Oklahoma State University Athletics
Wrestlers Compete for Spot on the World Team
June 15, 2005 | Cowboy Wrestling
NCAA champions are automatic qualifiers for the trials, and the Cowboys had five champions this past spring. Jake Rosholt is the only champion not competing because he is rehabbing from knee surgery.
Zack Esposito, Johny Hendricks, Chris Pendleton and Steve Mocco will all look for a spot on the world team by finishing in the top three in their weight class. Only the champion at the trials will represent the United States at the World Championships this fall.
Mocco finished second at the U.S. Senior Nationals and is currently ranked second at 120 kg (264.5 lbs.).
Also representing Oklahoma State will be club team members Johnny Thompson, Muhammed Lawal and Daniel Cormier. Thompson qualified for the trials by finishing seventh at nationals. Lawal and Cormier both won national championships and will face the winner of the challenge bracket for the right to go to the World Championships. Lawal and Cormier are both the favorites of their weight classes ranked No. 1 at 84 kg (185 lbs.) and 96 kg (211.5 lbs.), respectively.
The World Championships will be held in Budapest, Hungary in September.
