OU sending eight to the NCAA wrestling tournament

[MiccoMacey]

125: Jerod Patterson #8 seed
133: Jordan Keller
141: Zach Bailey #8 seed
149: Matt Lester
157: Chase Nelson
165: Tyler Caldwell #3 seed
184: Erich Schmidtke
HWT: Nathan Fernandez #10 seed

Of those eight, we're only losing Zach Bailey and Nathan Fernandez.

We'll also lose Jeff James, who started coming on strong for us at the end of last year. Unfortunately, he tore his ACL in November, and basically ruined his senior year.

But we get back seven other wrestlers, and six of them are sophomores or below (only one junior). We have a lot of talent, and whomever takes over will be sitting pretty for a few years.

http://www.ncaa.com/sites/default/files/files/2011DIWrestBrackets.pdf

[MiccoMacey]

Just for fun:

Team...# of wrestlers in the tournament...# of wrestlers seeded

Boise State...10...5
Oklahoma State...10...7
Cornell...9...7
Iowa...9...9
Minnesota...9...6
Missouri...9...4
Lehigh...8...3
Michigan...8...1
Oregon State...8...1
OU...8...4
Penn State...8...7
Pittsburgh...8...3
Rutgers...8...4
Wisconsin...7...5
Nebraska...7...3
American...6...4


Going by seeds, I gave each #1 seed 20 points, each #2 seed 19 points, and so on and so on.

Here are the point totals for those seeds:

Iowa...126
Penn State...113
Cornell...108
Oklahoma State...105
Minnesota...82
Wisconsin...80
Boise State...75
American...60
OU...55
Rutgers...55
Missouri...49
Lehigh...49
Pittsburgh...43
Nebraska...41
Michigan...20
Oregon State...17

Now, that doesn't account for advancement, bonus points, upsets, or anything else. Just strictly a "points per seeding" adventure.

[CowboyMRW]

How do you think OU will do at Nationals.

I'm thinking OSU gets 5 AA's and 2 champs.
As a team though, I want us to win, but not sure if we have it all this year.

Oliver and Foster though should pick up individual championships for us though.

[MiccoMacey]

How do you think OU will do at Nationals.

I'm thinking OSU gets 5 AA's and 2 champs.
As a team though, I want us to win, but not sure if we have it all this year.

Oliver and Foster though should pick up individual championships for us though.

OU will land somewhere inside the top 10...probably around 7-8. Unless they wrestle like they did at the Big Twelves...in which case Sammie lost his bid for Head Coach, and we fall to around 12-15.

OSU has one almost lock for a NC in Oliver. He's already beaten Hochstrasser twice (I believe), and there's no one who can really stay with him. I think the biggest asset this year for him is he's been much better at maintaining his weight.

Clayton Forster is one of my all-time favorite Cowboys, and has been since he was a freshman. He never stops wrestling. He's got as good a shot as anyone, but I wouldn't call him a sure thing.

Outside of those two, we'll disagree on how many Cowboys can AA. I don't think Morrison's ready. Not consistent enough, although he has beaten a lot of top competition. Same goes for Kindig, Bailey, Benefiel, and Perry. The OSU board is predicting (most of them, anyway) that one, two, or three of them will sneak into AA status. I just don't see it. Perry's got the best shot, but he's still pretty young and not sure if we've seen him wrestle in the same identity for two matches in a row.

Erisman is almost in that same boat, except he's a senior and much more experienced. He's probably not as technically good as those other two, but he's got more fight than most anyone on that team. He'd be my darkhorse pick of the bunch.

Parks is the enigma. He has the talent and athleticism, but he's fallen flat at the NCAAs so far, and he was seeded #3 last year. He's got an extremely tough first shot that's almost indefensible, but he will go almost the entire match and not take a second shot. And he still can't get off the bottom consistently yet. he SHOULD AA, but I'm not sure he will.

I think OSU is a year away from being a great team. I think some OSU fans are going to be upset come Saturday night. I think they just believe in their team just a little too much for this year.

OSU with one champion, and possibly three to four more AA.

[diegosooner]

125: Jerod Patterson #8 seed
133: Jordan Keller
141: Zach Bailey #8 seed
149: Matt Lester
157: Chase Nelson
165: Tyler Caldwell #3 seed
184: Erich Schmidtke
HWT: Nathan Fernandez #10 seed

Of those eight, we're only losing Zach Bailey and Nathan Fernandez.

