a win over Wisconsin's Eric Jetton. Comes into the season ranked No. 1 in both polls. 1999: 8-0; OSU Career 88-13; Rank 1
Jamill Kelly (141) - Is still fighting with Charles Walker for the starting nod in the Cowboys lineup. The two have split time in the early part of the season.. He did not place at the NCAA's in his first season but should this year. Lost a 5-3 decision to second-ranked Michael Lightner of Oklahoma.1999: 3-2; OSU Career 27-10; Rank 14
Charles Walker (141) - Won three matches in the Cowboys trip out west. He is still fighting for the Cowboys starting nod with Jamill Kelly. He was 2-2 in dual action last season. 1999: 8-3; OSU Career 17-10
Reggie Wright (149) - Has been very impressive in the early going and is ranked sixth in the latest poll. He began the season unranked but now looks like a viable contender for the national title in the wide open 149-pound class. He is a transfer from Lassen Junior College and comes into the season ranked 11th. Place fourth at the Espoir Worlds this past summer; he was a Espoir National Champion as well.1999: 8-0; OSU Career 8-0; Rank 6
Jimmy Arias (157) - Has had a rocky start to his senior, albeit against some tough competition. He lost a 3-1 overtime decision to No. 1 ranked Chad Kraft of Minnesota. He also lost to Larry Quiesel of Boise State and Casey Cunningham of Central Michigan, both of whom are in the top 5 in the country. He came into the season ranked third, after a seventh-place finish in the tough 150-pound weight class a year ago. Has the ability to win it all for the Pokes this season. 1999: 5-3; OSU Career 65-33; Rank 6
Ty Wilcox (165) - Was the favorite coming into the season at 165 but lost to Shawn Smith in the ranking matches.He has since regained the starting nod for the Pokes. He won three of five duals for the Pokes on the west coast trip. He is only a redshirt freshman. 1999: 6-5; OSU Career 14-6; Rank NR
Mark Smith (174) - After a slow start to the season Smith has showed his top-ranked form. He had two falls in the recent road swing and has really opened up the offense. He is the brother of OSU head coach John Smith and assistant coach Pat Smith. 1999: 8-0; OSU Career 67-18; Rank 1
Mark Mu-oz (184) - Has had a great start to his second season as a starter. In his last match he beat Mike Greenfield of Central Michigan. Lost to No. 1 Brandon Eggum in the Minnesota dual. He is ranked seventh at 184 and this could be his break-out season. 1999: 7-1; OSU Career 45-14; Rank: 8
Josh Cruzan (197) - Will be the starter in Pat Popolizio's absence. He is in his third year in the Cowboys program. He was 3-4 in dual action last season. 1999: 6-6; OSU Career 18-15 Rank NR
Dave Anderton (HWT) - He has seven falls, to lead the Pokes including falls in his last three duals. Brought the Cowboys from behind to win the Minnesota dual with a second period fall. Transfer from Ricks Junior College in Idaho. He will be one of the bigger heavyweights in the nation this year. He is a junior in eligibility. 1999 8-4; OSU Career 8-4; Rank 12
Oklahoma State's Previous Dual
Oklahoma State 31, C. Michigan 7
125- Teague Moore (OSU) pinned Davon Gray, 4:04
133-Eric Guerrero (OSU) dec. Jay Vesperman, 9-3
141-Charles Walker (OSU) dec. Shane Johnson, 6-1
149-Reggie Wright (OSU) m. dec. Greg Mayer, 9-0
157-Casey Cunningham (CMU) dec. Jimmy Arias, 3-1
165-Ty Wilcox (OSU) dec. Chris Snyder, 3-2
174-Mark Smith (OSU) dec. Ryan Cunningham, 5-3
184-Mark Mu-oz (OSU) dec. Mike Greenfield, 5-4
197-Chris Vike (CMU) m. dec. Josh Cruzan, 11-0
285-Dave Anderton (OSU) pinned Jerred Thill, 1:21
OSU-Nebraska Previous Dual
Oklahoma State 25, Nebraska 19
118-Teague Moore (OSU) pinned Paul Gomez, 1:05
126-Jeff Ragan (OSU) dec. Jeramie Welder, 10-9
134-Brad Canoyer (UN) pinned Jamill Kelly, 7:39
142-Steven Schmidt (OSU) m. dec. Allen Hankins, 15-5
150-Jimmy Arias (OSU) dec. Ryan Bauer, 6-2
158-Temoer Terry (UN) dec. Hardell Moore, 2-1 tb
167-Mark Smith (OSU) pinned Brad Cooper, 4:51
177-Mark Mu-oz (OSU) dec. Brad Vering, 4-3
190-Ryan Tobin (UN) m. dec. Pat Popolizio, 8-0
275-J.R. Plienis (UN) won by forfeit
Nebraska's Previous Dual
Nebraska 35, Cal Poly 10
125--Paul Gomez, NU maj. dec. John Garza, CPY 10-2
133--Todd Beckerman, NU dec. Andy Garza, CPY 11-5
141--Jose DeAnda, NU dec. Cedric Haymon, CPY 8-4
149--Joe Henson, NU m. dec. Jason Guitterez, CPY 13-3
157--Bryan Snyder, NU dec. Lita, CPY 6-3
165--Steve Strange, CPY maj. dec. Billy Gabel, NU 15-6
174--David Wells, CPY win by forfeit
184--Brad Vering, NU pinned Mike Perez, CPY 1:13
197--Scott Munson, NU win by forfeit
Hwt--J.R. Plienis, NU pinned Jan McGee, CPY 1:23
