Last Time Out
Oklahoma State whipped Bedlam rival Oklahoma, 29-6, in the final dual of the season. The Cowboys recorded three major decisions and got a technical fall from top-ranked Johny Hendricks for his 50th consecutive win. The crowd of 7,014 inside Gallagher-Iba Arena got the loudest of the night when Newly McSpadden recorded a takedown with 40 seconds left to defeat OU's Will Rowe. It got to its feet again when Brandon Mason scored a takedown to defeat Josh Weitzel in the fourth sudden victory period. The two wrestlers went an exhausting 13 minutes, 22 seconds. The Cowboys put the dual away early after going up 11-0 after three matches. Tyler Shinn and Coleman Scott both recorded major decisions for OSU. The Sooners only victories came at 149 and 197 where they were heavy favorites. Jack Jensen also recorded a major decision for OSU.
Jackson Earns Spot
Junior B.J. Jackson had spent his first few season waiting behind All-American Zack Esposito before finally getting a chance to start this season. In his very first dual, he hurt his knee against UC-Davis and missed over two months of the season before returning in the Lonestar Duals on Jan. 6. Jackson has not been able to wrestle to his full potential, which prompted head coach John Smith to use Dakotah Simpson against Iowa at the National Duals. Simpson recorded a fall in his first match and sparked a debate among Cowboy fans who should be starting, but Smith has stuck with Jackson. Jackson will be making his first appearance at the Big 12 Championships and will be the likely No. 5 seed.
Mason Outlasts Weitzel
Brandon Mason recorded an early takedown against OU's Josh Weitzel and seemed to be in control after riding out the first period and accumulating over 2:40 in riding time. But Weitzel erased the riding time when he rode Mason for the second period, and Mason's seemingly large advantage had evaporated. Weitzel wisely chose neutral in the third period and scored a takedown that tied the match. Overtime became a tall order as neither wrestler has an array of takedown moves, and both guys are better from the top position. So neither wrestler could score a takedown in sudden victory, or escape in the tie-breaker. But finally, in the fourth sudden victory period, Mason got behind Weitzel and broght him to the mat for the winning takedown. The match lasted 13:22.
Young Cowboys Making Strides
Head coach John Smith knew the 2007 season was going to be tough with six new starters in the lineup. Following, two blow out losses to Big 12 rivals Missouri and Iowa State at the National Duals, the Cowboys seemed like long shots to win the Big 12 and place high at the NCAA Championships. But OSU closed out the season with a road victory over Nebraska, a one-point loss to No. 2 Missouri and a convincing win over Bedlam rival Oklahoma. The win over the Sooners was the most lopsided victory in five seasons, which coincided with the start of the Cowboys current championship run. Since then, Smith has had three weeks to prepare his team for another postseason run.
Last Time at the Big 12 Championships
Oklahoma State won its fourth consecutive Big 12 title by scoring 80 points, 27.5 points better than runner-up Oklahoma. OSU sent seven wrestlers into the finals and came away with four champions. Nathan Morgan won his second Big 12 title with a decision over Tyler McCormick. Zack Esposito and Steve Mocco both defeated rival Sooners for their titles, and Johny Hendricks needed overtime to defeat Missouri's Matt Pell. Three other Cowboys found themselves in a position to qualify for the national tournament by winning the third-place match. Rusty Blackmon posted his second victory over nationally ranked Vince Jones of Nebraska. Brandon Mason and Ethan Kyle were both defeated, but Mason received a wild card giving OSU nine national qualifiers.
Hendricks Looking to Join Exclusive Club
Johny Hendricks will head to the Palace in Auburn Hills with an opportunity to become just the fifth wrestler in school history to become a four-time All-American and a three-time national champion. Hendricks finished fifth as a redshirt freshman in 2004 at 157 pounds. He then won the next two titles while wrestling at 165. During his two championship seasons and so far this season, Hendricks has compiled an 83-5 record. There have previously been 10 four-time All-Americans and 15 three-time national champions. Only five guys have done both with Jake Rosholt joining the club last season.
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