No. 2 Oklahoma State at National Duals
First-round opponent: Purdue at 11 a.m. Saturday
Second-round opponent: No. 12 Virginia Tech or No. 17 Central Michigan at 3 p.m. Saturday
Sunday opponents and times TBD
Television: None
Video Webcast: Livesportsvideo.com
Saturday Radio: 780 KSPI-AM
Sunday Radio: 93.7 KSPI-FM
Radio Announcers: Rex Holt & Roger Moore
Live Internet Audio: okstate.com
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Oklahoma State Probable Starters at National Duals
125: No. 8 Jon Morrison, RFr., 10-2 record or Ladd Rupp, RFr., 4-0 record or Tyler Dorrell, RFr, 4-3 record
133: No. 1 Jordan Oliver, So., 8-0 record
141: Luke Silver, Jr., 10-3 record or Josh Kindig, Fr., 13-3 record
149: No. 5 Jamal Parks, Jr., 11-1 record
157: Albert White, Jr., 10-2 record or No. 14 Neil Erisman, Sr., 1-0 record
165: No. 16 Dallas Bailey, RFr., 12-1 record
174: No. 16 Mike Benefiel, Jr., 6-2 record
184: No. 10 Chris Perry, RFr., 10-2 record or Elliott Hellwege, So, 8-4 record
197: No. 4 Clayton Foster, Sr., 6-0 record
285: Blake Rosholt, RFr., 3-1 record or Tyson Yoder, So., 5-3 record
The Basics
The No. 2 Oklahoma State wrestling team (4-0 overall; 1-0 Big 12) travels to Cedar Falls, Iowa, to participate at the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals at the UNI Dome this Saturday and Sunday.
The second-seeded Cowboys open their run with unseeded Purdue (3-1-1 overall) at 11 a.m. Central time on Saturday. The winner of that contest advances to face the winner of seventh-seeded Virginia Tech vs. Central Michigan at 3 p.m. Saturday. The semifinals and finals are set for Sunday, with the semis starting at 11 a.m. and the finals set for 3 p.m.
On The Air
All of Saturday’s action will be aired live on 780-AM radio in Stillwater and worldwide via the internet at www.okstate.com. All of Sunday’s action will be aired live on KSPI 93.7 FM radio in Stillwater and on okstate.com with Rex Holt and Roger Moore on the call.
Fans can also access the live video webcast on www.livesportsmedia.com.
OSU National Duals History
The Cowboys have won eight National Duals titles since the event’s inception in 1989, claiming the crown in 1989, 1990, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2004 and 2005.
The Pokes have amassed an impressive 54-9 all-time record in their 16 trips to National Duals, but have not competed at the event since 2007.
The National Duals Field
Cornell is the top seed at this year’s National Duals, followed by second-seeded Oklahoma State, third-seeded Wisconsin, fourth-seeded Minnesota, fifth-seeded Boise State, sixth-seeded Oregon State, seventh-seeded Virginia Tech and eighth-seeded Missouri.
Unseeded teams competing include Ohio State, Iowa State, Northern Illinois, South Dakota State, American, Central Michigan and Purdue.
Series Capsule vs. Purdue
Overall OSU leads, 2-0-0
At Neutral OSU leads, 1-0-0
In Stillwater OSU leads, 1-0-0
In West Lafayette 0-0-0
John Smith vs. Purdue 1-0-0
Scott Hinkel vs. OSU 0-0-0
Former Cowboy All-American On Purdue Staff
Tom Erikson, a two-time All-American at Oklahoma State (fourth in 1986 and third in 1987), is a long-time assistant coach on the Purdue staff. He and OSU coach John Smith were teammates at Oklahoma State. Erikson started his career in the junior college ranks before coming to OSU for his junior and senior seasons.
Series Capsule vs. Virginia Tech
Overall 0-0-0
At Neutral 0-0-0
In Stillwater 0-0-0
In Blacksburg 0-0-0
John Smith vs. Virginia Tech 0-0-0
Kevin Dresser vs. OSU 0-0-0
Series Capsule vs. Central Michigan
Overall Series tied, 1-1-0
At Neutral Series tied, 1-1-0
In Stillwater 0-0-0
In Mount Pleasant 0-0-0
John Smith vs. Central Michigan 1-1-0
Tom Borrelli vs. OSU 1-1-0
Smith Fresh Off Career Win No. 300
Oklahoma State coach John Smith enters the National Duals after hitting a career milestone last week. The winningest coach in Cowboy Wrestling history with a career record of 300-44-5, Smith became the first OSU coach ever to hit the 300-win milestone when the Cowboys dropped No. 24 Arizona State in Tempe by a 40-4 score on Jan. 2.
Another Milestone In Sight
Oklahoma State enters the National Duals with an all-time dual match record of 995-111-22. Iowa State is the only other team with 1,000 dual match wins all-time. The Cyclones hit that milestone last year.
