ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. — Here was the idea: Oklahoma’s 10th-ranked wrestling team was to meet No. 20 Wyoming Friday night, win, and then come back even stronger at 2 p.m. Sunday, when Oklahoma State arrives inside Howard McCasland Fieldhouse for a Bedlam dual.
Well, the second-ranked Cowboys are still on the way to Norman, but the Sooners won’t be looking to get better after a victory.
Instead, winning just three of 10 bouts at Cowley Community College, the Sooners fell handily, 25-13, to Wyoming.
OSU and Wyoming both share “Cowboys” as their mascot, though Sunday’s opponent is supposed to be quite a bit more difficult than Friday’s.
Still, but for OU’s top-ranked 141-pounder Kendric Maple’s pin of McCade Ford in 89 seconds, the Sooners’ only other victories were delivered by 133-pounder Cody Brewer and 165-pounder Bubby Graham.
Brewer picked up a 16-6 major decision over Kassey Garnhart, while Graham bested Dakota Friesth 8-5.
The Cowboys (2-1) excelled in the art of the narrow victory.
At 125 pounds, Tyler Cox stopped Kyle Garcia 9-6. At 149, Austin Breckenridge bested Nick Lester 4-3. At 174, Lee Helbig topped Matt Reed 5-2. At 184, Shane Woods decisioned Greg Wilson 4-2. Together, those bouts represented 12 team points Wyoming scored and 12 the Sooners didn’t.
Those who might be wondering how Wyoming might stack up with OSU won’t have to wait very long. Today, at Gallagher-Iba Arena, the Laramie Cowboys meet the Stillwater Cowboys.
But the Sooners (4-2) can’t worry about that. Bedlam comes Sunday, leaving OU not much time to bring quite a bit more to the mat.
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