Mat Mayhem could feature a rematch of familiar, fierce foes

By Roger Moore, Correspondent

STILLWATER, Okla. - As usual the annual Oklahoma State-Iowa dual meet did not disappoint.

The longtime rivals met Jan. 7 in Carver-Hawkeye Arena in front of more than 15,000, and the Cowboys ended Iowa's 84-match unbeaten streak by the slimmest of margins, 17-16, via the newly installed tiebreaker system for duals.

The possibility for a rematch exists Sunday as the inaugural Mat Mayhem, the new version of the NWCA National Duals, reaches its apex.

Top-ranked Oklahoma State faces Illinois in one semifinal, and the Hawkeyes take on Minnesota in the other half. Iowa (13-3) beat Minnesota, 19-17, Jan. 29, thanks in part to a pin by Mike Evans at 165 pounds. Oklahoma State and Illinois have not met since 2008.

“There is certainly an opportunity to wrestle (Iowa) again,” said Oklahoma State Coach John Smith. “The last time was a great dual meet at their place in front of a big crowd. Those matches are special, matches my wrestlers will always remember.

“But you can't look past anybody. Illinois is tough, obviously. To go beat (Oklahoma) and Cornell in that regional shows what they are capable of. Minnesota and Iowa is going to be a tough match, too, so I don't think anybody is thinking about the finals just yet.”

From all the chatter surrounding Tony Ramos and Jordan Oliver you would think the two were old rivals. But the Jan. 7 meeting in which Ramos, a sophomore, edged the 2011 NCAA champion in the first tiebreaker was their first meeting in college. It ended a 39-match winning streak for Oliver, who on his first trip to Iowa beat Daniel Dennis back in 2010.

“There is nothing like having the crowd behind you,” said Oliver, who is 19-1. “You are told to block out the crowd during a match, but sometimes in a tough match when you are tired you hear that crowd behind you, pushing you, it can give you that second wind you need. It's a big factor having the home crowd, and it would be nice to get that type of atmosphere in Stillwater.

“I'm hoping we can pack (Gallagher-Iba Arena). Carver-Hawkeye Arena was amazing. Fifteen thousand fans there. It's hard to do something like that but I think we can.”

Since the loss to Ramos (24-2), Oliver has won nine straight, including last Sunday's solid, 7-3, victory over Ohio State's Logan Stieber, who gave Ramos one of his two losses this season.

“It's something I'm looking forward to,” said Oliver of a possible rematch with Ramos. “It is something I took as a positive even though I walked off the mat with a loss. It's something that humbled me, something I can learn from. It motivates me knowing that I can get so much better at certain positions.

“But we are taking it one match at a time.”

The 174-pound bout on Jan. 7 also needed extra wrestling. Chris Perry, younger brother of two-time NCAA champion and former Hawkeye Mark Perry, edged Luke Lofthouse. Some extra-curricular activity between the two post-match added to a very intense evening in Carver-Hawkeye.

“We all have big matches against tough competition this weekend,” said Perry, whose technical fall on Thursday night helped the Cowboys get by Oklahoma, 19-18. “Wrestling Iowa again, that would be great. I think it's what the fans want.”

Illinois (16-2) and Minnesota (12-3) would be a nice final. But Mat Mayhem's first edition certainly wouldn't be hurt by a couple of old friends facing off yet again.