Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys host 2001 Big 12 Wrestling Championships
March 01, 2001 | Cowboy Wrestling
March 1, 2001
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Projected Cyclones' Lineup
125 Jacob Moore (1-19)
133 #8 Matt Azevedo (27-8)
141 #10 Zach Roberson (20-12)
149 Billy Maldonado (19-9)
157 #7 Cole Sanderson (29-5)
165 #2 Joe Heskett (30-3)
174 #8 Perry Parks (28-7)
184 #1 Cael Sanderson (33-0)
197 #2 Zach Thompson (27-4)
285 Mark Knauer (19-10)
Projected Tigers' Lineup
125 #16 Justin Spates (21-8)
133 Jesse West (15-14)
141 J.P. Reese (15-10)
149 Kenny Burleson (22-8)
157 Jesse Jordan (13-11)
165 Mark Vollmar (15-22)
174 #10 John Kopnisky (27-4)
184 Ry Stone (14-14)
197 Dante Stone (15-12)
285 Scott Barker (14-8)
rojected Huskers' Lineup
125 #6 Jason Powell (17-6)
133 #3 Todd Beckerman (20-3)
141 Dusty Spaulding (12-12)
149 Travis Baker (15-15)
157 #2 Bryan Snyder (22-1)
165 Tony Denke (4-4)
174 #12 Ati Conner (11-10)
184 Matt Fletcher (9-14)
197 #1 Brad Vering (22-2)
285 Pat Miron (14-18)
Projected Sooners' lineup
125 #12 Matt Ridings (22-4)
133 #18 Witt Durden (25-12)
141 #2 Michael Lightner (28-0)
149 #9 Jared Frayer (32-4)
157 Brian Burrows (10-6)
165 #5 Robbie Waller (26-4)
174 #9 Michael Bager (25-8)
184 Josh Lambrecht (13-12)
197 #11 Waymon May (27-9)
285 #11 Leonce Crump (25-9)
Projected Cowboys' Lineup
125 #9 Matt Brown (18-9)
133 #2 Johnny Thompson (26-2)
141 #8 Charles Walker (16-6)
149 #1 Reggie Wright (26-0)
157 #16 Shane Roller (11-10)
165 Chris Pendleton (13-3)
174 #6 Tyrone Lewis (24-4)
184 #3 Daniel Cormier (22-3)
197 #3 Mark Mu?oz (19-5)
285 #14 James Huml (18-9)
A look at the 2000-01 Cowboys
The 2000-01 edition of Oklahoma State Wrestling has once again turned in an outstanding season. The Pokes head into the fifth Big 12 Championships with a 17-1 record and ranked second in the nation. OSU ran the table in the Big 12 Conference this season going 6-0, claiming two wins over both the Sooners and Cyclones. OSU started the year with a 21-14 win over then-No. 1 Iowa in Oklahoma City. The win vaulted the Cowboys to the top of the NWCA Coaches' Poll. Oklahoma State solidified that spot with a win over Oklahoma in Norman and a 25-12 win over No. 2-ranked Minnesota in Minneapolis. The Golden Gophers exacted revenge in the finals of the National Duals, picking up a 20-12 win. OSU closed the season with wins over Northern Iowa, Iowa State, Nebraska, Oregon State and Oklahoma.
The Big 12 Championships
The Big 12 Championships roll into Stillwater for the first time. The newly renovated Gallagher-Iba Arena will play host to four teams ranked in the top-10 in this week's AWN poll. Second-ranked Oklahoma State, fifth-ranked Iowa State, sixth-ranked Oklahoma, ninth-ranked Nebraska and Missouri will fight it out for Big 12 bragging rights on Saturday at 2 p.m. The Championships start at 6 p.m. on Friday with the pigtail round with the semifinals starting at 7 p.m. The tournament starts up again on Saturday at 10 a.m. with the consolation semifinals and consolation finals. The finals begin at 2 p.m.
Head coach John Smith
In his ninth season on the OSU bench, John Smith owns a career record of 138-20-3.
A win today will tie Smith with Edward C. Gallagher for third on OSU's all-time coaching wins list with 138. Smith's Cowboys claimed the national title in 1994 and have captured five conference championships during his tenure, including the Big 12 title last season. Smith also wrestled for the Cowboys from 1984-88, posting a 154-7-2 record and capturing two national championships. On the international stage, Smith won Olympic Freestyle Gold in 1988 and 1992 along with World Championships in 1987, 1989, 1990 and 1991. In 1990, Smith was honored as the only wrestler ever to win the James E. Sullivan Award, honoring the nation's top amateur athlete for the previous year.
Big 12s set for Television
The Cowboy Television Network and Fox Sports Chicago, in cooperation with Learfield Communications and Cox Communication, has picked up the 2001 Big 12 Championships. Larry Nugent will do the play-by-play with former OSU NCAA Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist, Kendall Cross, on color. The match will be carried live on the Cowboy Sports Network. Fox Sports Chicago has also picked up the championships and run them on March 11, at 2 p.m.
