Oklahoma State University Athletics
No. 1 Cowboys Fight Off Sooners 21-16
December 13, 2004 | Cowboy Wrestling
NORMAN, Okla. – Jake Rosholt recorded a major decision to give Oklahoma State the lead, and Steve Mocco followed with a major decision of his own as the Cowboys rallied to defeat 10th-ranked Oklahoma, 21-16, in front of 2,871 fans inside the Lloyd Noble Center this afternoon.
“Jake Rosholt stepped up for us at a time when we needed a big win,” Oklahoma State head coach John Smith said. “He was set up for an upset after we lost the two previous matches. He wrestled very well.”
“Steve Mocco finished it off for us. I felt like those two guys wrestled very well for us at the end.”
Oklahoma (1-1) won the first three matches of the dual to take an early 10-0 lead over Oklahoma State (4-0).
Sam Hazewinkel started the match off for the Sooners with a major decision over OSU’s Derrick Fleenor. Joe Comparin and Teyon Ware each followed with decisions.
Oklahoma State got on track with Zack Esposito. Esposito, ranked No. 1 at 149, scored a takedown over fifth-ranked Matt Storniolo right before the end of the first period. Esposito widened the margin to 4-0 with a reversal at the start of the second period, and held on for a 5-2 decision.
Kevin Ward got the Pokes back into the dual with a major decision over OU’s Charles Jones to make it 10-7.
OSU grabbed the lead after 165 when third-ranked Johny Hendricks got Randy Sulaver in a cradle and recorded a fall in 1:41.
The lead was short lived, however, as Oklahoma came back to win the next two matches, including a shocking upset of No. 1 Chris Pendleton by E.K. Waldhaus.
The Cowboys trailed the Sooners, 16-13, with two matches remaining, but still had the No. 1 wrestlers at 197 and heavyweight.
Rosholt broke open a close match with a three point near fall over No. 11 Joel Flaggert, in the second period. Rosholt got another takedown at the beginning of the third period and came away with a 14-4 major decision to give the Cowboys the lead.
Mocco sealed the match with another major decision as he controlled 16th-ranked Jake Hager from the beginning and won 13-2.
“I was looking for a fall,” heavyweight Steve Mocco said. “I wanted to score points for my team. That was what I was going to do no matter what the team score was, look for a fall and team points.”
Oklahoma State head coach John Smith expressed extreme disappointment in the effort that his team displayed this afternoon.
“I felt like we did the minimum tonight,” Smith said. “ We were very fortunate to win. I am not real pleased with the overall effort tonight, but you have to give credit to Oklahoma.”
The Cowboys will prepare for the Reno Tournament of Champions on Dec. 19 and a pair of duals on Dec. 22 against Cal Poly and Fresno State.
No. 1 Oklahoma State 21, No. 10 Oklahoma 16
125- Sam Hazewinkel (OU) Maj. Dec. Derrick Fleenor (OSU), 13-3
133- Joe Comparin (OU) Dec. Justin Porter (OSU), 4-2
141- Teyon Ware (OU) Dec. Ronnie Delk (OSU), 9-6
149- Zack Esposito (OSU) Dec. Matt Storniolo (OU), 5-2
157- Kevin Ward (OSU) Maj. Dec. Charles Jones (OU), 13-2
165- Johny Hendricks (OSU) Fall Randy Sulaver (OU), 1:41
174- E.K. Waldhaus (OU) Dec. Chris Pendleton (OSU), 11-10
184- Justin Dyer (OU) Dec. Clay Kehrer (OSU), 10-7
197- Jake Rosholt (OSU) Maj. Dec. Joel Flaggert (OU), 14-4
285- Steve Mocco (OSU) Maj. Dec. Jake Hager (OU), 13-2
