Feb. 27, 1998

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The No. 12 Michigan State wrestling team ended itis dual meet season Thursday night with a 28-9 road loss to No. 5 Oklahoma. MSU defeated Oklahoma earlier this season,19-12 at the National Dual Championships. The Spartans end the regular season with a 9-10 dual meet record, 4-5 in the Big Ten, while the Sooners improve to 16-5, 3-2 in the Big 12 Confrerence.

Senior captain David Morgan, still ranked No. 1 at 118 pounds, started the dual with a 7-2 win over Okalahomais No. 5 Shane Valdez to give MSU a 3-0 lead. Freshman Pat McNamara, the No. 6-ranked wrestler at 126 pounds, followed with a 7-2 victory over No. 12 Dane Valdez to increase the lead to 6-0. Morgan and McNamara have won back-to-back matches in 16 of 19 dual meets this season.

After an Oklahoma win at 134, freshman Mike Castillo got the final three MSU points with a 7-6 defeat of Bo Eubanks. The Sooners then captured the final six matches of the dual to make the final score 28-9.

Michigan State will return to action at the Big Ten Championships, March 7-8 at Penn State University.

RESULTS:

                                                   Running Score (MSU - OU)
                                                     
118 - No. 1 David Morgan (MSU) dec. No. 5 Shane Valdez (OU) 7-2     3   0
126 - No. 6 Pat McNamara (MSU) dec. No. 12 Dane Valdez (OU) 7-2     6   0
134 - Michael Lightner (OU) dec. Issac Miller (MSU) 6-4             6   3
142 - Mike Castillo (MSU) dec. Bo Eubanks (OU) 7-6                  9   3
150 - Rodney Jones (OU) dec. Corey Posey (MSU) 10-3                 9   6
158 - No. 3 Byron Tucker (OU) dec. Greg DeGrand (MSU) 5-2           9   9
167 - Michael Roller (OU) pinned Will Hill (MSU) 6:46               9   15
177 - Jason Street (OU) maj. dec. James Brimm (MSU) 15-4            9   19
190 - Orville Palmer (OU) dec. Nick Muzashvili (MSU) 12-6           9   22
275 - John Henry Ward (OU) pinned Matt Lamb (MSU) 2:50              9   28

      Final Score                                                   9   28
                                            
                    Records: Michigan State 9-10, 4-5
                             Oklahoma      16-5,  3-2 Big 12