Head-to-head
Here is a breakdown of how current Cowboy starters have fared against their Big 12 rivals.
125: Matt Brown vs.
Jacob Moore (ISU), Brown leads, 2-0
Justin Spates (MU), Spates leads, 1-0
Jason Powell (NU), Brown leads, 1-0
Matt Ridings (OU), Ridings leads, 4-1
133: Johnny Thompson vs.
Matt Azevedo (ISU), Thompson leads, 2-0
Jesse West (MU), First meeting
Todd Beckerman (NU), Tied, 1-1
Witt Durden (OU), Thompson leads, 2-0
141: Charles Walker vs.
Zach Roberson (ISU), Walker leads, 1-0
J.P. Reese (MU), First meeting
Dusty Spaulding (NU), Walker leads, 1-0
Michael Lightner (OU), Lightner leads, 4-0
149: Reggie Wright vs. Billy Maldonado (ISU), Wright leads, 2-0
Kenny Burleson (MU), Wright leads, 1-0
Travis Baker (NU), Wright leads, 1-0
Jared Frayer (OU), Wright leads, 9-0
157: Shane Roller vs.
Cole Sanderson (ISU), Sanderson leads, 3-0
Jesse Jordan (MU), Roller leads, 2-0
Bryan Snyder (NU), Snyder leads, 3-0
Brian Burrows (OU), First Meeting
165: Chris Pendleton vs.
Joe Heskett (ISU), Heskett leads, 1-0
Mark Vollmar (MU), First meeting
Tony Denke (NU), Penletion leads, 1-0
Robbie Waller (OU), Waller leads, 1-0
174: Tyrone Lewis vs.
Perry Parks (ISU), Lewis leads, 2-0
John Kopnisky (MU), Kopnisky leads, 1-0
Ati Conner (NU), Lewis leads, 1-0
Michael Barger (OU), Lewis leads, 2-1
184: Daniel Cormier vs.
Cael Sanderson (ISU), Sanderson leads, 4-0
Ry Stone (MU), First meeting
Matt Fletcher (NU), First meeting
Josh Lambrecht, Cormier leads, 2-0
197: Mark Mu?oz vs.
Zach Thompson (ISU), Thompson leads, 4-0
Dante Stone (MU), Mu?oz leads, 1-0
Brad Vering (NU), Mu?oz leads, 6-4
Waymon May (OU), Mu?oz leads 3-0v
285: James Huml vs.
Mark Knauer (ISU), Huml leads, 2-0
Scott Barker (MU), First meeting
Pat Miron (NU), Huml leads, 1-0
Leonce Crump (OU), Crump leads 2-0
Last time out
The second-ranked Cowboys dismantled the sixth-ranked Sooners, 24-12, in front of 10,802 fans at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Daniel Cormier and Shane Roller picked up falls at 184 and 157 pounds, respectively. OSU also won 133, 149, 174 and 197-pound weight classes.
True freshman takes over at 165 pounds
True freshman Chris Pendleton, a native of Lemoore, Calif., has taken over the starting spot at 165 pounds due to the loss of junior Ty Wilcox. Wilcox suffered a tear of his ACL and partial tear of his MCL against Joe Heskett of Iowa State at the National Duals. Since joining the lineup, Pendleton has posted a 2-3 record in duals, he is 13-3 overall. In his debut at Gallagher-Iba Arena, Pendleton pinned Oregon State's Jed Penell in 1:17. He narrowly lost a 4-2 decision to OU's Robbie Waller, just missing a late third-period takedown.
Thompson tearing it up at 133 pounds
Oklahoma State redshirt freshman Johnny Thompson (26-2) is making the country take notice. The Putnam City West product is ranked second in this week's AWN poll, behind Iowa's defending national champion Eric Juergens. He will face another challenge on Saturday against fourth-ranked Todd Beckerman. Thompson owns a 1-0 career record against Beckerman, picking up a 3-2 decision. He won the starting job from senior Charles Walker, who defeated Juergens earlier in the year. Thompson defeated Minnesota's second-ranked Brett Lawrence, 4-1, at the National Duals. However, Thompson lost his first ever match at 133 pounds last Saturday, when fourth-ranked Todd Beckerman of Nebraska caught Thompson and pinned him in 1:17.
Tyrone Lewis gets hot
Redshirt freshman Tyrone Lewis is beginning to show why he is considered one of the top freshman in the country. Now 24-4, his 14-match winning streak was broken against Northern Iowa's Eric Brown. During that stretch he pinned 5 opponents and picked up a 21-6 technical fall in the another. Lewis has posted 10 pins and two technical falls on the season. Lewis also avenged an early season loss to Michael Barger in the final Bedlam battle of the season.
Cormier in top form
OSU's 184-pound senior Daniel Cormier continues a strong season. Now 22-3, Cormier is ranked third at 184 pounds behind two-time national champion and undefeated Cael Sanderson of Iowa State and Illinois' Nate Patrick. Cormier may have turned in his most impressive performance against second-ranked Minnesota, picking up a 19-7 major decision over fourth-ranked Damion Hahn. Cormier took the highly-touted redshirt freshman down seven times and just missed a pin at the end of the second period.
