Cowboys ride big four to early lead

OKLAHOMA CITY – Three-time defending champion Oklahoma State piled up six pins in the second round of the NCAA wrestling tournament Thursday night to take a 12-point lead over rival Oklahoma.

Reigning NCAA champions Zack Esposito (149 pounds), Johny Hendricks (165), Jake Rosholt (197) and Steve Mocco (heavyweight) all pinned their second-round opponents, with each pin providing the Cowboys two valuable bonus points toward their 36 1/2-point total.

Rosholt is a senior from Sandpoint High.

“Our four stars are going out looking to dominate, looking to win back-to-back titles,” said Esposito, who recorded the first of the team’s pins against Morgan Atkinson of Cal State Fullerton.

Esposito’s pin created a trickle-down effect. Hendricks followed by downing North Carolina’s Garrett Atkinson. Rosholt then smothered Old Dominion’s Adam Wright, and Mocco took down Boise State’s Andrew Patrick.

But Oklahoma State still wasn’t done dominating. Coleman Scott, who was upset earlier in the day, came back to pin two opponents – Oregon State’s Eric Stevenson and Chattanooga’s Javier Maldonado – in the 125-pound consolation bracket.

Hendricks said the Cowboys were drawing motivation from their teammates’ performances.

“It raises the bar for our team and for our individuals, like, ‘We can do that.’ It’s just raising their morale,” Hendricks said.

No. 2 seed Nathan Morgan (133) and 11th seed Brandon Mason (174) also moved on with minor decisions to give the Cowboys a tournament-high six wrestlers in the quarterfinals.

Led by defending champion Teyon Ware (141), Oklahoma was second with 24 1/2 points.

Hofstra and Edinboro tied for third place with 22 1/2 points. Michigan and Nebraska had 22 points and were in a three-way tie with Minnesota, the favorite.

Minnesota picked up a late half-point after protesting a win by Ohio State’s Blake Mauer against Minnesota’s Gabriel Dretsch in a 174-pound consolation match. After an hour delay, the wrestlers returned to start the third period anew and Dretsch beat Mauer.

“We’re not keeping pace with extra points and it’s killing us,” Oklahoma coach Jack Spates said. “But as far as the guys showing up to wrestle, for the most part, we’re doing a real good job.”

Sam Hazewinkel, the No. 2 seed at 125, earned Oklahoma three bonus points by pinning Iowa’s Luke Magnani in the third period, but the Sooners were lacking elsewhere.