We'll also lose Jeff James, who started coming on strong for us at the end of last year. Unfortunately, he tore his ACL in November, and basically ruined his senior year.

But we get back seven other wrestlers, and six of them are sophomores or below (only one junior). We have a lot of talent, and whomever takes over will be sitting pretty for a few years.

http://www.ncaa.com/sites/default/files/files/2011DIWrestBrackets.pdf

I'm hoping at least one of our unseeded wrestlers makes AA, and patterson, bailey, and Fernandez place higher than their seeds. Caldwell placing 3rd sounds good to me.

Good luck Sooners.

[MiccoMacey]

I have Bailey placing 5th, Caldwell 5th, and Fernandez 8th.

I have Patterson losing in the round before the All-American round.

Keller loses first two. He's got Ramos from Iowa, then I have him losing to another seeded wrestler.

Lester, Nelson, Schmidtke each win a few before bowing out.

[MiccoMacey]

Just for fun:

125
1. Robles, Arizona State (1)
2. McDonough, Iowa (2)
3. Nicholson, ODU (4)
4. Precin, Northwestern (3)
5. Perelli, Cornell (11)
6. Pataky, Penn State unranked
7. Walters, Missouri (10
8. Mango, Stanford (7)

133
1. Oliver, Oklahoma State (1)
2. Long, Penn State (3)
3. Graff, Wisconsin (4)
4. Ray, Utah unranked
5. Hochstrasser, Boise State (2)
6. Ruggirello, Hofstra (5)
7. Ramos, Iowa (6)
8. Drucker, Oregon State unranked

141
1. Novachkov, Cal Poly (3)
2. Russell, Michigan (1)
3. Thorn, Minnesota (2)
4. Marion, Iowa (5)
5. Bailey, OU ((8)
6. Kemmerer, Penn (12)
7. VonOhlen, Air Force (9)
8. Diaz, Va Tech unranked

149
1. Dake, Cornell (4)
2. Chamberlain, Boise State (6)
3. Molinaro, Penn State (2)
4. Caldwell, NCState (1)
5. LeValley, Bucknell (3)
6. Gaethje, NColorado, unranked
7. Mason, Rutgers (7)
8. Green, Buffalo (12)

157
1. Taylor, Penn State (3)
2. Hall, Boise State (1)
3. Fittery, American (2)
4. Dong, Va tech (5)
5. Fleming, Clarion (9)
6. St. John, Iowa (6)
7. Jenkins, Arizona State (4)
8. Saddoris, Navy (7)

165
1. Howe, Wisconsin (2)
2. Burroughs, Nebraska (1)
3. Kerber, Cornell (9)
4. Sponseller, Ohio State (5)
5. Caldwell, OU (3)
6. Asper, Maryland (4)
7. Yohn, Minnesota (12)
8. Onufer, Wyoming (7)

174
1. Lewnes, Cornell (3)
2. Henrich, Virginia (5)
3. Reader, Iowa State (1)
4. Covington, Oregon State (4)
5. Ruth, Penn State (2)
6. Amuchastegui, Stanford (7)
7. Bennett, CMich (6)
8. Lofthouse, Iowa (9)

184
1. Honeycutt Edinboro (1)
2. Bosak, Cornell (3)
3. Hamlin, Lehigh (2)
4. LeBlanc, Wyoming (5)
5. Rutt, Wisconsin (4)
6. Loder, UNI (6)
7. Steinhaus, Minnesota (8)
8. Perry, Oklahoma Sate (7)

197
1. Foster, Oklahoma State (2)
2. Simaz, Cornell (1)
3. Brandvold, Wisconsin (3)
4. Thomusseit, Pitt (7)
5. Kilgore, Kent State (4)
6. Burak, Penn (6)
7. Lofthouse, Iowa (5)
8. Powless, Indiana (8)

285
1. Flores, American (3)
2. Russo, Rutgers (4)
3. Rey, Lehigh (1)
4. Trice CMich (2)
5. Rasin, Iowa (7)
6. Bradley, Missouri (5)
7. Tomei, Pitt (6)
8. Fernandez, OU (10)

[SanJoaquinSooner]

Just for fun:

