WELCOME FROM HEAD COACH
JACK SPATES 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. Last year, the Sooners finished fifth overall at the NCAA Championships. The lofty status was partially do to a number of coaching additions, 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, now in his second year, brought a wealth of experience and success as a four time All-American NCAA Champion and 2006 World Team member. Former Penn State All-American Ross Thatcher completes the staff, who in just a few years has coached five NCAA
Champions and helped lead others to international acclaim. Getting on top of the podium this March will take talent. The Sooner staff has a wealth of young talent after completing back-to-back top 10 recruiting classes. Oklahoma’s talented roster will thrive to finished in the top five for the second straight year. They will do so in the nation’s finest training facility and alongside coaches and fans who are willing and eager to restore the Sooner wrestler to greatness. They will do so with passion, integrity, hard and smart work along with a commitment to doing whatever it takes.
A TRADITION OF CHAMPIONSHIPS
2010-11 WRESTLING MEDIA GUIDE
GUIDE DESIGN
This season’s media guide was designed and produced by the OU Athletics Department in Norman, Okla., using Adobe InDesign and Adobe Photoshop.
Jason Bodin
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).
Debbie Copp
WRITTEN AND COMPILED BY Jason Bodin
EDITED BY
CONTRIBUTORS
Kenny Mossman, Debbie Copp
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.