Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
NCAA National Tournament
Johnny Thompson Crowned OSU's 122nd Individual National Champion
March 23, 2002 | Cowboy Wrestling
March 23, 2002
Oklahoma State's wrestling team crowned its 122nd individual National Champion today at the 2002 National Championships at the Pepsi Arena. Four Cowboys went on to win All-America honors after placing in the top eight, with each one returning to next year's squad.
Sophomore Johnny Thompson captured his first individual national title after avenging a loss earlier in the year to Minnesota's Ryan Lewis.
"Johnny Thompson had a phenomenal effort," head coach John Smith said. "He found a way and dug deep to win the National Championship.
"When you look at the finals tonight you are seeing similar matches," Smith said. "The 133 pound match was a tough match. It was a heck of a battle and Johnny wrestled hard and found a way to score."
The Oklahoma City, Okla., native fell behind 2-1 in the second period after giving up a takedown. Thompson then reversed Lewis and put him on his back for two nearfall points to take a 5-3 lead heading into the final period. Lewis cut the lead to 5-4 after scoring an escape to start the third period. Thompson then went on to keep his one-point advantage and captured the victory.
"I was so close last year that this year made it that much better," Thompson said. "I am very excited to win it and I accomplished a goal I have had since I was little.
"I am going to enjoy this for awhile and then when it comes time to start training for next year I am going to work that much harder and try to do it again," Thompson said.
Juniors Shane Roller and Skyler Holman, and sophomores Tyrone Lewis and Johnny Thompson all earned All-America honors for the Pokes.
In the consolation semifinals, Roller and Lewis advanced to the third-place match with wins. Roller scored a takedown late in the first period before pinning Michigan's Ryan Bertin in 5:41. Lewis advanced by a medical forfeit over OU's Robbie Waller.
Lewis captured third after defeating Oregon's Eugene Harris, 8-2, while Roller finished fourth after losing to Pennsylvania's Yoshi Nakamura.
Holman recorded a sixth-place finish after falling to Ben VomBaur,3-1, in the consolation semifinals and Jason Powell, 5-4, in the fifth-place match.
The Cowboys finished the 2002 season at 19-3 with a 5-0 conference record, four All-Americans, and an individual National Champion.
Team Results (Top 5) Minnesota 132.5 Iowa State 104 Oklahoma 101.5 Iowa 89 Oklahoma State 82.5Results Finals 133: Johnny Thompson (OSU) dec. Ryan Lewis (Minn.), 5-4
Consolation semifinals 125: Ben VomBaur (Boise State) dec. Skyler Holman (OSU), 3-1 157: Shane Roller (OSU) fall Ryan Bertin (Mich), 5:41 165: Tyrone Lewis (OSU) med. forfeit Robbie Waller (OU)
Third-Place Match 157: Yoshi Nakamura (Penn) fall Shane Roller (OSU), 2:39 165: Tyrone Lewis (OSU) dec. Eugene Harris (OU), 8-2
Fifth-Place Match 125: Jason Powell (NU) dec. Skyler Holman (OSU), 5-4