125
1. Robles, Arizona State (1)
2. McDonough, Iowa (2)
3. Nicholson, ODU (4)
4. Precin, Northwestern (3)
5. Perelli, Cornell (11)
6. Pataky, Penn State unranked
7. Walters, Missouri (10
8. Mango, Stanford (7)

133
1. Oliver, Oklahoma State (1)
2. Long, Penn State (3)
3. Graff, Wisconsin (4)
4. Ray, Utah unranked
5. Hochstrasser, Boise State (2)
6. Ruggirello, Hofstra (5)
7. Ramos, Iowa (6)
8. Drucker, Oregon State unranked

141
1. Novachkov, Cal Poly (3)
2. Russell, Michigan (1)
3. Thorn, Minnesota (2)
4. Marion, Iowa (5)
5. Bailey, OU ((8)
6. Kemmerer, Penn (12)
7. VonOhlen, Air Force (9)
8. Diaz, Va Tech unranked

149
1. Dake, Cornell (4)
2. Chamberlain, Boise State (6)
3. Molinaro, Penn State (2)
4. Caldwell, NCState (1)
5. LeValley, Bucknell (3)
6. Gaethje, NColorado, unranked
7. Mason, Rutgers (7)
8. Green, Buffalo (12)

157
1. Taylor, Penn State (3)
2. Hall, Boise State (1)
3. Fittery, American (2)
4. Dong, Va tech (5)
5. Fleming, Clarion (9)
6. St. John, Iowa (6)
7. Jenkins, Arizona State (4)
8. Saddoris, Navy (7)

165
1. Howe, Wisconsin (2)
2. Burroughs, Nebraska (1)
3. Kerber, Cornell (9)
4. Sponseller, Ohio State (5)
5. Caldwell, OU (3)
6. Asper, Maryland (4)
7. Yohn, Minnesota (12)
8. Onufer, Wyoming (7)

174
1. Lewnes, Cornell (3)
2. Henrich, Virginia (5)
3. Reader, Iowa State (1)
4. Covington, Oregon State (4)
5. Ruth, Penn State (2)
6. Amuchastegui, Stanford (7)
7. Bennett, CMich (6)
8. Lofthouse, Iowa (9)

184
1. Honeycutt Edinboro (1)
2. Bosak, Cornell (3)
3. Hamlin, Lehigh (2)
4. LeBlanc, Wyoming (5)
5. Rutt, Wisconsin (4)
6. Loder, UNI (6)
7. Steinhaus, Minnesota (8)
8. Perry, Oklahoma Sate (7)

197
1. Foster, Oklahoma State (2)
2. Simaz, Cornell (1)
3. Brandvold, Wisconsin (3)
4. Thomusseit, Pitt (7)
5. Kilgore, Kent State (4)
6. Burak, Penn (6)
7. Lofthouse, Iowa (5)
8. Powless, Indiana (8)

285
1. Flores, American (3)
2. Russo, Rutgers (4)
3. Rey, Lehigh (1)
4. Trice CMich (2)
5. Rasin, Iowa (7)
6. Bradley, Missouri (5)
7. Tomei, Pitt (6)
8. Fernandez, OU (10)

Howe beats Burroughs? That should be a good match.

Unfortunately, I can't watch the first two hours due to work (on espn3.com).
I hope you're right about Iowa not winning any crowns and Cornell doing so well, and wrong about OU having only 3 AA and overall underperforming.

[MiccoMacey]

1) Howe will be able to shut down Burroughs leg attack. Caldwell did it in the Big Twelve finals, and nearly won the match. Just a hunch, but you can't pick the favorite every time. That's if Howe gets past Caldwell (believe me...I'm hoping I'm wrong for picking Howe over Caldwell).

2) Speaking of favorites, Darrion Caldwell (#1 seed from NCState at 149) is out of the tournament with a medical forfeit.

3) OU was more up than down today. No real matches where you can say we should have won but didn't, and a few matches where we weren't favored and still won.

125: #8 seed Jerod Patterson picks up two wins and is in the quarterfinals where he faces #1 seed Robles from Arizona State. Robles manhandled him last time. Robles has only one leg, and has the upper body of a 150 pounder.

133: Unseeded Jordan Keller lost to #6 seed Ramos of Iowa, then won a consolation match. He's still in it and can pick up some valuable points on the backside tomorrow. I believe he wrestles Mele from Northwestern, a kid Jordan Oliver from OSU pinned in the second round.

