NCAA WRESTLING JOURNAL

Shutout string snapped

OSU's Preston Weigel continued has abbreviated but unbeaten season with two victories but saw his shutout string snapped. He had outscored five straight opponents by a cumulative 57-0 score before yielding a takedown in the second round to Nebraska's Eric Schultz. Weigel quickly rallied to win, 7-2.

Other Oklahomans

Wrestlers with Oklahoma ties but not competing for Oklahoma or Oklahoma State had mixed results in the first two rounds. Cascia Hall product Tanner Skidgel (165) of Navy, Altus product Montorie Bridges (133) of Wyoming, two Oklahoma State transfers – North Carolina 133-pounder Gary Wayne Harding (Collinsville), and Wisconsin 141-pounder Tristan Moran (Stillwater) — went 3-4 for the day. Bridges led the way by winning two straight and advancing to the quarterfinals. Moran lost then won in consolations, as did Skidgel. Harding was eliminated.

25th anniversary

This tournament marks the 25th anniversary of Mark Branch's improbable NCAA title run as a redshirt freshman. The current Wyoming head coach and a four-time finalist and two-time NCAA champion at Oklahoma State entered the 1994 tournament with an 8-9 record but swept to the championship at 167 pounds and still is believed to have the lowest win percentage by an NCAA champ. He finished at 13-11, a .542 percentage. But his final two seasons he was one of the most dominant wrestlers regardless of weight.

Takedowns ...

Heavyweight officially has been 285 pounds for several years. Previously, it was unlimited. OSU's White – a 119-pounder at Edmond North as a freshman – now weighs 240. Largest heavyweight in this year's bracket is Northwestern's Conan Jennings at 284 pounds . ... In 1984, a reporter dubbed the heavyweight championship match “the Jumbo Jetliner Final,” as the finalists' combined weight was 747. NC State's 401pound Tab Thacker edged Nebraska's Gary Allbright (346 pounds), 3-1.