Last Time Out
No. 2 Oklahoma State 40, No. 24 Arizona State 4
Jan. 2, 2011 :: Tempe, Ariz. :: Att. 1,019 :: Dual started at 184 pounds
184: Chris Perry (OSU) dec. Jake Meredith; 5-4
197: Clayton Foster (OSU) MD Luke Macciaroli; 16-3
285: Blake Rosholt (OSU) dec. No. 20 Levi Cooper; 4-3
125: No. 3 Anthony Robles MD Jon Morrison (OSU); 11-0
133: Jordan Oliver (OSU) fall David Prado; 4:39
141: Luke Silver (OSU) fall Kalin Goodsite; 3:11
149: Jamal Parks (OSU) won by forfeit
157: Neil Erisman (OSU) won by forfeit
165: Dallas Bailey (OSU) dec. Te Edwards; 6-5
174: Mike Benefiel (OSU) dec. Eric Starks; 6-3
Oliver Has The Hot Hand
Sophomore Jordan Oliver has been nothing short of dominant this season. The No. 1-ranked wrestler at 133 pounds, Oliver is 8-0 with seven of those wins coming with bonus points attached.
Oliver has pinned four of his opponents and has stormed to three wins by technical fall.
Not counted in his season total is the 8-7 win he claimed over then-No. 1 Andrew Hochstrasser of Boise State at the NWCA All-Star Classic.
OSU Statistical Leaders
Wins: 14, Stephen Swan
Bonus Point Wins: 11, Josh Kindig
Falls: 10, Josh Kindig
Tech Falls: 3, Jordan Oliver
Dual Takedowns: 27, Jordan Oliver
Dual Nearfalls: 8, Jordan Oliver
Rosholt Earns National Honor
Freshman Blake Rosholt was honored as the national wrestler of the week by themat.com on Dec. 13.
The unranked Rosholt provided the key spark in Oklahoma State’s 22-12 dual victory over No. 8 Oklahoma on Dec. 12 when he scored a 4-3 upset win over No. 8 Nathan Fernandez. Rosholt — who weighed in at 214 pounds — was giving up approximately 55 pounds to the highly-favored Fernandez, but controlled the action from the start.
He bagged a first-period takedown, then scored the deciding reversal with 25 seconds remaining in the bout to clinch his win.
Morrison Earns Big 12 Honor
Freshman Jon Morrison was honored as the Big 12 Wrestler of the Week on Dec. 6.
Morrison, a 125-pounder from Orland Park, Ill., helped the Cowboys to a 17-16 road win over No. 3 Minnesota last Sunday. He knocked off two-time All-American Zach Sanders when he scored a 7-5 sudden victory to improve his record to 10-0 on the season, with three of those wins coming over ranked opponents.
Oliver Was Big 12’s Mr. November
Sophomore Jordan Oliver was recognized as the Big 12 Wrestler of the Month for November.
Oliver rattled off a perfect 5-0 record during the month, and that figure did not count his 8-7 victory over No. 1 Andrew Hochstrasser of Boise State at the NWCA All-Star Classic because bouts at the All-Star Classic do not count toward a wrestler’s season record.
Four of Oliver’s five wins in November came with bonus points attached, as he pinned two of his opponents to go with one victory coming by technical fall.
In addition to his statement victory over top-ranked Hochstrasser, Oliver also won the 133-pound bracket at the Oklahoma City Open.
Oliver’s Big 12 Wrestler of the Month honor in November marked the first time in his career that he has earned that particular distinction, though he was recognized as the Outstanding Wrestler at the 2010 Big 12 Championships.
Returning All-Americans
OSU has two of the nation’s best wrestlers in 133-pounder Jordan Oliver and 197-pounder Clayton Foster, both of whom were All-Americans last year.
Oliver placed fourth at the 2010 NCAA Championships to cap a redshirt freshman season that saw him compile a 32-4 overall record and a 8-4 mark against ranked opponents. Not only did he win the 2010 Big 12 title at 133 pounds, but he was also recognized as the Co-Outstanding Wrestler of the Big 12 Championships.
Foster is in his fourth year as a starter in the Oklahoma State lineup. He competed at 197 pounds his first two years before moving to 184 pounds last season and now is back at 197 pounds. Foster was sixth at last year’s NCAA Championships and his win over eventual NCAA champion Max Askren of Missouri at the Big 12 Championships was a vital key to the Cowboys winning the 2010 conference crown.
Asics All-Americans Live Here
Oklahoma State has a staggering eight former Asics High School First-Team All-Americans competing in its wrestling room this season.
Jordan Oliver 2006
Albert White 2007
Mike Benefiel 2007
Clayton Foster 2007
Alex Meade 2007
Alex Meade 2008
Chris Perry 2009
Josh Kindig 2010
Fargo Champs, Too
A similar note can be made about the fact that Oklahoma State has six former Fargo champions on the roster this year.
Clayton Foster 2006
Albert White 2006
Mike Benefiel 2007
Jon Morrison 2007
Jordan Oliver 2007
Jamal Parks 2007
Chris Perry 2008
Smith Family Ties
While many coaches use the analogy of the team as a family, Oklahoma State’s John Smith can take that one step further as three of his nephews currently wrestle for the Cowboys.
Chris Perry is the son of Smith’s sister, Cathy, and Zach White and Matt White are the sons of Smith’s sister, Mary Ann.
Up Next
After the National Duals, Oklahoma State returns home to square off against traditional rival Iowa at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 16 in Gallagher-Iba Arena.
OSU and Iowa have combined for 57 NCAA team championships, with the Cowboys owning 34 and the Hawkeyes claiming 23.
The dual will be televised live by ESPNU with Todd Harris, Tim Johnson, Jeff Blatnick and Quint Kessenich on the call.
Updated 01-05-2011
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