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| OKLAHOMA STATE WINS NCAA TOURNAMENT |
| 2005 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS By Jim and Tony Nordland Oklahoma State won the 75th annual NCAA Wrestling Championships at the Savvis Center in St. Louis, Missouri. The Cowboys amassed 153 points to finish ahead of runner-up Michigan (83), Oklahoma (77.5), Cornell (76.5) and Minnesota with 72.5 points. The Cowboys crowned five champions, including defending NCAA Champion Chris Pendleton at 174 pounds and former NCAA winners from 2003, Jake Rosholt (197) and Iowa transfer, Steve Mocco (37-0) at 285 pounds. Other Pokes that won NCAA titles were Zack Esposito (32-1) at 149 and Johny Hendricks (27-4) at 165 pounds. Coach John Smith and the Cowboys won their third consecutive NCAA crown, something they haven't done since 1956. They also claimed their 33rd NCAA team title and now have crowned 130 individual titlists. Reigning NCAA Champion Greg Jones (28-0)of West Virginia, became a three-time champion, as he defeated Tyler Baier (Cornell), 5-3, for the 184-pound crown. Jones was voted the OSW Award in the tournament. Other former NCAA Champions that won titles were, four-time All-American Travis Lee (37-1) of Cornell who decisioned Shawn Bunch (Edinboro), 6-3, at 133, Teyon Ware (33-2) of Oklahoma, who edged nemesis Nick Gallick (29-1), 3-2, of Iowa State for the 141-pound championship and Michigan's Ryan Bertin at 157 pounds. The other NCAA winner was fifth-seeded Joe Dubuque (Indiana) who decisioned Kyle Ott (Illinois), 2-0, for the 125-pound crown. Hofstra, with two-time All-American Jon Masa (3rd at 149) finished in 17th place with 36.5 points. Of the nine returning champions in the field, two were denied their quest for a second crown, both Stanford's Matt Gentry (157) and Lehigh's Troy Letters (165) were defeated, Gentry failed to place and Letters finished third in his respective weight class. NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS 125- Joe Dubuque (Indiana) dec. Kyle Ott (Illinois) 2-0. 133- Travis Lee (Cornell) dec. Shawn Bunch (Edinboro) 6-3. 141- Teyon Ware (Oklahoma) dec. Nick Gallick (Iowa State) 3-2. 149- Zack Esposito (Oklahoma State) dec. Phillip Simpson (Army) 5-2. 157- Ryan Bertin (Michigan) dec. Joe Johnston (Iowa) 8-5. 165- Johny Hendicks (Oklahoma State) dec. Mark Perry (Iowa) 5-2. 174- Chris Pendleton (Oklahoma State) dec. Ben Askren (Missouri) 10-5. 184- Greg Jones (West Virginia) dec. Tyler Baier (Cornell) 5-3. 197- Jake Rosholt (Oklahoma State) dec. Sean Stender (Northern Iowa) 5-4. 285- Steve Mocco (Oklahoma State) dec. Cole Konrad (Minnesota) 3-1 sv. TEAM SCORES- 1. Oklahoma State...................153 points 2. Michigan.............................83 3. Oklahoma............................77.5 4. Cornell................................76.5 5. Minnesota............................72.5 6. Illinois.................................70.5 7. Iowa...................................66 8. Lehigh.................................60 9. Indiana................................58.5 10.Iowa State..........................57 |
| Cornell's Travis Lee won his second NCAA title. File photo |
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| Oklahoma State's Zack Esposito defeated Hofstra's Jon Masa at 149 pounds. Esposito won the title and Masa finished third. File photo |