Cowboys second according to NWCA
OSU remained second in the National Wrestling Coaches Association poll for the second-straight week. OSU received 312 votes, falling to second, while Minnesota received all 13 first-place votes and 325 votes took over the top spot. Minnesota beat the Pokes in 20-12 in the finals of the National Duals, the win gave the Gophers a split with OSU in the season series. Iowa comes in third this week, while Iowa State is fourth. Minnesota is also ranked atop the Intermat poll following their win.
New addition
Head coach John Smith's wife Toni gave birth to their third child on the morning of Jan. 2 at 1:55 a.m. Cecelia Rene Smith weighed in at six pounds and 11 ounces, she was the first baby born in the new year at Stillwater Medical Center. Cecelia is the Smiths' third child, Joseph is now four and Isabella was born in March of 1999.
Mu?oz gets win No. 100
Oklahoma State senior 197-pounder Mark Mu?oz recorded his 100th career win with a 3-2 decision over OU's Waymon May on Dec. 10th. Mu?oz has improved his career record to 114-31 along with a 19-5 mark this season. Mu?oz's 114 wins moves him into a tie for 11th place on OSU's career victories chart with Lee Roy Smith. He is 15 wins away from Alan Fried and Mike Farrell for second and 40 victories short of Cowboy head coach John Smith for first.
Bonus Points
Bonus points are the key to many dual wins. Major decisions, technical falls and pins are key in deciding those tight duals. The following are OSU's bonus point leaders for the 2000-01 season.
Wrestlers Percentage
Daniel Cormier (184) 68% (17/25)
Chris Pendleton (165) 56% (9/16)
Reggie Wright (149) 54% (14/26)
Tyrone Lewis (174) 54% (15/28)
Mark Mu?oz (197) 46% (11/24)
Johnny Thompson (133) 43% (12/28)
James Huml (285) 33% (9/27)
Charles Walker (133) 27% (6/22)
Shane Roller (157) 24% (5/21)
Matt Brown (125) 19% (5/27)
Gallagher-Iba Arena opening
The Cowboy wrestling team christened the OSU Athletic Center, home of Gallagher-Iba Arena, with a 33-3 thrashing of the 16th-ranked Oregon Ducks. Senior All-American Reggie Wright picked up the first win in OSU's new digs with a 15-8 decision of Tony Overstake. The first pin came at 174 pounds, redshirt freshman Tyrone Lewis stuck Oregon's Luke Larwin in 1:03. The evening's estimated attendance of 3,047 was the largest crowd for an OSU dual this season.
OSU finishes second at National Duals
OSU's 2001 National Duals started with 18th-ranked Lehigh. The Mountain Hawks posted an upset at 197 pounds, where then-No. 4 Jon Trenge beat Mark Mu?oz 11-9 in overtime. However, in the end, the Cowboys overwhelmed Lehigh 26-12. In the quarterfinals, OSU drew Arizona State, and proceeded to whip the 10th-ranked Sun Devils, 26-12. The Pokes blew the fourth-ranked Iowa State Cyclones into the consolation bracket, 25-13, in the semifinals. In the finals, Minnesota exacted a little revenge on OSU with a 20-12 win and its second National Duals title.
Cowboys bag sixth-straight Reno title
The Cowboys dominated en route to their sixth-straight Reno Tournament of Champions title. The Pokes scored 192.5 points and crowned six individual champions. Arizona State finished second with 120.5 points and two titlest. Matt Brown (125), Johnny Thompson (133), Jerrod Sanders (141), Reggie Wright (149), Tyrone Lewis (174) and Daniel Cormier (184) finished first, while Ty Wilcox lost a heartbreaker, 6-5, to ASU's third-ranked Steve Blackford.
OSU tradition
It ranks right up there with Notre Dame football or UCLA basketball. Few schools in the nation have a tradition in any sport as strong as the one Oklahoma State has built in wrestling. OSU won the first NCAA wrestling championship in 1928 and has won a total of 30 -- more than any other school in the country. The Cowboys all-time record is 842-87-20 (.898) in 81 years of varsity wrestling. The Pokes claimed six Southwest Conference title, 25 of a possible 38 Big Eight titles and three of four Big 12 titles. Seventy-four Oklahoma State wrestlers have won 120 individual NCAA Champions, including the only four-time NCAA Champion Pat Smith.
On the air
Oklahoma State Cowboy wrestling will once again be carried live by Stillwater Radio Y-105.5 FM. J. Carl Guymon will be the play-by-play voice of the Cowboys in 2000-01. Chris Gambrel will handle the color for the Big 12 Championships. Fans unable to pick up the over-the-air broadcast will be able to listen to the games via the internet at www.okstate.com. You can also catch the John Smith Show on KSPI 93.7 FM every Monday night at 6 p.m. A live webcast can be found on the web at www.wrestlingmall.com.
