Mocco’s Major Helps Cowboys — But What’s The Outcome?

Mocco’s major helps Cowboys rally past NU
From Staff Reports

LINCOLN, Neb. – Steve Mocco got a 12-2 major decision in the final match as No. 1 Oklahoma State escaped with a 19-18 win over sixth-ranked Nebraska at NU Coliseum on Thursday night.

OSU (18-0) trailed 18-12 after eight matches, but 197-pounder Jake Rosholt edged Nebraska’s B.J. Padden 3-2 to cut the lead to 18-15. Mocco (27-0) then pounded Husker senior Mitch Manstedt with the four-point major decision at heavyweight to snap Nebraska’s 19-match home winning streak.

The final score is under review because of the 184-pound match.

Nebraska’s Travis Pascoe should have recorded a major decision over Clay Kehrer, when Kehrer committed his third technical violation with stalling.

The results will be sent to the NCAA rules committee today for review.

If Pascoe is awarded a major decision, the dual score would end in a 19-19 tie.

Nebraska (16-2-1) got a pin at 157 and an upset win at 165 with No. 9 Jacob Klein besting OSU’s third-ranked Johny Hendricks 5-4.

Nathan Morgan (133) and Chris Pendleton (174) also had major decisions for the Cowboys while Zack Esposito (149) had a four-point technical fall.

Esposito beat Nebraska’s David Ingalls 24-9, but because Esposito didn’t have a near fall, the Cowboys didn’t get five points.

Freshman Coleman Scott (125) missed the match with an elbow injury, and Derek Stevens was edged 4-2 by Nebraska’s eighth-ranked Matt Keller.

“This was a good reminder that we have to focus, “OSU assistant coach Eric Guerrero said. “You’ve got to bear down and do things you’re not expected to do. Nebraska got fired up after the upset (at 165).

“Nothing went Jake Rosholt’s way, but he got the win. That is a reminder of where we have to be. Steve (Mocco) did a great job. He went out with one mission, to get the fall. It didn’t materialize, but both he and Jake got wins that produced the dual win for us. A little adversity is a reminder of how sharp you have to be.

“Kevin Ward was getting the go-behind takedown to win his match, but gets put on his back and pinned. We had a chance to win at 125.”

Klein got the first takedown at 197 and rode the top-ranked Rosholt the final 2:14 of the first period for a 2-0 lead.

Rosholt escaped, then got a takedown in the second period for a 3-2 lead. He then rode Klein the entire final period to preserve the 3-2 win.

Mocco jumped to a quick 5-0 lead at heavyweight and was ahead 9-2 after the first period. He had an escape in the second period, then added a penalty point and 3:15 of riding time in the final period for the major.

Daniel Frishkorn got the start at 141 for OSU and led sixth-ranked Matt Murray 3-1 after two periods. But Murray had a takedown and three-point near fall in the final period for a 9-4 win.

OSU concludes its regular-season road schedule Sunday with duals at No. 16 Hofstra and No. 4 Lehigh. Nebraska continues its Big 12 schedule Saturday against No. 7 Oklahoma at Norman High School on Saturday night

OSU 19 NEBRASKA 18
125: Matt Keller, NU, dec. Derek Stevens, 4-2;

133: Nathan Morgan, OSU, major dec. Dominick Moyer, 13-5;

141: Matt Murray, NU, dec. Daniel Frishkorn, 9-4;

149: Zack Esposito, OSU, tech. fall David Ingalls, NU, 24-9, 6:13;

157: B.J. Wright, NU, pinned Kevin Ward, 6:23;

165: Jacob Klein, NU, dec. Johny Hendricks, 5-4;

174: Chris Pendleton, OSU, major dec. Marc Harwood, 17-8;

184: Travis Pascoe, NU, dec. Clay Kehrer, 11-4;

197: Jake Rosholt, OSU, dec. B.J. Padden, 3-2;

Hwt: Steve Mocco, OSU, major dec. Mitch Manstedt, 12-2

CENT. OKLAHOMA 28 CENT. MISSOURI ST. 18
125: Shane Caruthers, UCO, maj. dec. Lance Craig,11-1.

133: Jared Henning, UCO, pinned Mike Hansen, 5:30.