Dec. 4, 2008

NORMAN, Okla. – The first installment of Bedlam wrestling hits Norman this Sunday, Dec. 7, as No. 20 Oklahoma hosts No. 9 in-state rival Oklahoma State at 2 p.m., at the Howard McCasland Field House.

The Sooners (3-0) will try for two straight victories against the Cowboys (4-1). Last season, Oklahoma defeated OSU by an 18-15 final margin on Feb. 21, breaking a 19-match winning streak by the Cowboys.

The rivalry match is scheduled to be televised live to the state of Oklahoma by Cox (channel 7 in Oklahoma City, channel 3 in Tulsa), with Toby Rowland and Ryan Schaffer providing coverage.

Sooner Bios | 2008-09 Media Guide

Six Sooners remain ranked headed into the Sunday showdown according to Intermat. Eric Lapotsky is the highest-ranked Sooner at No. 8 among 197-pounders. Jeff James is No. 9 at 174 pounds, Zack Bailey is No. 12 at 141 pounds and 157-pounder Shane Vernon is No. 14. Sophomore Joey Fio, No. 17 nationally, rounds out the group of ranked Sooners.

The Cowboys boast seven ranked headed into Sunday, led by No. 1 Jared Rosholt at heavyweight. Obe Blanc is No. 8 at 125 pounds, and Newly McSpadden and Brandon Mason are No. 12 at 157 and 165 pounds, respectively. Cowboy Tyler Shinn is No. 14 at 133 pounds, Clayton Foster is No. 15 at 197 pounds and Jared Shelton rounds out the group at No. 20 among 184-pounders.

Bedlam Ticket Information

Tickets are still available by calling the OU Athletics Ticket Office at (405) 325-2424 or 800-456-GoOU. Reserved tickets for the dual are $15, while general admission is $10. Group rates are also available.

OU vs. OSU Promotions

First 1,000 fans entering the Bedlam match will receive OU pom poms.

Scouting Oklahoma State

The Cowboys began the season with a victory over No. 20 Old Dominion, besting the Monarchs 30-9 in Stillwater. The team then traveled to the Northeast Duals in Troy, N.Y., and went 3-1 on the day. After losing to then-No. 22 Lehigh (13-18), the Cowboys battled back for three wins against No. 24 Virginia (33-7), Appalachian State (41-3) and American (34-9).

OSU is coached by John Smith, who is 269-36-4 in his 18th season with the Cowboys (.877). He led Oklahoma State to the national title in 1994, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006. In all, the Cowboys own 34 NCAA team championships, 133 NCAA individual champions and 422 All-Americans.

This season, OSU boasts seven wrestlers ranked nationally, led by No. 1 Jared Rosholt. The Sandpoint, Idaho, native recently competed in the NWCA All-Star Match, beating No. 3 Kyle Massey of Wisconsin. 

The Cowboys will compete against Northern Colorado Friday Dec. 5, before traveling to Norman.

Sooner Notes

THE OKLAHOMA PROGRAM...
Dating back to the 1920s, Oklahoma’s overall record stands at 811-333-29 (.721). OU had its most successful decade in the 1950’s with a 69-10-6 record (.911).

The Sooners own seven national championships (1936, 1951, 1952, 1957, 1960, 1963 and 1974) and have produced 256 All-Americans and 65 individual national champions. The OU program has recorded 23 conference championships, with the most recent in 2002.

SOONERS AND COWBOYS HISTORY...
This afternoon’s dual will mark the 159th meeting between the two prestigious programs. The Cowboys own a 124-25-9 record against OU, including a 54-13-7 record in Norman.

Last season, Oklahoma broke a streak of 19-straight losses against the Cowboys, dating back to Nov. 28, 1995, with an 18-15 victory on Feb. 21 at the Field House in Norman. Between the two programs, OU and OSU have combined to win 55 conference titles dating back to 1929 (OSU 32, OU 23).

LAST TIME OUT...
The University of Oklahoma wrestling squad dominated its annual Oklahoma Open last weekend, winning eight of 10 individual championships on the day. Five of the eight titles won by Sooners matched teammates in those respective final bouts. Beginning at 141 pounds, the Sooners won the remaining eight titles.

Those taking first place were Zack Bailey (141), Kyle Terry (149), Chad Terry (157), Ryan Smith (165), Jeff James (174), Pat Flynn (184), Eric Lapotsky (197) and Joe Bach (HWT). Sooners placing second were Seth Vernon (141), Will Rowe (149), Shane Vernon (157), Josh Hinton (184) and Nathan Fernandez (HWT). OU’s J.R. Roman placed third at 125 pounds.

SPATES MILESTONE...
Jack Spates picked up his 200th victory at Oklahoma with the 47-0 win over Oklahoma City on Nov. 20 and now owns a record of 201-88-11. Averaging 14 wins a season, Spates has led OU to 13 straight campaigns of 10 wins or more and is second in all-time victories by a head coach in OU wrestling history.

