Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Prepare For National Championships
March 14, 2000 | Cowboy Wrestling
March 14, 2000
ST. LOUIS, Mo. - With 30 national championship trophies already in the trophy case, Oklahoma State's fourth-ranked wrestling team ventures to St. Louis, Mo., to begin its quest for No. 31 Thursday morning at St. Louis' Kiel Center.
John Smith's Cowboys went 12-5-1 during the 1999-2000 dual campaign and won all three tournaments, including the Las Vegas Invitational, Reno Tournament of Champions and the Big 12 Championships.
OSU enters this weekend's NCAA Championships with three wrestlers ranked in the top three in their weight class.
Mark Mu-oz (31-3), OSU 197-pounder, leads the way for the Pokes. His 3-1 overtime win over Nebraska's Brad Vering in the Big 12s earned him Amateur Wresting News' No. 1 ranking and a possible No. 1 seed.
OSU's only returning All-American, 149-pounder Reggie Wright (33-2), is ranked third and owns a win over top-ranked Tony Davis of Northern Iowa. Wright has also been beaten by Illinois' No. 2 Adam Tirapelle.
At 184 pounds, OSU's Daniel Cormier came out of redshirt in mid-January and has vaulted to No. 3 with 24-3 record, two of his losses were to Iowa State's top-ranked and undefeated Cael Sanderson.
The Pokes will also have four other wrestlers seeded in the top seven. Jeff Ragan should receive a six seed at 125 pounds, while 133-pounder Charles Walker will most likely be a seven seed. Jamill Kelly looks to be seeded fifth at 141-pounds, while Ty Wilcox will be a six seed at 165 pounds.
The top-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes are favored to win their sixth-straight NCAA title with as many a five projected finalist. Iowa State, runner-up at the Big 12s, will also make a run at the title with the likes of top-seeds Joe Heskett (165) and Cael Sanderson (184). Minnesota, with its mammoth 285-pounder Brock Lesnar, will also be in the team race come Saturday night.
In the end it looks to be a four team race with the Cowboys in the middle once again.
125: #6 Jeff Ragan, 27-9 133: #7 Charles Walker, 30-6 141: #5 Jamill Kelly, 27-6 149: #3 Reggie Wright, 33-2 157: #17 Shane Roller, 24-17 165: #6 Ty Wilcox, 29-6 174: Tony Gansen, 24-14 184: #3 Daniel Cormier, 24-3 197: #1 Mark Mu-oz, 31-3 285: #16 Dave Anderton, 23-11
