Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
Big 12 Championships
Cowboys win fourth Big 12 Wrestling title
March 03, 2001 | Cowboy Wrestling
March 3, 2001
STILLWATER, Okla. -- For the second-straight year the Oklahoma State Cowboys laid claim to the Big 12 Wrestling title, this time in front of 5,289 fans in the friendly confines of Gallagher-Iba Arena.
The conference title, number 41 in the history of OSU Wrestling, was the fourth in five years for the Pokes.
The second-ranked Pokes crowned four individual titlests and racked up 85 team points in winning the title. Oklahoma followed in second with 68 team points while Iowa State was a close third with 67.5. Nebraska and Missouri followed in fourth and fifth with 50 and 10.5 points, respectively.
"We knew that the first round was going to be the key, and getting through that was very important," said OSU head coach John Smith. "We did a good job getting seven wrestlers into the finals. Today, we executed well and wrestled hard. A lot of good things happened with guys like Tyrone Lewis and Mark Mu?oz. It was important to have a good weekend heading into nationals."
OSU's 197-pounder Mark Mu?oz lead the way for the Pokes, winning his second-straight conference title and earning Outstanding Wrestlers honors.
The third-ranked Mu?oz knocked of his nemesis and second-ranked Zach Thompson in the semifinals on Friday, before disposing of top-ranked Brad Vering, 5-3, in the finals.
"There is no question like he appeared like he wanted it the most, and he was in some tough situations with Vering (Brad)," said Smith. He did one very good thing, and that was getting that escape at the end of the first period. Instead of the takedown letting the air out of this tank, he went ahead and got the escape. It (the escape) ended up turning the momentum in his direction. It was a fine example of never quitting."
The unbeaten Cael Sanderson continued his winning ways, capturing his third Big 12 title. Sanderson decisioned Oklahoma State's third-ranked Daniel Cormier 8-3 in the finals.
At 141 pounds, OU's second-ranked Michael Lightner won his fourth Big 12 title. He posted a solid 8-4 decision over OSU's eighth-ranked Charles Walker. OU's other title came at heavyweight, where Leonce Crump won a hard-fought 3-2 decision over James Huml of OSU.
Two redshirt freshman brought home titles for the Pokes this weekend as well. Johnny Thompson, the Cowboys 133-pounder decisioned Nebraska's third-ranked Todd Beckerman, 3-2, while at 174 pounds, Tyrone Lewis pinned ISU's eighth-ranked Perry Parks in 1:28.
Nebraska put two atop the podium starting at 125 pounds where Jason Powell beat OU's Matt Ridings, 5-1. At 157 pounds, the Huskers' Bryan Snyder won his third Big 12 title with a 9-5 win over the Cyclones' Cole Sanderson.
OSU also crowned a three-time champion at 149 pounds in Reggie Wright. He earned that honor with a 3-0 win over Oklahoma's Jared Frayer.
Oklahoma State led the way with qualifiers for the NCAA Championships on March 15-17 with 10. Oklahoma and Iowa State both will both send nine to Iowa City, Iowa. The Nebraska Cornhusker qualified six, while Missouri sends 125-pounder Justin Spates and 174-pounder John Kopnisky.
Team Scoring:
1. Oklahoma State, 85 points
2. Oklahoma, 68
3. Iowa State, 67.5
4. Nebraska, 50
5. Missouri, 10.5
Championship Finals
125: Jason Powell (NU) dec. Matt Ridings (OU), 5-1
133: Johnny Thompson (OSU) dec. Todd Beckerman (NU), 3-2
141: Michael Lightner (OU) dec. Charles Walker (OSU), 8-4
149: Reggie Wright (OSU) dec. Jared Frayer (OU), 3-0
157: Bryan Snyder (NU) dec. Cole Sanderson (ISU), 9-5
165: Joe Heskett (ISU) dec. Robbie Waller (OU), 5-1
174: Tyrone Lewis (OSU) pins Perry Parks (ISU), 1:29
184: Cael Sanderson (ISU) dec. Daniel Cormier (OSU), 8-3
197: Mark Mu?oz (OSU) dec. Brad Vering (NU), 5-3
285: Leonce Crump (OU) dec. James Huml (OSU), 3-2
