Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboy Wrestling Hosts Spartans
February 27, 2003 | Cowboy Wrestling
Feb. 27, 2003
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Cowboys Host Spartans
Oklahoma State's wrestling team will look for its fourth consecutive win over Michigan State, and move the series mark to 32-3 overall, Friday inside Gallagher-Iba. The dual is the of the season, and the last for four seniors.
OSU and MSU have met 30 times previously, with the Pokes owning a 26-3-1 all-time mark. The Cowboys won the last meeting, 31-3, in Fowlerville, Mich. MSU's last win came during the 1999-00 season when it defeated the Cowboys, 21-10, in East Lansing.
On Michigan State
The No. 10 Michigan State wrestling team (10-6, 6-2 Big Ten) split two tough road matches last weekend to finish tied for third in the Big Ten dual standings, the best since 1995-96. The Spartans handled No. 16 Purdue, 23-9, on Friday, Feb. 21, but lost a heartbreaker at No. 8 Illinois, 17-16, on Sunday, Feb. 23. Iowa and Minnesota each finished the Big Ten slate with a 7-1 mark.
Tom Minkel is in his 12th season at the helm of Spartan wrestling. MSU returns All-American Gray Maynard to a team that placed 34th at last year's NCAA tournament.
Last Time Out
Oklahoma State's wrestling team moved to 5-0 in conference duals after blistering Oklahoma Sunday afternoon in front of 8,606 fans.
The Cowboys, now 16-0, won nine of the 10 bouts en route to a 38-3 whipping of the Sooners. OU dropped to 12-8 on the year and 1-4 in conference.
Chris Pendleton began the scoring spree for the Cowboys, opening the dual with a 5-3 decision over Robbie Waller. The win marked the third win over Waller this season.
OU forfeited 184 and 197 pounds to increase the Cowboy lead to 15-0.
Skyler Holman notched his first top 20 victory this season by defeating nemesis Bo Maynes, 3-1. Holman and Maynes were knotted at 1-1 after each wrestler recorded an escape.
With :14 left in the third period, Holman recorded a takedown to grab the win.
Johnny Thompson blitzed Daniel Caruthers, using six takedowns and a two-point nearfall en route to a 16-4 major decision.
The Cowboys, who had a 27-1 takedown advantage over OU, took a 25-0 lead heading into the intermission.
Tyrone Lewis notched the dual's only fall. Lewis stormed out to a 8-3 at the end of the first period after notching four takedowns.
The El Reno, Okla., native didn't let up as he recorded four takedowns in the second period to increase his lead to 16-7.
Lewis notched his ninth takedown of the match before turning Roberts over to record the pin at 6:01.
Four Seniors Say 'Good Bye'
The dual against Michigan State will mark the last dual for four Cowboys. Skyler Holman, Jerrod Sanders, Shane Roller and Muhammed Lawal will all end their home collegiate careers Friday night.
Holman is coming off a 3-1 decision over then sixth-ranked Bo Maynes, and is slated to wrestle fifth-ranked Nick Simmons. The Broken Arrow, Okla., native earned All-America honors after placing sixth at the NCAA Championships last year. He also captured a Big 12 title after defeating Missouri's Mark Bader, 6-1, and OU's Matt Ridings, 6-4. Holman transfered to OSU from North Carolina where he captured an ACC Championship.
Sanders has notched a 19-3 record this year, and has wrestled his way to a top five ranking. He has remained perfect in conference, and has posted 12 wins against two losses in dual action. The El Reno, Okla., native notched a 24-12 record last year, and started the season winning 12 of his first 13 matches. His only setback during that time came against the eventual NCAA Champion Jared Lawrence.
Shane Roller enters the last stretch of his college career with two things on his mind, a Big 12 title and an NCAA Championship. Roller has won his last seven matches and will wrestle his last home match against sixth-ranked Gray Maynard. Roller posted his third 20-win season this year, and has wrestled in all 16 duals. The Bixby, Okla., native has posted 98 career wins and will look to crack the century mark in the Big 12 tournament.
Muhammed Lawal transfered to OSU from Division II powerhouse Central Oklahoma, where he won the Division II title last year at 197 pounds. Lawal has wrestled his way to a 22-3 record this year. He is 14-1 in duals and is first on the team with 77 takedowns in duals. The Plano, Texas, native has a Big 12 title and an NCAA title in his sights.
All four seniors will look to wrestle on the raised stage at this year's NCAA tournament. Sanders, Roller and Lawal will look for their first Big 12 title, while all four will be competiting for the coveted NCAA crown. These seniors will play a vital role in Oklahoma State's goal to win its 31st team championship.
Cowboy Wrestling Dominates Opponents
John Smith's wrestling team dominated its opponents this year, outscoring them 481-140. Ten times this year, the Cowboys have held their opponents to single digits. Bedlam-rival Oklahoma came within seven points of OSU, but the Cowboys were without the help of two All-Americans, including defending National Champion Johnny Thompson.
Three times the Cowboys defeated teams by 35 points, and eight times they defeated teams by 25 points or more.
OSU rolled over some of the nation's toughes teams. The Cowboys traveled to Minnesota and defeated the third-ranked Gophers, 26-6, and defeated second-ranked Iowa, 24-15, in Stillwater.
Holman Notches first Top-20 win of season
This season has seen its ups and downs for senior Skyler Holman. Before his win last weekend, he went the entire year without a win over a ranked opponent.
Before last week's dual, Holman was drilling with teammate Johnny Thompson. He took a shot on Thompson and hit his nose on his ankle, breaking it.
Holman went on to wrestle his nemesis, Bo Maynes,but was forced to wear a mask. Holman used a takedown with :14 left to record the 3-1 victory, giving him his first career win over Maynes.
