Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Host Penn State
January 04, 2000 | Cowboy Wrestling
Jan. 4, 2000
STILLWATER, Okla. - Oklahoma State will return to the mat for the first time since closing out the 20th century as the most successful collegiate wrestling program in the nation.
On Friday, OSU will begin the 21st century against the 20th-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions at 7 p.m. at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Penn State will bring a 1-3 record into the dual against the third-ranked Cowboys.
Head coach John Smith's Cowboys are 3-0-1 on the season and have won both the Las Vegas Invitational and the Reno Tournament of Champions.
In the series OSU owns a 10-4-1 record all-time against the Nittany Lions and is riding a three-dual winning streak. In the last meeting, OSU won a 27-6 decision in 1996 in University Park, Pa.
OSU is coming off a road trip that saw them topple Oregon 33-9 and defeat an Oregon State squad which was ranked 20th in the nation at the time, 29-6. The Pokes then claimed their fourth-straight Reno Tournament of Champions title.
Penn State opened its season with three straight losses for the first time since 1978. The first loss came to 12th-ranked Lehigh 19-16. The Nittany Lions then dropped duals to No. 13 Edinboro 19-14 and No. 10 Penn 22-16. Penn State earned its first win by beating Navy 20-13.
Jeremy Hunter is the Nittany Lions' lone returning All-American after finishing second at the 1999 NCAA Championships. Hunter is currently ranked No. 1 at 125 pounds.
Friday's dual will also mark the 1999-2000 Oklahoma State Wrestling Reunion and the presentation of the 2000 Edward C. Gallagher Award.
Oklahoma State's starting lineup
125: Jeff Ragan (17-4, #11) 133: Charles Walker (18-1, #8) 141: Jamill Kelly (17-1, #4) 149: Reggie Wright (18-1, #3) 157: Shane Roller (19-8, #16) 165: Ty Wilcox (15-4, #8) 174: Tony Gansen (17-6, NR) 184: Pat Popolizio (14-5, #16) 197: Mark Munoz (20-0, #2) 285: Dave Anderton (16-3, #8)
Penn State starting lineup
125: Jeremy Hunter (13-0, #1) 133: Scott Moore/Jason Kruk 141: Jason Betz (12-1, #13) 149: Brent Narkiewicz (8-10, NR) 157: Nate Wachter/Travis Hummel 165: Bill Dubler (4-5, NR) 174: Mark Becks (14-6, NR) 184: Jeff Knupp (20-9, NR) 197: Ross Thatcher/Pete Mielnik 285: Mark Janus (7-2, #18)
