Oklahoma State University Athletics
Individual Storylines For The Big 12 Wrestling Championship
March 07, 2008 | Cowboy Wrestling
STILLWATER, Okla. – With the Big 12 Wrestling Championship coming to Gallagher-Iba Arena Saturday, here are some of the individual storylines to watch:
Can Oklahoma State's Nathan Morgan join an elite list of four-time Big 12 champions?
:: The unquestioned favorite at 141 pounds, Morgan is 5-0 all-time against the four wrestlers in his bracket. Should Morgan win the title, he would become only the fifth wrestler ever to win four Big 12 championships, joining OSU's Johnny Thompson (2001-04), Oklahoma's Michael Lightner (1998-2001), Iowa State's Cael Sanderson (1999-2002) and Nebraska's Bryan Snyder (1999-2002).
Can Nebraska's Paul Donahoe silence the critics?
:: The NCAA champion at 125 pounds last year, Donahoe remains one of the nation's best. However, he suffered a late-season loss to Oklahoma freshman Joey Fio in Lincoln that has sparked some question as to if the up-and-coming Fio or reigning NCAA champion Donahoe should be regarded as the favorite this weekend.
Can Oklahoma's Joel Flaggert get over the hump and win a Big 12 title?
:: A two-time All-American, Flaggert has been a very strong performer for the Sooners throughout his career, but has yet to finish higher than third at the Big 12 Championship. Now a senior, this is the 197-pounder's last chance. With a 21-3 record this year, Flaggert is once again in the picture to earn All-America honors, but two of his three losses are to Missouri's Max Askren and Nebraska's Craig Brester. He will likely have to beat both on Saturday to capture the elusive conference title.
Can Missouri's Nick Marable get through the treacherous 165-pound bracket?
:: The Tiger sophomore earned the top seed in the most difficult weight class by compiling a perfect 4-0 record during the regular season against the other wrestlers he'll face Saturday. To give an illustration of how tough his bracket is, Marable is the nation's second-ranked wrester in the nation at 165 pounds. To win the Big 12 title, he'd have to finish atop a group that includes No. 5 Jake Dieffenbach of Oklahoma State, No. 7 Steven Dwyre of Nebraska and No. 8 Jon Reader of Iowa State.
Will Iowa State's Jake Varner remain undefeated after this weekend?
:: The Cyclone 184-pounder is 23-0 entering the Big 12 Championship and is ranked No. 1 in the nation, but had close matches against Oklahoma State's Jack Jensen (a 2-1 thriller on Jan. 27) and Missouri's Raymond Jordan (a 3-1 match on Feb. 17). In fact, Varner has not beaten anyone in the 184-pound bracket by more than four points this season. He is the favorite to win the Big 12 crown, but will have to wade through a group of wrestlers who have all wrestled him close and will feel like they can win this time around.
