Stillwater, Okla. -- Top-ranked Oklahoma State handed the University of Nebraska wrestling team their third straight defeated as the Cowboys ousted the Huskers 34-6, Saturday night at Gallager-Iba arena on the Oklahoma State campus. With the loss NU drops to 13-7 overall and 0-3 in the Big 12 conference.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>
Oklahoma State got on the board first with top-ranked Zack Espositio fall over Dusty Spaulding in a time of two minutes. At 149-pounds, fifth-ranked Jerrod Sanders defeated eighth-ranked Travis Shufelt, 9-5 to give the Cowboys a 9-0 lead heading into the 157-pound weight class.
Oklahoma State extended their lead to 15-0 with their second pin in three weight classes as fourth-ranked Shane Roller defeated Nate McMillin in a time of 2:19. At 165-pounds, Nebraska dropped their fourth straight match as Jacob Klein was majored decision by second-ranked Tyrone Lewis, 13-2.
At 174-pounds tenth-ranked Travis Pascoe’s upset bid of second ranked Chris Pendleton came up just short as Pendleton defeated Pascoe 13-8. Pendleton jumped out to a 7-1 lead after the first period before Pascoe scored a takedown and a two-point near fall to come within four at 9-5 heading into the third period. In the third stanza, Pascoe wasn’t able to over come the four-point deficit as Pendleton recorded another takedown and escape to counter Pascoe’s reversal and escape of his own. At 184-pounds, redshirt-freshman, B.J. Padden dropped his third straight mach as he was ousted by Jake Rosholt, 10-3.
At 197 pounds, saw two of the top wrestlers in nation as third-ranked Justin Ruiz took on second-ranked Muhammed Lawal. Lawal got onto the board first with a takedown of Ruiz at the 1:40 mark. Ruiz then cut into Lawal’s lead with an escape at 1:28.
Trailing 2-1 in the second period, Ruiz tied the match at two with an escape at 1:50. After neither wrestler was able to score the match headed into the third period tied at two. Lawal took the lead with an escape with just over a minute remaining before Ruiz took the lead for good with a takedown with 50 seconds reaming. Ruiz went onto earn the riding time point to record the 5-3 victory and break Oklahoma State’s six match winning streak.
Sophomore heavyweight Mitch Manstedt came just up short of upsetting 18th-ranked Willie Gruenwald, 5-3. Manstedt trailed Gruenwald by two with under 20 seconds remaining but Gruenwald was able to with stand Manstedt attempt at a takedown to record the victory.
Fifth-ranked Jason Powell took on his second straight top-ten opponent in 10th-ranked Skyler Holman. After a scoreless first period, Holman recorded the first point with an escape with 1:40 remaining in the second period. Heading into the third period, trailing by one, Powell tied the match up with an escape ten seconds into the period. With 34 seconds left, Powell recorded the match’s first takedown to take a 3-1 lead. Holman was given one point after Powell was cautioned for his second stall to cut the match to 3-2. Powell was able to hold on and earn the riding time point and take the match 4-2. With the win Powell recorded his 17th dual victory of the season. His 17 dual victory places him in a tie for ninth all-time in season dual victories.
At 133 pounds, Oklahoma State recorded their third fall of the night as top-ranked Johnny Thompson defeated 18th-ranked Joey Malia in a time of 2:11 to give Oklahoma State the dual victory 34-6.
“Oklahoma State should why they’re ranked number one in the country.” Mark Manning said. “Espositio set the tone for the match tonight right from the start.”
NU returns to action next Friday, February 14, 2003 as they take on Big 12 rival Iowa State at 7 p.m. at the NU Coliseum.
#1 Oklahoma State 34, #17 Nebraska 6
141 #1 Zack Esposito (OSU) by fall over Dusty Spaulding (NU), 2:00 OSU 6, NU 0
149 #5 Jerrod Sanders (OSU) dec. #8 Travis Shufelt (NU), 9-5 OSU 9, NU 0
157 #4 Shane Roller (OSU) by fall over Nate McMillin (NU), 2:19 OSU 15, NU 0
165 #2 Tyrone Lewis (OSU) maj. dec. Jacob Klein (NU), 13-2 OSU 19, NU 0
174 #2 Chris Pendleton (OSU) dec. #10 Travis Pascoe (NU), 13-8 OSU 22, NU 0
184 #12 Jake Rosholt (OSU) dec. #14 B.J. Padden (NU), 10-3 OSU 25, NU 0
197 #3 Justin Ruiz (NU) dec. #2 Muhammed Lawal (OSU), 5-3 OSU 25, NU 3
HWT #18 Willie Gruenwald (OSU) dec. Mitch Manstedt (NU), 5-3 OSU 28, NU 3
125 #5 Jason Powell (NU) dec. Sykler Holman (OSU), 4-2 OSU 28, NU 6
133 #1 Johnny Thompson (OSU) by fall over #18 Joey Malia (NU), 2:11 OSU 34, NU 6