Oklahoma State University Athletics
Early injuries could influence intrasquad dual
April 05, 2003 | Cowboy Wrestling
By Roger Moore - Stillwater Newspress Sports Editor
Wrestling fans will get a first look at the 2002-03 version of the Cowboys when the annual Orange-Black dual is held next Thursday at 7 p.m. inside Gallagher-Iba Arena.
Oklahoma State is ranked No. 2 by Amateur Wrestling News behind two-time defending champion Minnesota in the preseason poll. Seven of OSU's 10 projected starters are ranked six or higher as the Nov. 16 season opener against Tennessee-Chattanooga approaches.
Next week's dual will not include a few individuals due to the usual early season bumps and bruises.
"The fans want to see all of the new guys and get their first look at some of our freshman but right now we have some injuries that aren't serious but enough where we want to make sure we move them along slowly," said OSU assistant coach Mark Branch. "We will have a few holes in the dual but we are planning on having more than 10 matches. When you have injuries, a week away is a long time."
One of the projected battles this season could be at 149 pounds. El Reno senior Jerrod Sanders brings back 24 wins while redshirt freshman Kevin Ward of Soddy Daisy, Tenn., has been impressive in early workouts. Wednesday, Ward injured an elbow and will be out of action for at least a month.
Redshirt freshman 184 pounder Jake Rosholt and Edmond freshman Johny Hendricks, a 157/165 pounder, will also not be in action next week.
Joining Hendricks to form the nation's top recruiting class is Zack Esposito, a 141/149 pounder from Blair Academy, NJ. OSU coaches are keeping a close eye on Esposito's weight control and will not wrestle him at 141 until the Central Missouri Open later in November.
Last year's starter at 141, Ronnie Delk, brings back 19 wins as a rookie. He will most likely face Morrison's Clark Shouse next Thursday.
174, 197 and 285 will be watched closely with Chris Pendleton and Chad Reid going at 174, senior transfer Muhammed Lawal and Kevin Blackmon going at 197 and Willie Gruenwald and Michael Christian going at 285.
"There are obviously some weights where we will be watching closer than others," admitted Branch. "We certainly want to put the best team out there we can and as early as it is we want to make sure we keep everybody healthy so we can keep some depth in the lineup."
The Cowboys return four All-Americans; Skyler Holman, Johnny Thompson, Shane Roller and Tyrone Lewis, from last year's squad that placed fifth at the NCAA Championships.
Thompson became the school's 122nd individual champion when he beat Minnesota's Ryan Lewis in the 133-pound title bout in Albany, New York.
Holman, Roller and Lewis all advanced to the championship semifinals and lost very close bouts. Lewis came back to take third at 165, while Roller slipped to fourth at 157 and Holman to sixth at 125.
Admission to the Orange-Black dual is free.
OSU weight-by-weight
125 - Skyler Holman (Broken Arrow, senior), Derek Stevens (Norman, sophomore), Derek Fleenor (El Reno, freshman), Ethan Kyle (Charles, Mo., freshman)
133 - Johnny Thompson (Putnam City, junior), Cody Stites (Bixby, junior), Ryan Roberts (Mannford, redshirt freshman)
141 - Ronnie Delk (Collinsville, sophomore), Clark Shouse (Morrison, sophomore), Zack Esposito (Blair Academy, NJ)
149 - Jerrod Sanders (El Reno, senior), Kevin Ward (Soddy Daisy, Tenn., redshirt freshman), Zack Esposito, Kyle Shelton (Midwest City, freshman)
157 - Shane Roller (Bixby, senior), Johny Hendricks (Edmond, freshman), Eric Dabbs (Anadarko, freshman), Brett Munson (Ark City, Kan., sophomore)
165 - Tyrone Lewis (El Reno, junior), Johny Hendricks, Brett Munson
174 - Chris Pendleton (Lemore, Calif., sophomore), Chad Reid (Sallisaw, senior)
184 - Jake Rosholt (Sandpoint, Idaho, redshirt freshman)
197 - Muhammed Lawal (Plano, Texas, senior), Rusty Blackmon (Cleveland, Tenn., redshirt freshman)
285 - Willie Gruenwald (Skiatook, junior), Mike Christian (Lynwood, Wash. redshirt freshman), John Vestal (Yukon, freshman), Blake Seiler (Wichita, Kan., freshman), Derek Myers (Comanche, redshirt freshman)
