Oklahoma State University Athletics
Bedlam Wrestling Squares off for 143rd time
February 14, 2002 | Cowboy Wrestling
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Oklahoma State's fourth-ranked wrestling team travels to Norman, Okla., for the 143rd edition of Bedlam wrestling on Sunday, February 17.
"It was disappointing at the National Duals, but like any season you have your peaks and valleys," head coach John Smith said. "We will have to wrestle at our best up there. They are favored at five or six weights and we are favored at four."
The Cowboys (18-3, 3-0) extended its win streak to five when they defeated No. 20 Michigan State on Feb. 9. The Cowboys recorded two technical falls and a major decision en route to a 32-6 win over the Spartans to improve the overall series record to 26-3-1.
The Sooners (16-4, 3-1) are coming off a victory over Big 12 foe Nebraska, where they recorded three pins, a major decision and a technical fall en route to a 33-12 win.
"I think early in the year when we beat them we had two upsets to beat them and I think we need to do that down there," Smith said. "I think it will be a very tight match and a lot of the matches will be determined in the third period."
Second-ranked sophomore All-American Johnny Thompson will square off with OU's third-ranked Witt Durden for the third time this year. Thompson won the first match 6-3 in Stillwater and the second match 4-2 at the NWCA All-Star duals.
The Cowboys and Sooners have squared off 142 times since the 1920-21 season. The Cowboys own a 109-24-9 overall record against OU. The Cowboys won the first meeting against the Sooners this year, 18-15, in Stillwater.
The Sooners last victory in the series came during the 1995-96 season when they defeated OSU, 19-18, in Stillwater. Since then, the Cowboys have tallied 11 victories against one tie.
The Cowboys and Sooners are slated to start at 3 p.m., at the Lloyd Nobel Center in Norman, Okla.
