"This is a real big win for our team and a lot of guy's stepped up tonight to help us get the victory," head coach Jack Spates said.
The Sooners recorded their first win since defeating Arizona State, 31-9 on Feb. 2. It is the team's first win over a ranked opponent since the Lone Star Duals when Oklahoma defeated Navy, 30-9. The Sooners are now 5-0 all-time versus Hofstra.
Sam Hazewinkel who has not wrestled since the NWCA National Duals returned to the lineup but did not get to wrestle as he won by a forfeit. Hazewinkel's victory put six team points on the board for the Sooners.
Kyle Terry came up big for the Sooners as he upset No. 8 Charles Griffin of Hofstra by a decision of 7-4 at 141 pounds. Terry and Griffin traded takedowns and escapes in the first period as the two wrestled to a 3-3 tie at the end of period one. The Sooner redshirt freshman from Midwest City, Okla., began the second period with an escape and than recorded a takedown to reach period three with a 6-4 advantage. There was no action in the final period but Terry added a point due to riding time to close out the match.
"Kyle Terry got a big win for the team and himself tonight and it proved to be big. Will (Rowe) battled back against the No. 2 wrestler in the country and got a big win and I am very proud of him," Spates continued.
No. 2 Matt Storniolo defeated No. 15 Mitch Smith of Hofstra by a decision of 6-4 at 149 pounds. Storniolo began the match with a takedown as the only points of the first period. Smith began period two with a reversal to tie the score. Storniolo countered with back-to-back escapes as Smith could only manage one more score as the Sooner senior added a bonus point due to riding time to finish the match.
No. 13 Will Rowe proved huge for the Sooners at 157 pounds. The sophomore upset No. 2 James Strouse by a decision of 6-5. Strouse began the match strong scoring two takedowns as Rowe only managed two escapes in the first period. The second period only saw Strouse score an escape to take a 5-3 lead. Rowe began the third period with an escape to pull within a point. The turning point came with 0:11 seconds left as Rowe scored a takedown to win the match 6-5.
"This is a great way for us to start wrestling heading into the postseason. Tonight was a great team victory and I could not be more happy with the total team effort we showed today," Spates said.
After three consecutive setbacks at 165, 174 and 184 pounds No. 5 Joel Flaggert got Oklahoma going back in the right direction with a 4-2 decision over No. 11 Chris Weidman at 197 pounds. The two traded penalty points in period one. Flaggert scored an escape and a takedown in period two to take a 4-1 lead. Weidman could only manage an escape at the beginning of period three as Flaggert recorded his 26th victory on the year.
Brad Farmer ended a three-match losing streak as he defeated Matt Pollock, 5-0 at heavyweight. All Farmer need was a takedown to begin the match as the two heavyweights went scoreless until 1:11 to go as Farmer added a reversal to take the match 4-0.
The Sooners next travel to East Lansing, Mich,, on Friday, Feb. 23, as they close out the regular season when they tangle with the Michigan State Spartans at 7 p.m.
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