Current and Former Cowboys Perform Well at Freestyle National Championships

Current and Former Cowboys Perform Well at Freestyle National Championships

Apr 10, 2007 by FloWrestling Staff
Current and Former Cowboys Perform Well at Freestyle National Championships
LAS VEGAS ? Five former Oklahoma State wrestlers placed at the U.S. Senior Freestyle National Championships to qualify for the World Team Trials to be held in Las Vegas June 9-10. Daniel Cormier and Muhammed Lawal both advanced to the finals at 96 kg (211.5 lbs.). The winner will receive a bye to the championship series of the trials, while the loser will be the top seed of the challenge bracket. Zack Esposito and Steve Mocco both finished third at 66 and 120 kg, respectively. Two-time NCAA champion Chris Pendleton finished fourth at 84 kg (185 lbs.), while Tyrone Lewis finished seventh at 74 kg (163 lbs.). All five wrestlers qualify for the trials, but will have to win a challenge tournament where they will face the U.S. National Champion. The winner of that championship series will advance to the World Wrestling Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan. Ben Ashmore finished runner-up at the FILA Junior National Championships, while both Neil Erisman and Cody Hill finished sixth to qualify for the FILA Junior World Team Trials in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 25-26. Ashmore lost to Tyler Graff in the finals at 55 kg (121.25 lbs.), 3-0, 1-0. Ashmore will be the top seed of the challenge bracket of the trials for the right to face Graff again with a trip to the FILA Junior World Championships on the line. Graff receives a bye to the championship series. Cowboy junior Coleman Scott won the trials last year at 60 kg (132 lbs.). Erisman and Hill were both forced to default in the fifth-place match at 74 and 85 kg, respectively. Ashmore, Erisman and Hill all redshirted this season as freshmen for the Cowboy wrestling team.