University of Missouri
Oklahoma State
4th Ranked Okie State Downs Tiger Grapplers
11/16/2000 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Nov. 16, 2000
Tulsa, Okla. - The University of Missouri wrestling continued their gauntlet of a schedule Thursday as they traveled to Tulsa, Okla., where they faced fourth-ranked Oklahoma State. The Cowboys downed the Tigers 29-6.
"I think we got a real taste of what our competition is going to be like this year," said Head Coach Brian Smith. "We open the season with fifth-ranked Illinois, then the very next week wrestle fourth-ranked Oklahoma State, who started 9 Top-20 wrestlers out of 10 . We looked a lot better. We're ready to go out and get after it. We're not that far away from where we need to be--a couple of takedowns and we're right there. The guys believe that. "
John Kopnisky opened the dual with a win for the Tigers, defeating fourth-ranked Cowboy 174-pounder Tyrone Lewis 4-0. "Kop dominated the match. He just goes out and gets the job done," said Smith.
Sophomore Dante Stone gave OSU All-American Mark Munoz a run for his money. Stone scored a takedown in the second to tie the match 4-4, but Munoz eventually climbed back into the lead, winning the match 8-5
At 125, freshman Justin Spates showed why he was the number one prospect in the nation last year, decisioning eleventh ranked Matt Brown 3-1. Spates scored first on a reverse, then earned riding time before Brown escaped in the third period.
Junior Jesse West was defeated at 133 by sixth-ranked Charles Walker 10-2.
In the 141-pound match, junior J.P. Reese gave up a major decision to ninth-ranked Jerrod Sanders 12-3.
Kenny Burleson, sophomore 149-pounder for the Tigers, lost a major decision (17-7) to fourth-ranked Cowboy Reggie White.
OSU's sixteenth-ranked Shane Roller came out with a fury, climbing to a 12-0 lead over Tiger David Neff by the end of the second period. Roller won the match 16-1.
At 165, seventh-ranked Tony Gansen beat sophomore Mark Vollmar 7-1.
Ry Stone, junior transfer at 184, was defeated by Pat Popolizio 5-3. Popolizio is ranked ninth by Intermat Magazine. Stone scored the first takedown in the first period, and held the lead until Popolizio reversed midway through the second to take a 3-2 lead.
Finally at heavyweight, OSU junior James Huml decisioned Tiger junior Chad Hertzog 7-5.
The Tigers will race home from Tulsa in order to host the Missouri Open, which will be held at the Hearnes Center Fieldhouse Sunday. The tournament will begin at 10 a.m. Nearly 400 wrestlers including over 20 teams are expected. Schools participating in the Open include Indiana, Illinois, Purdue, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Iowa St., E. Illinois, Tenn. Chattanooga, Neosho, Minnesota St., Cumberland, Lindenwood, Missouri Valley, Central Missouri, Meramac, Mo. Baptist, Southern Illinois, Lincoln, and more. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children. "This is our first year to host the Missouri Open, and we're very excited. I hope to see a lot of fans come out and support the
