Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Throttle Tigers, 34-6
April 10, 2003 | Cowboy Wrestling
Freshman Zack Esposito electrified Gallagher-Iba Arena as he came roaring back from a 5-1 deficit to pin eighth-ranked J.P. Reese in 4:38.
After falling behind 5-1 early in the first period, Esposito came roaring back, using a takedown and a three-point nearfall to take a 6-5 lead, while almost pinning Reese before time ran out in the first period.
The Three Bridges, N.J., native started on top to begin the second period and would flip Reese on his shoulders to record the fall.
"Those are the kind of matches that test you and even builds your confidence," head coach John Smith said. "When you go out and have something drastic happen to you and then recover from it, you feel good about yourself. He (J.P. Reese) is a very good individual and I think Zack too away an hope when he got off his back."
The Cowboys (2-0, 1-0) notched the first team points when senior All-American Skyler Holman used a takedown and a reversal to notch the 5-3 decision over Mark Bader.
"Overall as a team, there were some good points and some bad points," Smith said. "But when you beat a team 34-6 that is a good job. I was a little disappointed with some of our third-period takedowns."
Junior Cody Stites used three takedowns to record the 8-5 victory over Austin DeVou to extend the Cowboy lead to 6-0.
"I was glad to see him get out there and get an opportunity to win," Smith said. "He has taken a lot of time and worked extremely hard and he was definitely our first choice when we decided Johnny (Thompson) couldn't go."
OSU would receive a forfeit win at 149 pounds to make it 18-0, and Shane Roller's 4-2 win in sudden victory would extend the lead to 21-0
Junior All-American Tyrone Lewis wrestled his way to a major decision over sixth-ranked Tyrone Woodley. The El Reno, Okla., native recorded three takedowns in the first period to take a 6-2 lead heading into the second period.
Lewis would record two more takedowns to notch the 12-4 victory over Woodley.
Redshirt sophomore Chris Pendleton recorded three takedowns before pinning Matt Turner in 5:49 to give the Cowboys a 31-0 lead.
Missouri's redshirt freshman Jeff Foust captured the first team points for the Tigers after knocking off No. 10 Jake Rosholt, 7-4.
The Tigers would add their final points as No. 18 Kevin Herron decisioned No. 20 Willie Gruenwald, 4-2.
The Cowboys return to action on Dec. 8 as they travel to Norman, Okla., to take on the fourth-ranked Oklahoma Sooners.
Results
OSU- 34 MU- 6
125 Skyler Holman (OSU) dec. Mark Bader (MU); 5-3 133 Cody Stites (OSU) dec. Austin DeVou (MU); 8-5 141 Zack Esposito (OSU) fall J.P. Reese (MU); 4:38 149 Jerrod Sanders (OSU) win by forfeit Jeremy Spates (MU) 157 Shane Roller (OSU) dec. Kenny Burleson (MU); 4-2 s.v. 165 Tyrone Lewis (OSU) maj. dec. Tyrone Woodley (MU);12-4 174 Chris Pendleton fall Matt Turner (MU); 5:49 184 Jeff Foust (MU) dec. Jake Rosholt; 7-4 197 Muhammed Lawal (OSU) dec. Dante Stone (MU); 6-4 285 Kevin Herron (MU) dec. Willie Gruenwald (OSU); 4-2
