Indiana wrestling ended its perfect start to the season in a dual meet against the University of Oklahoma on Sunday in Norman, Oklahoma. The Hoosiers fell to the Sooners 22-13 for their first loss of the season.
Eight of the 10 Hoosiers that competed were ranked in InterMat’s most recent rankings, which were released Wednesday. Only four of Oklahoma’s wrestlers who competed were ranked, despite the team having seven who were ranked by InterMat.
Indiana threw the first punch of the afternoon, with No. 13 graduate student Jacob Moran besting redshirt sophomore Conrad Hendriksen with a 5-2 sudden victory in the 125-pound bout, giving the Hoosiers an early 3-0 lead. Moran and Hendriksen were tied at three after the third period, before a Moran takedown secured the first-bout win.
The Sooners responded quickly in the 133-pound bout when redshirt sophomore Carter Schmidt took down No. 33 redshirt sophomore Logan Frazier in a 7-4 upset by decision, tying the dual at three through two bouts.
The back-and-forth would continue in Norman, as Indiana regained the lead after the 141-pound bout. No. 28 redshirt junior Henry Porter earned a 6-4 victory by decision over No. 21 junior Tyler Wells in the first of three ranked matchups. Porter’s win gave the Hoosiers a 6-3 lead.
Oklahoma redshirt freshman Hunter Hollingsworth would provide another equalizer in the 149-pound bout, by way of a 4-2 victory by decision over redshirt sophomore Joey Buttler.
The first victory by major decision of the afternoon was in the 157-pound bout. No. 33 redshirt sophomore Bryce Lowery dominated Oklahoma redshirt freshman Layton Schneider 10-2, earning four points for the Hoosiers, and giving Indiana a 10-6 lead.
Indiana earned its second consecutive win in the 165-pound bout, as No. 23 redshirt junior Tyler Lillard came out of the low-scoring affair on top. He recorded a 4-1 victory by decision over freshman Bryce Burkett, extending the Hoosier lead to 13-6.
Despite Indiana’s seven-point lead through six bouts, the Sooners won the final four to steal the dual from the Hoosiers.
In the 174-pound bout, Oklahoma redshirt sophomore Carter Schubert earned a 4-2 victory by decision over Indiana redshirt sophomore Orlando Cruz, cutting the deficit to four.
Oklahoma knotted the meet up at 13 in the 184-pound bout. In the second ranked matchup of the day, No. 14 senior Brian Soldano clobbered No. 16 redshirt freshman Sam Goin 11-0, earning a major decision victory for the Sooners.
The Sooners’ first lead of the day came in the ninth match, with No. 11 senior DJ Parker defeating No.13 redshirt junior Gabe Sollars 14-4 in a major decision victory in the 197-pound bout. Indiana trailed 17-13 entering the final bout.
In need of a major decision victory or better, Indiana’s redshirt freshman Caleb Marzolino faced No. 24 senior Juan Mora in the 285-pound bout. With an 18-3 technical fall victory, Mora thrashed his opponent and secured the 22-13 team win for the Sooners.
Indiana now stands at 2-1. The Hoosiers will continue their season against Central Michigan University on Dec. 5 at Wilkinson Hall in Bloomington.
