Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboy Wrestling Drops Michigan State, 27-9
April 10, 2003 | Cowboy Wrestling
"I thought there were a couple of matches we weren't ready to battle," Head Coach John Smith said. "We probably didn't give enough individual respect for a tough match. Regardless of their credentials, it was a tough match."
Shane Roller and Muhammed Lawal wrestled in their las home match as a Cowboy, each picking up decisions. Roller picked up an 8-5 decision over MSU's sixth-ranked Gray Maynard, while Lawal decisioned seventh-ranked Nik Fekete, 5-3.
The Bixby, Okla. native scored an early takedown only to see Maynard tie the score after recording a reversal. Roller then notched a reversal of his own to take a 4-2 lead, which he would not relinquish. He went on to score two more reversal in picking up the win and moving his record to 23-3. The win also gave him his 99th victory as a Cowboy.
"We came out ready to fight," Roller said. "We did what we had to do to get the mast out of the matches. We have done everything we have wanted to so far. We just have to take that next step and pick up a Big 12 and NCAA title."
Lawal took an early takedown to grab a 2-1 lead heading into the second period. The Plano, Texas, native escaped Fekete in the second to extend his lead to 3-1. Fekete cut the lead to 3-2 after picking up an escape of his own. But that would be the closest he would get, as Lawal recorded another takedown before picking up the victory.
"We had a hard week of practice," Lawal said. It was especially hard for me and Jake (Rosholt) because we did not wrestle last week. I need to wrestle every week to get in a rhythm. "
Zack Esposito and Tyrone Lewis picked up falls for the Pokes at 141 and 165 pounds, respectively.
Esposito recorded three takedown before using a lateral drop to pin L'Amoreaux in 6:07, while Lewis only needed 1:08 to notch the fall.
"I have mixed emotions, but I'm glad we got this match in," Smith said. "I think it was one that we needed, and I feel like it will be a benefit to us heading into the Big 12 tournament."
The Spartans picked up decisions at 125, 149 and heavyweight.
Nick Simmons used a reversal and two two-point nearfalls en route to a 7-6 decision over Skyler Holman, while Karl Nadolsky escaped an early scare by Ronnie Delk to record the 9-6 decision.
A takedown was the difference at heavyweight, as John Wechter prevailed with a 3-2 victory over Willie Gruenwald.
The Cowboys return to action on March 8 as they travel to Columbia, Mo., to compete at the Big 12 Championships.
Results
OSU 27 MSU 9
125- Nick Simmons (MSU) dec. Skyler Holman (OSU), 7-6 133- Johnny Thompson (OSU) dec. Shane Martin (MSU), 9-3 141- Zack Esposito (OSU) fall Ryan L'Amoreaux (MSU), 6:07 149- Karl Nadolsky (MSU) dec. Ronnie Delk (OSU), 9-6 157- Shane Roller (OSU) dec. Gray Maynard (MSU), 8-5 165- Tyrone Lewis (OSU) fall Arsen Aleksasyan (MSU), 1:08 174- Chris Pendleton (OSU) dec. Rashad Evans (MSU), 4-4 TB 184- Jake Rosholt (OSU) dec. Nate Mesyn (MSU), 10-6 197- Muhammed Lawal (OSU) dec. Nik Fekete (MSU), 5-3 285-John Wechter (MSU) dec. Willie Gruenwald (OSU), 3-2
