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    Oklahoma rallies to defeat Wyoming

    NORMAN, Okla. -- The eighth-ranked Sooners stormed back from a seven point deficit to defeat No. 14 Wyoming, 22-10, before legendary OU wrestling coach Stan Abel and a number of former Sooner greats at the McCasland Field House Friday evening.

    With the win the Sooners (13-1, 3-1) have won seven straight and own the best record since the 1969 squad that went 8-1.

    “This was a huge win against a tough team that came out swinging and we swung back,” Jack Spates said. “I don’t think there was an easy win out there but this is wrestling. No one is going to hand anything to you. I think it was a good object lesson for our guys.”

    The top 15 battle began at 184 pounds between OU’s 15th-ranked Erich Schmidtke and the Cowboy’s No. 5-ranked Joe LeBlanc. Schmidtke took the early lead after posting a takedown just over a minute into the bout. However, LeBlanc stormed back to take the match, 13-2, after earning two takedowns and six points off near falls.

    Wyoming extended their lead, 7-0, after L.J. Helbig defeated Oklahoma’s Keldrick Hall at 197 pounds. Hall led early after posting a takedown in the first and a quick reversal in the second, but Helbig earned an escape and takedown to close out the second period. Helbig earned an escape after choosing the bottom position to begin the third, which proved to be the bouts final points.

    Senior Nathan Fernandez put the Sooners on the board after posting a 5-3 victory by decision over Wyoming’s Matthew McLaughlin. Fernandez, ranked No. 13, posted a takedown in the first and never looked back as he added an escape in the second and a takedown in the third.

    OU’s Jarrod Patterson and Wyoming’s 15th-ranked Michael Martinez went to overtime after each posted an escape in the second and third periods, respectively. Patterson was close to coming away with the victory in regulation but fell nine seconds short of riding time points. In sudden-victory overtime Patterson gave up a takedown to give The Cowboy’s a 10-3 lead.

    That was all the Sooners would give up to the Cowboy’s as OU won the next six bouts to runaway with the victory.

    Jordan Keller brought OU within four after he fought his way to a 6-2 win over UW’s 18th-ranked Tyler Cox. The junior from Wichita, Kan., earned a takedown in with just five-seconds remaining in the first. In the second, Keller reversed Cox and added an escape to go up 5-2. Keller added his final point after riding-out Cox for the duration of the third period.

    At 141 pounds reigning All-American Zack Bailey evened the score at 10-10 after routing Wyoming’s Kasey Garnhart by way of a 16-6 major decision win. In the match Bailey earned seven takedowns, an escape and added 1:15 riding time. The Kansas City, Mo., native now has 101 career wins and has a team-high 61 takedowns in dual action.

    Matt Lester, ranked No. 19, gave OU its first lead after he downed UW’s 17th-ranked Cole Dallaserra in the 149-pound bout, 5-2. Dallaserra led 2-0 after the first but Lester earned back points 0:16 into the second period. Lester chose top to start the third period where he added two more back points to go along with his 3:37 of riding time.

    In the 157 pound bout Chase Nelson rallied from a 5-1 deficit to defeat Wyoming’s Jimmy Belleville by a final of 14-11. Nelson fell behind after giving up an early takedown which resulted in near fall points for Belleville. Nelson earned an escape and takedown to close the gap, 5-3, going into the second. There Nelson earned three points off a takedown and escape but gave up three points to the Wyoming wrestler. Nelson chose the bottom position to start the third period which he used to earn a quick reversal and added back-points to take his first lead, 10-8. Belleville had an escape but Nelson added another takedown to stretch his lead to three before he was reversed which brought Belleville within one point. With three seconds remaining, Nelson posted an escape and added 1:21 in riding time to earn a much deserved win.

    “Chase Nelson had every opportunity to give up in that match and he never did. He stole a win,” echoed Spates.

    The highly-anticipated bout between OU’s second-ranked Tyler Caldwell and UW’s No. 4-ranked Shane Onufer at 165 pounds proved to be a one-sided affair as the Sooners’ reigning All-American ran away with an 11-5 win. Caldwell was quick on his feet all night as he earned three takedowns, an escape and a near fall to go along with 1:41 in riding time. With the win, the Wichita product is now 27-4 and 12-1 in dual competition.

    “Tyler Caldwell had a big win, dominating win, against a tough wrestler.”

    Senior Jeff James closed out the victory for the Sooners after he posted a 2-1 victory by decision over UW’s Patrick Martinez. James trailed 1-0 but evened the score in the third after earning an escape. James added 1:125 in riding time to edge the Wyoming wrestler.

    I’m really proud of our guys. We honored a lot of great Sooners tonight. We honored Coach Abel and I think we honored them with the way we battled on the mat.”

    Up next, the Sooners host a Bedlam battle for the Big 12 dual championship on Sunday, Feb. 20 at 2 p.m. inside McCasland Field House. The final dual of the year marks senior night as OU will honor Zack Bailey, Jeff James and Nathan Fernandez. In addition, Bedlam will be Jack Spates’ final meet as head coach of the Sooners. The first 1,000 fans in attendance for the Bedlam showdown will get a free OU t-shirt as part of a red-out event.

    Results:
    184 - Joe LeBlanc (UW) MD. Erich Schmidtke (OU), 13-2
    197 - L.J. Helbig (UW) dec. Keldrick Hall (OU), 5-4
    285 - Nathan Fernandez (OU) dec. Matthew McLaughlin (UW), 5-3
    125 - Michael Martinez (UW) dec. Jarrod Patterson (OU), 3-1
    133 - Jordan Keller (OU) dec. Tyler Cox (UW), 6-2
    141 - Zack Bailey (OU) MD Kasey Garnhart (UW), 16-6
    149 - Matt Lester (OU) dec. Cole Dallaserra (UW), 5-2
    157 - Chase Nelson (OU) dec. Jimmy Belleville (UW), 14-11
    165 - Tyler Caldwell (OU) dec. Shane Onufer (UW), 11-5
    174 - Jeff James (OU) dec. Patrick Martinez (UW), 2-1

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