ST. LOUIS – Oklahoma State had a strong showing in the opening rounds of the NCAA Wrestling Championships at the Savvis Center in St. Louis.
The Cowboys got bonus points from their three freshmen at 125,133 and 141. Coleman Scott defeated Old Dominion’s Christian Staylor by a major decision, and Nathan Morgan advanced over Josh Prieweski of Gardner-Webb by a tech. fall. Daniel Frishkorn recorded a major decision over Columbia’s Anthony Constantino.
OSU’s veteran wrestlers took control after that. Top-seeded Zack Esposito received a major decision over Lehigh’s Matt Anderson. Third-seeded Johny Hendricks recorded a second period fall over Slippery Rock’s Garry Price.
Chris Pendleton pinned Eastern Michigan’s J.J. Holmes in the third period. Jake Rosholt and Steve Mocco each recorded major decisions to advance to the second round.
“It was a good start for us,” head coach John Smith said. “We are coming into tomorrow with the idea that it will get tougher after this. The first day is about putting yourself in a position to win the team title, and we did that.”
Kevin Ward was the only Oklahoma State wrestler to fall in the first round, losing to eighth-seeded Joe Johnston of Iowa.
The Cowboys were equally impressive in the second round, advancing eight of nine wrestlers to the quarterfinal round.
Scott advanced with a 4-3 decision over eighth-seeded Bobbe Lowe of Minnesota. Scott avoided getting taken down in the final seconds to secure the victory, and will meet top-seeded Sam Hazewinkel in the quarterfinals, whom he defeated he defeated in the Big 12 finals.
Morgan advanced at 133 and will face second-seeded Shawn Bunch of Edinboro in the quarterfinals. Frishkorn pinned 10th-seeded Ricky LaForge of Hofstra and will face Oklahoma’s Teyon Ware.
“Those guys (OSU’s freshmen) all have really tough matchups,” Smith said. “All they can do is go out and wrestle hard and find a way to fight. They have to remember that they are wrestling not only for themselves, but also for a team championship. They did a good job.”
OSU’s favorites all advanced easily into the quarterfinals. Esposito will face ninth-seeded Jon Masa of Hofstra. Johny Hendricks will have an opportunity to avenge an earlier loss to Chattanooga’s Jon Siroedas.
Pendleton will face ninth-seeded Eric Hauan, whom he has already defeated twice this season. Rosholt will wrestle Penn State’s Philip Davis in the quarters. Mocco advanced after pinning Peter Ziminski of Eastern Illinois in 73 seconds, and he will wrestle Matt Fields in the quarterfinals.
Ward had arguable one of the biggest wins of the day for OSU defeating Lehigh’s ninth-seeded Derek Zinck in the consolation round, and will face Edinboro’s Matt Hill in the consolation bracket.
OSU leads the tournament at the conclusion of the second round with 39.5 points. They lead second-place Minnesota who has 28.5 points.
The quarterfinals will be carried live on ESPNU beginning at 10 a.m. on Friday morning. In Stillwater, coverage can be heard live on 780 AM.
First Round (seed)
125- (9) Coleman Scott (OSU) MD Christian Staylor (ODU), 15-2
133- (7) Nathan Morgan (OSU) TF5 Josh Prieweski (Gard-Webb), 17-2 (7:00)
141- (7) Daniel Frishkorn (OSU) MD Anthony Constantino (Columbia), 11-1
149- (1) Zack Esposito (OSU) MD Matt Anderson (Lehigh), 13-2
157- (8) Joe Johnston (Iowa) MD Kevin Ward (OSU), 18-8
165- (3) Johny Hendricks (OSU) Fall Garry Price (Slippery Rock), 4:18
174- (1) Chris Pendleton (OSU) Fall J.J. Holmes (EMU), 5:54
197- (2) Jake Rosholt (OSU) MD Jake Butler (Princeton), 12-3
285- (1) Steve Mocco (OSU) MD Adam LoPiccolo (Amer.), 14-3
Pig-tail Consolation
157- Kevin Ward (OSU) Dec. Paul Bjorla (UVA), 10-4
Second Round (seed)
125- (9) Coleman Scott (OSU) Dec. (8) Bobbe Lowe (Minn), 4-3
133- (7) Nathan Morgan (OSU) Dec. (10) Matt Sanchez (Bak), 7-5
141- (7) Daniel Frishkorn (OSU) Fall (10) Ricky LaForge (Hof), 4:35
149- (1) Zack Esposito (OSU) MD Doug Withstandley (Pur), 11-0
165- (3) Johny Hendricks (OSU) MD Joey Hooker (Cor), 12-3
174- (1) Chris Pendleton (OSU) Dec. Daniel Waters (Amer.), 14-10
197- (2) Jake Rosholt (OSU) MD Thayer Paxton (Navy), 14-3
285- (1) Steve Mocco (OSU) Fall Peter Ziminski (E. Ill), 1:13
First Round Consolation
157- Kevin Ward (OSU) Dec. (9) Derek Zinck (Lehigh), 7-4
Standings
1. Oklahoma State 39.5
2. Minnesota 28.5
3. Iowa State 27.0
4. Oklahoma 26.5
5. Michigan 25.5
6. Cornell 23.5
Illinois 23.5
8. Iowa 20.5
9. Lehigh 17.5
10. Arizona State 17.0
Indiana 17.0
Wrestling Gear
