NORMAN, Okla. – Cory Stainbrook and No. 6 Jacob A. Smith won a pair of decisions as the West Virginia University wrestling team dropped a 37-6 Big 12 dual to No. 14 Oklahoma at McCasland Field House in Norman on Sunday afternoon.
“We had some heartbreaking losses in winnable matches by Devin (Brown) and Christian (Monserrat),” said WVU coach Sammie Henson. “I don’t think this match was indicative of what we can accomplish.”
Stainbrook won a 4-2 decision over Jacob Rubio at 133 for the Mountaineers (2-10, 0-2), using a takedown and a pair of escapes in the win. Smith added another win for the Mountaineers at 197, using a first-period takedown and a second-period escape to win a 3-1 decision over No. 20 Brad Johnson.
The Sooners (6-4, 2-1) won by fall at 125 pounds to take a 6-0 lead before Stainbrook then put WVU on the board with a decision over Rubio. Stainbrook scored a takedown in the first, leading 2-0 and starting the second on bottom. He used an early escape to pad his lead in the second, taking a 3-0 advantage into the final frame. After a neutral start Rubio struck with a takedown, but Stainbrook escaped to remain ahead 4-2. Neither scored in the remaining time as Stainbrook took the 4-2 win as the Mountaineers trailed 6-3.
OU claimed a win by decision at 141 pounds before Christian Monserrat dropped a hard-fought 8-6 decision to No. 13 Davion Jeffries as West Virginia found itself trailing Oklahoma 12-3. A tech. fall at 157 added five more points to the board for the Sooners, before No. 13 Yoanse Mejia upset No. 8 Dylan Cottrell in an 8-5 decision as WVU trailed OU, 20-3.
The Sooners added two more bonus-point victories at 174 (tech. fall) and 184 (fall) to take a 31- 3 lead. Smith added a trio of points to the board with a 3-1 decision over Johnson at 197. Scoring a late takedown in the first, he took a 2-0 lead into the second period. After starting on bottom, Smith made it a 3-0 advantage on an escape. He yielded an escape to Johnson in the third but won the decision to put the score at 31-6 in favor of the Sooners. OU added a win by fall at heavyweight for the 37-6 win.
West Virginia will be off next weekend. The Mountaineers return to action on Sunday, Feb. 5, when they travel to Raleigh, North Carolina, to face No. 9 NC State.
No. 14 Oklahoma 37, West Virginia 6
125: Christian Moody (OU) pins Devin Brown (WVU), 6:13
133: Cory Stainbrook (WVU) dec. Jacob Rubio (OU), 4-2
141: Mike Longo (OU) dec. Joe Wheeling (WVU), 7-2
149: No. 13 Davion Jeffries (OU) dec. Christian Monserrat (WVU), 8-6
157: No. 15 Clark Glass (OU) tech. fall Dayton Garrett (WVU), 18-2 (6:38)
165: No. 13 Yonase Mejia (OU) dec. No. Dylan Cottrell (WVU), 8-5
174: Matt Reed (OU) tech. fall Ty Millward (WVU), 18-0 (3:00)
184: Andrew Dixon (OU) pins Kyle Rogers (WVU), 6:24
197: No. 6 Jacob A. Smith (WVU) dec. No. 20 Brad Johnson (WVU), 3-1
HWT: Ross Larson (OU) pins Brandon Ngati (WVU), 2:05
