The ninth-ranked OU wrestling team may have lost a close battle to No. 3 Oklahoma State in Stillwater on Sunday, but the weekend wasn't all negative.
Zack Bailey, 141-pound redshirt junior, was named the Big 12 Conference Wrestler of the Week, announced Monday by the league office.
"This is a very deserving and great honor for Zack," OU head coach Jack Spates said. "This is a young man who has struggled for the past couple of years with injuries and surgeries, almost to the point of giving up the sport. For Zack to come back and battle to defeat an opponent who had beaten him twice before on a big stage really shows his character and determination."
Bailey currently has a 13-match winning streak, and it was extended in the 3-2 decision over OSU's No. 7 Jamal Parks on Sunday.
The Big 12 Wrestler of the Week trailed 2-1 with under a minute left in the third period. Bailey surprised the crowd of nearly 5,000 when the Kansas City native recorded a takedown with 33 seconds left in the third period.
The decision gave OU a 10-3 lead, and was the third win of the afternoon in only four bouts.
This award is Bailey's first career conference award, who is currently ranked third in the nation in his weight class. Bailey, a statistical leader for OU, is third on the team with dual wins this season (14), dual takedowns (38) and points scored (135).
Bailey has compiled a 23-5 overall record this season, and went 4-1 against Big 12 competition. The redshirt junior also has 70 career victories, which is good for second on the team.
The next action for OU is the 2010 Big 12 Championships, held at the Howard McCasland Field House on March 6.
