JACK SPATES
The program has been reenergized with a new staff, highlighted by head assistant coach Sammie Henson. A World champion and Olympic silver medalist, Sammie’s technical skills and intensity have Olympic hopefuls from all over the country seeking his expertise. Michael Lightner also brings a wealth of experience and success as a four-time All-American, NCAA Champion and 2006 World Team member. Former Penn State AllAmerican Ross Thatcher completes the staff, who in just a few years has coached five NCAA Champions and helped lead others to international acclaim.
The team will do so in the nation’s finest training facility and alongside coaches and fans who are willing and eager to restore the Sooner wrestling program to greatness. They will do so with passion, integrity, hard and smart work along with a commitment to doing whatever it takes.
The Staff
Getting on top of the podium this March will take talent. The Sooner staff met this need by bringing in the nation’s No. 2-ranked recruiting class. A total of 14 wrestlers, five of whom were ranked in the top five nationally in their respective weight classes, earned 30 state titles and are committed to championship results at Oklahoma.
PRE VI E W
Throughout its long and storied tradition, Sooner wrestling has been synonymous with NCAA greatness. Witness the success from 2001-2006 when the Sooners garnered six top four NCAA finishes in seven years. During that span, no wrestling team in America brought home more NCAA trophies.
Boomer S ooner
WELCOME FROM HEAD COACH
THE SOONERS
A TRADITION OF CHAMPIONSHIPS
2008-09 REVIEW
GUIDE DESIGN
The guide was printed by Transcript Press of Norman at no cost to the taxpayers of the state of Oklahoma. The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity employer (October 2009).
Scott Matthews
WRITTEN AND COMPILED BY Mitch Heckart and Jason Bodin
COVER DESIGN EDITED BY
Debbie Copp and Kenny Mossman
CONTRIBUTORS
Kenny Mossman, Debbie Copp, Leslie Koch, Stephanie Turner and Jennifer Van Tuyl
PHOTOGRAPHY
Photos were supplied by Ty Russell, Jerry Laizure, Lisa Hall, Jason Matheson, The Norman Transcript, The Oklahoma Daily, and University of Oklahoma Athletics Media Relations files.
| 1936 | 1951 | 1952 | NATIONAL CHAMPIONS | 1957 | 1960 | 1963 | 1974 |
The University
This season’s media guide was designed and produced by the OU Athletics Department in Norman, Okla., using Adobe InDesign and Adobe Photoshop.
Mitch Heckart
OU Tr adi tion
2009-10 WRESTLING MEDIA GUIDE
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