by By Micah Thompson, soonersports.com
NORMAN – The University of Oklahoma wrestling team defeated Big 12 opponent Northern Colorado, 38-3, Thursday night inside McCasland Field House.
With the win, the Sooners moved to 4-0 on the season. OU Head Coach Mark Cody said he was happy with the team’s performance in the home opener.
“I like the way that we were aggressive,” Cody said. “You have butterflies and anxiety, and once you get out there and get that first takedown, or you get to a guys’ foot the first time, that all goes away, and all of a sudden you just start mentally engaging and fighting and not thinking about how stressed out you are.”
Six of the Sooners’ nine wins in the match came with bonus points, including two falls by Noah Teaney at 141 pounds and No. 14 Matt Reed at 174 pounds.
Sophomore Ryan Millhof started off the dual for the Sooners, recording a takedown and two reversals in the 125 bout. Millhof secured the riding time point for a 7-3 decision of No. 16 Trey Andrews, while OU’s No. 1-ranked Cody Brewer picked up a 20-4 technical fall (4:33) against Rico Montoya at 133 to extend OU’s lead.
Teaney started his OU dual debut in a big way with a win by fall over Sonny Espinoza in 1:43. Before the pin, Teaney registered a takedown and a four-point nearfall.
In the 149-pound match, freshman Davion Jeffries (Muscogee Creek Nation), ranked No. 20, registered a 13-4 major decision against Timmy Box.
Redshirt freshman Brock Wingbermuehle dropped a 7-2 decision to Northern Colorado’s Eleazar DeLuca at 157 pounds, but No. 8 Clark Glass tallied seven takedowns and an escape en route to a 16-6 major decision over Joe Grable.
Redshirt junior Reed posted the Sooners’ second fall of the night, this one coming in 1:00 against Horacio Vialpando.
Redshirt freshman Joel Dixon made his McCasland debut, logging a 6-2 decision against Tanner Davis in the 184 pound matchup, while Brad Johnson defeated No. 20 Trent Noon at 197 pounds. Redshirt junior Ross Larson, ranked No. 8 in the nation, finished the dual with a 9-1 decision of Jack Kuck.
The Sooners return to mat when they travel to Ann Arbor, Mich., this Sunday, Nov. 22 for a matchup against No. 3 Michigan.
