Oklahoma State University Athletics
Orange and Black Ranking Matches Set For Nov. 8
October 30, 2007 | Cowboy Wrestling
Oklahoma State wrestling's Orange and Black ranking matches are set for 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 8 at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Admission is free to all fans.
The 34-time NCAA champion Cowboys enter the 2007-08 season ranked in the top five in every major preseason publication but have several spots in the lineup that are open for competition within the team, and the Orange and Black ranking matches will be a pivotal event for many Cowboy wrestlers.
OSU appears to be set at 133 pounds with three-time All-American Coleman Scott ranked No. 1 in the nation by every major preseason publication. Two-time All-American and three-time Big 12 champion Nathan Morgan should contend for an individual national title at 141 pounds, with 2007 All-American Brandon Mason holding down the spot at 174 pounds. 2007 NCAA qualifier Jared Rosholt will start at heavyweight, but beyond those four spots, the Cowboys are wide open.
Perhaps one of the most interesting weights to watch will be 157 pounds, where redshirt freshman Neil Erisman is a very strong candidate to move into the lineup after compiling an 11-3 record competing exclusively in open tournaments a year ago. To get into the lineup, Erisman will have to get past 2007 NCAA qualifier Newly McSpadden.
With All-American Johny Hendricks no longer in the lineup at 165, coach John Smith will be looking for a strong replacement and has solid candidates in Kevin Wainscott, who took fourth at the Reno Tournament of Champions a year ago, Sam Lewnes, junior college transfer Kyle Griffin and two-time NAIA champion and three-time NAIA finalist Jake Dieffenbach, who suits up for OSU this year after graduating from Lindenwood University with a year of eligibility remaining.
Another interesting weight class to watch will be at 184 pounds, where returning NCAA qualifier Jack Jensen faces a host of competition led by redshirt freshman Cody Hill, who impressed the coaches with a 12-3 record in open tournaments last year and had a productive off-season. True freshman Clayton Foster, regarded as one of the top prep wrestlers in the nation last year, could also get into the mix at either 184 pounds or at 197 pounds, where returning starter Jared Shelton will face stiff competition from Foster and senior Jake Duke, along with seniors Chaz Cointment and Brent Parkey.
The Cowboys are open at 149 pounds as well, with sophomore Dakotah Simpson, redshirt sophomore Mike Bizzle and redshirt freshman Quinten Fuentes all in the mix for the starting spot. A pair of highly-regarded true freshmen are also candidates to earn a spot, as Luke Ashmore and Luke Silver could both conceivably get into the lineup in their first year at the collegiate level.
Redshirt freshman Ben Ashmore figures to start the season at 125, but will have to fend off 2007 NCAA qualifier Tyler Shinn to keep his starting job throughout the season.
An exact listing of pairings for the Orange and Black ranking matches is not available at this time, as the Cowboys continue to work in the wrestling room to determine who earns the right to compete at the Orange and Black meet. Qualifying will continue up to the day before the meet.
The 34-time NCAA champion Cowboys enter the 2007-08 season ranked in the top five in every major preseason publication but have several spots in the lineup that are open for competition within the team, and the Orange and Black ranking matches will be a pivotal event for many Cowboy wrestlers.
OSU appears to be set at 133 pounds with three-time All-American Coleman Scott ranked No. 1 in the nation by every major preseason publication. Two-time All-American and three-time Big 12 champion Nathan Morgan should contend for an individual national title at 141 pounds, with 2007 All-American Brandon Mason holding down the spot at 174 pounds. 2007 NCAA qualifier Jared Rosholt will start at heavyweight, but beyond those four spots, the Cowboys are wide open.
Perhaps one of the most interesting weights to watch will be 157 pounds, where redshirt freshman Neil Erisman is a very strong candidate to move into the lineup after compiling an 11-3 record competing exclusively in open tournaments a year ago. To get into the lineup, Erisman will have to get past 2007 NCAA qualifier Newly McSpadden.
With All-American Johny Hendricks no longer in the lineup at 165, coach John Smith will be looking for a strong replacement and has solid candidates in Kevin Wainscott, who took fourth at the Reno Tournament of Champions a year ago, Sam Lewnes, junior college transfer Kyle Griffin and two-time NAIA champion and three-time NAIA finalist Jake Dieffenbach, who suits up for OSU this year after graduating from Lindenwood University with a year of eligibility remaining.
Another interesting weight class to watch will be at 184 pounds, where returning NCAA qualifier Jack Jensen faces a host of competition led by redshirt freshman Cody Hill, who impressed the coaches with a 12-3 record in open tournaments last year and had a productive off-season. True freshman Clayton Foster, regarded as one of the top prep wrestlers in the nation last year, could also get into the mix at either 184 pounds or at 197 pounds, where returning starter Jared Shelton will face stiff competition from Foster and senior Jake Duke, along with seniors Chaz Cointment and Brent Parkey.
The Cowboys are open at 149 pounds as well, with sophomore Dakotah Simpson, redshirt sophomore Mike Bizzle and redshirt freshman Quinten Fuentes all in the mix for the starting spot. A pair of highly-regarded true freshmen are also candidates to earn a spot, as Luke Ashmore and Luke Silver could both conceivably get into the lineup in their first year at the collegiate level.
Redshirt freshman Ben Ashmore figures to start the season at 125, but will have to fend off 2007 NCAA qualifier Tyler Shinn to keep his starting job throughout the season.
An exact listing of pairings for the Orange and Black ranking matches is not available at this time, as the Cowboys continue to work in the wrestling room to determine who earns the right to compete at the Orange and Black meet. Qualifying will continue up to the day before the meet.
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