Redshirt sophomore Cody Brewer and redshirt seniors Kendric Maple, Andrew Howe and Travis Rutt all secured major decisions for the Sooners. Redshirt freshman Clark Glass also added a victory at 165 pounds.
"The outcome of this match was no surprise on paper, and we figured worst-case scenario, this is how it would come out," OU head coach Mark Cody said. "We need to approach every match with the same mindset. We need to go out and start the match attacking and stay on the attack. That's how you get major decisions and pins, and many times that's what duals will come down to, and that is definitely what happened tonight. Major decisions were the difference."
OU's lineup saw a variety of changes from its usual order, but Cody said some of the wrestlers stepped up and competed well.
"I am especially proud of Josh Durham," Cody shared. "We needed him to step into the lineup for us. We gave him 24 hours to get his weight down, and he came out here and fought hard and helped us win the dual. Also, Derek Geiges, our backup 157 pounder, stepped up and wrestled 174 for us tonight, which allowed us to move Andrew Howe up to 184 to get a major decision for us."
OU's first win of the night came at 133 pounds as No. 7 Brewer recorded an 18-6 major decision against WVU's Nathan Pennesi. Maple, ranked No. 2 at 149 pounds, bumped up to 157 pounds to face WVU's Tim Wheeling and earned a 12-0 major decision, while redshirt freshman Glass held off Ross Renzi by decision, 3-2, in the 165-pound bout.
Howe, who competed at 184 pounds instead of his usual 174 where he is ranked No. 1, defeated Mac Mancuso by a 23-9 major decision. On the season, Howe is now a perfect 18-0, including a 10-0 mark in dual competition.
At 197 pounds, fourth-ranked Rutt topped Leo Trindade by a 12-3 major decision, increasing OU's lead to 19-12 and securing the team victory.
The Sooners dropped the matches at 125 pounds, 141 pounds, 149 pounds, 174 pounds and heavyweight. In the night's first bout at 125 pounds, WVU's Cory Stainbrook defeated OU freshman Sean Williams by a 6-0 decision.
No. 16 Colin Johnston defeated OU's Nick Lester by decision, 6-2, while Mike Morales topped Durham 6-1 in Durham's first dual appearance for the Sooners this season.
Also winning for West Virginia were Bubba Scheffel by a 5-0 decision over Geiges at 174 pounds and A.J. Vizcarrondo by decision, 9-7, against No. 18 Ross Larson in heavyweight.
OU is now 4-1 all-time versus the Mountaineers, including 3-0 in conference duals.
The Sooners return to the mat at 2 p.m. CT on Sunday, Feb. 9, as they face in-state rival Oklahoma State in the second Bedlam battle of the season in Stillwater, Okla. OU the Cowboys 16-15 in comeback fashion on Sunday, Dec. 1, inside McCasland Field House in Norman.
Results:
125: Cory Stainbrook (WVU) dec. Sean Williams (OU), 6-0
133: No. 7 Cody Brewer (OU) maj. dec. Nathan Pennesi (WVU), 18-6
141: No. 16 Colin Johnston (WVU) dec. Nick Lester (OU), 6-2
149: Mike Morales (WVU) dec. Josh Durham (OU), 6-1
157: No. 2 Kendric Maple (OU) maj. dec. Tim Wheeling (WVU), 12-0
165: Clark Glass (OU) dec. Ross Renzi (WVU), 3-2
174: Bubba Scheffel (WVU) dec. Derek Geiges (OU), 5-0
184: No. 1 Andrew Howe (OU) maj. dec. Mac Mancuso (WVU), 23-9
197: No. 4 Travis Rutt (OU) maj. dec. Leo Trindade (WVU), 12-3
285: A.J. Vizcarrondo (WVU) dec. No. 18 Ross Larson, 9-7
*Individual rankings from InterMat as of Feb. 4, 2014
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