2019 NCAA All-American Dom Demas (Photo/Tony Rotundo; WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Oklahoma Sooners
OU won their first conference title under Lou Rosselli last season when they tied with Oklahoma State at the Big 12 tournament. With a lot of returning starters and a few incoming transfers, they will be trying to repeat that effort this season.
TOP RETURNERS
Dom Demas and Mitch Moore look poised to be conference favorites at 141 and 149 and Jake Woodley is back off an All-American finish at 197, the toughest weight in the conference.
KEY DEPARTURES
Mason Naifeh was the 125-pound starter for OU last season, but otherwise, the entire starting lineup for the Sooners returns.
NEWCOMERS
Joey Prata(125), Joe Grello(165/74), and Keegan Moore(184).
Grello and Moore will be in battles to land starting spots in the lineup, but Joey Prata looks like the perfect transfer to fill in at 125. He has reasonable potential to finish high at the conference tournament and should qualify for the NCAAs. His points could play a big role if they're going to grab another conference championship next year.
WRESTLERS TO WATCH
Josh Heindselman. Heavyweight in college wrestling is as good as I can remember. The high-end talent is incredible and will be nearly impossible for a lot of guys to beat. But Josh is on that tier just behind the top group and has developed and improved every year in college. I think he breaks through and finishes as an All-American this year.
POTENTIAL LINEUP
125-Joey Prata
The transfer portal has been incredibly favorable for OU this offseason, and most notable is the addition of Joey Prata at 125. Prata was a third-place finisher in the ACC twice and an NCAA qualifier at Virginia Tech. Prata is the real deal and a huge addition for the Sooners at one of few weights they did not qualify at the NCAA tournament for.
133-Anthony Madrigal
Madrigal was a Big 12 finalist and a two-time NCAA qualifier. It will be tough to jump Daton Fix on the conference ladder and become a Big 12 champion, but they'll look for a few more dual wins and a deeper NCAA run.
141-Dom Demas
Demas is arguably the best wrestler on the OU roster and will be a solid favorite to win the Big 12 here. His NCAA tournament last year saw him outside the top eight, but it should be expected for him to jump back into All-American status next season.
149-Mitch Moore
Mitch Moore was a Big 12 tournament finalist for OU last season and NCAA qualifier. Boo Lewallen is now graduated from OSU and Moore will look to jump into Boo's shoes as Big 12 champion this season.
He ranks on the fringe of All-American status, but with the proper bracket break and a healthy season could reasonably jump into the top 8 at the NCAA tournament.
157-Justin Thomas
OU will be glad to have multiple-time NCAA qualifier Justin Thomas back this season. He is one of the athletes taking advantage of the NCAA allowing an extra year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thomas is at a tough weight for the conference with NCAA Champion David Carr and All-American Wyatt Sheets, among others, but there should be plenty of NCAA allocations for the conference and Thomas is a guy that should get one. He's certain to be vying for an All-American finish in his final season in Norman.
165-Joe Grello or Troy Mantanona
Troy Mantanona was the spark for the OU lineup at 165 that propelled them to a Big 12 title last season. But he has a redshirt available, so incoming Rutgers transfer Joe Grello makes a lot of sense as the starter at 165.
There are also some whispers that Anthony Mantanona may cut down here, too.
174-Anthony Mantanona or Grayden Penner
Mantanona has been the guy here for a while in Norman, but they've got a blue-chip waiting in the wings in Grayden Penner, who may contend for the job.
184-Darrien Roberts or Keegan Moore
Darrien Roberts has been the starter here for a while, but former NCAA qualifier Keegan Moore announced he's finishing out his career at OU, though he's not currently listed on their online roster.
It will be interesting to see who comes out with the job here.
197-Jake Woodley
The lone All-American for OU last year. Woodley is at the toughest weight in the conference and will need a monumental performance to win it, but those tests last year prepared him to do well at the NCAA tournament and could again this year.
285-Josh Heindselman
Heindselman had a strong first year as the 285-pound starter for OU. He was just a little outside the realm of Big 12 title/All American contender last season but will look to make that jump this year.
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