STILLWATER —
Miracle finishes usually don't happen twice in the same day. They didn't Sunday in the National Duals Finals at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
No. 1 Oklahoma State needed a win from a freshman wrestling in his first dual for the Cowboys to reach the championship round. Heavyweight Austin Marsden came through with a 3-2 decision against Patrick Walker of Illinois.
Marsden's win gave Oklahoma State a 19-15 victory over Illinois and put the Pokes into the championship dual against Minnesota.
The No. 3 Golden Gophers advanced to the championship dual with a 16-15 win over No. 4 Iowa.
The championship dual also came down to the heavyweight bout. This time Marsden (1-1 in duals) wasn't a match for No. 4-ranked Tony Nelson (24-2).
Nelson scored a takedown, reversal and nearfall to roll to an 8-1 decision, giving Minnesota (14-3) the 18-13 victory and the National Duals championship. It was Oklahoma State's (16-1) first dual loss of the season.
The Cowboys needed to pick up decisions at 157, 165 and 197 pounds to snatch the championship, Oklahoma State coach John Smith said.
“We lost two of three,” Smith said.
OSU's 157-pounder Albert White jumped out to a 7-4 lead after the first period. He held on for a 9-7 decision. The Pokes' Dallas Bailey lost 4-2 in overtime to Minnesota's Cody Yohn at 165 pounds. Minnesota's Sonny Yohn scored a 3-1 victory over Blake Rosholt at 197 pounds.
Sonny Yohn's victory over Rosholt gave Minnesota its first lead in the dual at 15-13.
The championship came down to Marsden again. The freshman had compiled a 23-2 record by wrestling in tournaments this season.
Smith had planned to redshirt Marsden this season, but all that changed Thursday when OSU's No. 2-ranked heavyweight Alan Gelogaev sustained a season-ending injury against Oklahoma's Kyle Colling.
Marsden kept it close against Sonny Yohn in the first period, but a reversal and nearfall in the second period gave Yohn an insurmountable 6-0 lead. Yohn also built up four minutes of riding time.
Oklahoma State had some bright spots in the semifinals and finals.
Oklahoma State All-American and defending national champion Jordan Oliver picked up two major decision victories over Top-10 opponents. Oliver ran his record to 21-1.
Oliver gave himself a “C” for his performance, saying he could have picked up technical falls or pins.
“There's still room for improvement,” Oliver said.
Oklahoma State's 149-pounder Jamal Parks (27-0) scored two decisions Sunday. He bounced back from an early deficit against Minnesota's Dylan Ness. Parks fell behind 5-0 just 45 seconds in to the bout when Ness scored a takedown and a 3-point nearfall. Parks battled back with an escape and takedown. He trailed 6-3 after the first period. Over the last two periods, Parks scored three takedowns to win 11-8.
Oklahoma State's No. 3-ranked 174-pounder Chris Perry won twice Sunday to improve to 23-0 this season.
He picked up a 4-0 decision over No. 4-ranked Logan Storley of Minnesota and a 6-3 decision over No. 10-ranked Jordan Blanton of Illinois.
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February 20, 2012
OSU loses in National Duals championship bout
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