141: #8 seed Zach Bailey has two wins and is in the quarterfinals. He, too, has the #1 seed, undefeated Kellen Russell from Michigan.

149: Unseeded Matt Lester lost his first match (pigtail match), won his consolation pigtail match, then lost his first round consolation match. He's out. But not a horrible showing for an unseeded youngster.

157: Chase Nelson lost both of his matches. He's out as well. But he lost to the #8 seed in his first match, and the kid never stopped trying to pin his second opponent. He needs to work on his finishes a little more. Good overall effort.

165: #3 seed Tyler Caldwell won both of his matches and is now in the quarterfinals. His next match is against an unseeded wrestler, Gillespie from Hofstra. Gillespie beat #6 seed Dallas Bailey of OSU in his first match. Should be a good opponent for Tyler to get to #2 seed Howe of Wisconsin in the semifinals.

184: Unseeded Erich Schmidtke lost his first match, but came back and won his consolation match tonight. I believe he wrestles #10 seed Ihnen of Nebraska tomorrow morning. This is a winnable match, although Ihnen beat him in the Big Twelves (IIRC).

285: #10 seed Nathan Fernandez beat both his opponents, including #7 seed Rasing from Iowa, to advance to the quarterfinals. He'll face #2 seed Trice from Central Michigan.

Currently, we're sitting 17th as a team (15 points), but I 100% believe we'll improve on that . I still believe we'll fall inside the top 10 when it's all said and done.

We have four in the championship side of the bracket, nobody behind us has as many, and nobody in front of us has as many either until you reach #7 Wisconsin.

Penn State is in the lead, but I still say Cornell will win it all in the end. Iowa and OSU are currently tied for third.

[SanJoaquinSooner]

Thanks for the detailed review of Day 1. I was able to catch only a couple of minutes of the Chase Nelson, but I remember his attempted moves in the Big 12. He kept falling short of some great upper body moves that potentially would be 4 or 5 point moves.

What I can't tell is if he simply lacks execution skills to complete the moves, or if he isn't strong enough against quality opponents. I imagine in the JC circuit where he wrestled before, he could manhandle most anybody.


Too bad about Darrian Caldwell' injury. He was something two years ago when he whipped the defending national champion Metcalf from Iowa, and whipped him badly.


Yeah, we're expected to win only one quarterfinal this morning (Tyler Caldwell) and it would be a huge upset if anyone else advanced to the semis.

I need to check, has Fernandez faced Trice before?

[MiccoMacey]

Results from this morning:

125: Patterson lost to Robles, and moves into the consolations.
133: Keller lost to Mele and is out.
141: Bailey lost to Russell, and moves into the consolations.
165: Caldwell wins and advances to the semifinals tonight. He faces #2 seed Howe of Wisconsin. He's guaranteed of fiishing no lower than 6th, and is an All-American for the second straight year.
184: Schmidtke lost.
285: Fernandez lost 3-2 to #2 seed Trice. I don't think they've wrestled this year. Nathan falls into the consolations.

[MiccoMacey]

125: #8 seed Jarrod Patterson faces unseeded Boyle from Michigan.
141: #8 seed Zach Bailey faces unseeded Dutton from Lehigh.
184: Unseeded Erich Schmidtke lost to Ihnen from Nebraska and is out.
285: #10 seed Nathan Fernandez will face #8 seed Nelson from Minnesota.

[MiccoMacey]

We're still sitting pretty low right now in team scores. We didn't do a lot to help ourselves this morning, but we probably did what was realistically expected.

Tough to have to take on two #1 seeds and a #2 seed and get many points.

I think Cornell has it sewn up, especially with two Penn State wrestlers being injury defaulted out today. Word is they won't return, and they were both seeded wrestlers.

We need to win this evening to stay in the hunt for the top 10.

[MiccoMacey]

125: #8 seed Jarrod Patterson wins and becomes an All-American. Next match will be tonight against #5 seed Sanders of Minnesota.
141: #8 seed Zach Bailey wins and becomes an All-American. Next match will be tonight against #4 seed Kennedy of Illinois.
165: #3 seed beats #2 seed and returning national Champion in the semifinals and will wrestle #1 seed and undefeated Burroughs of nebraska for the National Championship tomorrow night.
285: #10 seed Nathan Fernandez still will meet up with #8 seed Nelson of Minnesota to become an All-American.