He became just the second coach in school history to notch 200 wins, joining Stan Abel (coached from 1973-93, 279 wins). Dating back to Cornell, Spates’ career record stands at 275-102-12 (.732).

SOONERS STREAKING...
The Sooners are on a five-match winning streak dating back to last season. Oklahoma defeated Cal Poly and then-No. 3 Oklahoma State to end last season, and are 3-0 this year with wins over Central Oklahoma, Oklahoma City and No. 20 Old Dominion.

LAPOTSKY, JAMES RISING...
Junior and first year Sooner starter Eric Lapotsky has recorded a pin in nearly 60 percent of his matches so far in his career as a Sooner. In 28 matches in his Oklahoma career, he has pinned 16 opponents, including eight of 12 opponents this season (.666). Despite sitting out last season after transferring from Bucknell, the Mt. Carmel, Pa., native is ranked No. 8 nationally.

Redshirt sophomore Jeff James is also climbing the national rankings, now ranked No. 9 nationally. The El Reno, Okla., native was unranked to begin the season but was bolstered into the rankings after a win over 2008 All-American Mike Miller of Central Michigan at the Brockport/Oklahoma Gold Classic. James sat out OU’s upset-victory last season against the Cowboys with a torn ACL.

SOONERS DOMINATE EARLY...
The Oklahoma Sooners are 3-0 this season, winning by an average margin of 38-2. Sooner wrestlers have recorded 64 takedowns in duals compared to only 11 by opponents. Overall, OU starters have posted 29 pins on the season, five in dual action, without surrendering one. Starters have also recorded 16 near falls to opponents zero.

SPATES TOUGH AT HOME...
Now in his 18th season, OU Head Coach Jack Spates owns a 81-24-2 overall home record (.781). Last season, the Sooners boasted a 7-2 mark, including the win over OSU. Oklahoma is 3-0 so far this season, with wins over Central Oklahoma, Oklahoma City and No. 20 Old Dominion.

OKLAHOMA TELEVISION EXPOSURE... 
Sunday's matchup between the in-state foes is set to air on Cox Channel 7 in Oklahoma City and Channel 3 in Tulsa. It marks the first time this season the Sooners will be showcased on TV. Toby Rowland and Ryan Schaeffer will call the action.

OU appeared on television three times during last year’s regular dual season. Both matches versus Oklahoma State were televised to the state of Oklahoma by Cox, and the dual against Wisconsin was shown to a national audience by ESPNU.

NOVEMBER IS A WINNING MONTH...
After the first month of the season, Jack Spates continued his impressive record in the month of November. His record now stands at 22-0-1 for the month, with wins over Central Oklahoma, Oklahoma City and No. 20 Old Dominion this season.

STOUT 2008 RECRUITING CLASS...
Oklahoma wrestling head coach Jack Spates signed five top-70 recruits in the early signing period to wrap up one of the most impressive recruiting classes at OU in recent years. Additionally, the Sooners will welcome a talented Kansas senior and a transfer from Old Dominion in January.

Headlining the class is Jake Kemerer from Hempfield Area, Pa., ranked No. 16 overall according to Intermat and rated No. 4 in the 171-pound class by Amateur Wrestling News. Also inked for next season is Alex Ekstrom from Palmyra-Macedonia, N.Y., ranked No. 31 overall and rated the third-best among 140-pounders.

Joining them are the Lester twins, Matt and Nick, ranked No. 33 and No. 38 overall, respectively. The two hail from Eureka, Mo., and each own Missouri state titles. Matt is ranked No. 2 overall among 152-pounders and is Nick No. 5 at 140 pounds.

Jarrod Patterson from Cushing, Okla., is a three-time Oklahoma state champion entering his senior year and ranked No. 6 in the 125 pound weight class nationally. Kyle Detmer rounds out the group of seniors, garnering a 135-5 record in high school, including posting pins in 31 of 35 matches for Bishop Caroll High School in Wichita Kan., last season.

Joining the Sooner program in January is Derek Peperas, a transfer from Old Dominion. The redshirt freshman will immediately be eligible for OU upon arrival and will provide depth at 165 pounds. Winner of two New Mexico state championships, Peperas also was a two-time state runner-up.

FORMER SOONER CHAMPION JOINS STAFF...
Former Sooner wrestler Michael Lightner joined the staff this season as the volunteer assistant coach. The Marlow, Okla., native claimed the national title in 2001 and was crowned Big 12 champion four times at 141 pounds.

Lightner can be found in various OU records, including second in career wins with a 144-16 record. His 37-0 record during his senior campaign led him to the national title and he became the 13th Sooner in school history to go undefeated in a season.