Looking good so far tonight!

[SanJoaquinSooner]

Great match by Caldwell!!! Woohoo!!!

[MiccoMacey]

Patterson and Bailey both lost, and will be wrestling for 7th and 8th tomorrow morning.

Fernandez lost tonight, so he falls one win shy of being an All-American.

[stonecoldsoonerfan]

Being an AA is top 4, correct?

[MiccoMacey]

Top 8.

We're probably going to fall outside the top 10 again. Kind of fitting for Jack's last year, IMHO.

[MiccoMacey]

Top 8.

We're probably going to fall outside the top 10 again. Kind of fitting for Jack's last year, IMHO.

[SanJoaquinSooner]

7th place finishes for both All-Americans Patterson and Bailey. Good show, with each winning their final bouts.

For tonight's match, Caldwell will need to wrestle another smart match, not making a mistake and hoping Burroughs makes one instead. In the Big 12 finals Burroughs didn't ever make that mistake. Clearly Burroughs has the advantage since he has beaten Caldwell before and he's been in and won a national finals bout.

[SanJoaquinSooner]

Penn State wins the team title. A dynasty is being built there with Coach Cael Sanderson. I was rooting for Cornell, but I'll take anybody but Iowa.

[Shakadoodoo]

Penn State wins the team title. A dynasty is being built there with Coach Cael Sanderson. I was rooting for Cornell, but I'll take anybody but Iowa.

You got that right - Anybody but Iowa!!!!

I did not realize Cale left Iowa St and went to Penn State - They must have offered him good money.

That Burroughs kid from Nebraska is Tough! He may have been the most dominate kid in the tournament. I think he deserved the OW f the tournament.

That Robles kid from Ariz St - with the one leg - That was inspiring to see. I think the kid from Iowa and others wrestled the kid wrong though. I have never practiced wrestling from my knees for a whole match. Seems like wrestling on your knees plays into his strength. The kid benches 305. He is built like a 165 pounder - he is just missing a leg. I think I would have just kept circling him - over and over again until I got the opportunity to tackle him from behind - Even if I did not get a shot until the 3rd period or overtime - I know that sounds harsh but a win is a win! I just think wrestling him on your knees puts the person with 2 legs at a disadvantage. What strategy would you have used?

Great tournament overall. I wish we would have done better - especially for his last year. We should do better next year though!

Who is going to be the coach next year - Are they going to give it to Sammie? Shawn Harrison was telling me something about them looking at the other Brands - ? He may do a good job but I am not a fan of Iowa in our wrestling room! If they do not give the job to Sammie - I think they should look at that coach from Cornell! He is doing one hell of a job, especially for a school that does not give athletic sponsorships. I am sure Cornell is not paying the wrestling coach as much as OU. We should look into him!

[MiccoMacey]

Ron Koll's their head coach...NC, 4x AA from North Carolina (I believe).

They also have Matt Azevedo and Damion Hahn as Assistants.

[diegosooner]

Too bad it is not an olympic year where we might shoot for some hot, fresh gold medal winner to come in as our coach. It's is clear that the balance of power has shifted in a big way. Big Ten with Penn State and now Nebraska. We need a super-stud recruiter.

If Penn State can do this, it is clear we can't use football as an excuse for lack of a top flight wrestling program.

I have no idea if we'd have any change getting the Cornell coach.

[MiccoMacey]

The big name I've been hearing for awhile now (and Jimbo Elrod said it today on the SA with pat Jones) is former OU standout and 2x NCA Champion Andre Metzger. And he'd be bringing 3x NCAA champ and Olympic gold medalist Randy Lewis with his as an assistant.

My big fear with getting someone this "old" is that most kids won't know who these guys are. They're from my era. I'd love to tell the recruits about those two, especially Andre. He was one of my favorites. But they're memories are of someone more recent, like a Cael Sanderson. That may be what we need to do...go after a really young coach.

[stonecoldsoonerfan]

couldn't believe that friggin' aggle had a perfect season going and gets stuck in the finals. unbelieveable.

[MiccoMacey]

Yeah...Clayton Foster has been one of my favorite OSU wrestlers for awhile now. He never stops wrestling. I like that, especially in a bigger wrestler. Usually, those guys just hulk around (see Scmidtke).

I felt bad for him.