NCAA Wrestling Championship Notebook

Oklahoma finished without an All-American for the first time since 1949, but freshmen Joey Fio and Zack Bailey return. Injured 174-pound starter, Jeff James, will be recovered from his knee injury, and while Joel Flaggert departs after a successful career at 197 pounds, his roster spot will be ably filled by Eric Lapotsky, a transfer from Bucknell who qualified for the NCAA's last season.

"I think we'll be as good or better at every weight but one, and we have some good kids at that weight,” OU coach Jack Spates said. "We've got an outstanding transfer in Eric Lapotsky, who beat the No. 1 seed here last year and redshirted this year and who has been undefeated in unattached competition.”

Tough ending for Dieffenbach: Jake Dieffenbach's college career ended in his birthplace Friday morning with a 4-2 loss to Central Michigan's Trevor Stewart. Dieffenbach suffered a torn meniscus ligament earlier this season and had surgery last Friday. He wore a large brace during the NCAA Championships.

"I just kept wrestling on it, and eventually it gave out and my knee completely locked up and I had no choice but to get surgery,” he said. "It came at the wrong time, and I hate to use that as an excuse, but my head wasn't in it.”

Still, the NAIA senior transfer left his mark. He upset reigning national champion Mark Perry, helping OSU to edge Iowa in a January dual. Dieffenbach started the season 13-1.

"I had every intention of winning a national title, but it didn't work out,” he said. "You need a lot of luck. It feels like had talent didn't have the luck.”

Boo birds for Perry: Stillwater native Mark Perry makes his second consecutive trip to the 165-pound finals tonight for Iowa. Perry edged Missouri's Nick Marable in the semifinals. Afterward, he blew kisses to the crowd. Minnesota and Tiger fans reacted with a chorus of boos.

"It's what makes wrestling fun,” Perry said. "For me, this is what I wrestle for my whole life. I don't really understand the whole booing concept in general. I don't know what they were booing about, but it's all fun and games.”

Parks wins award: Oklahoma State's Jamal Parks isn't wrestling in the NCAA tournament, but the redshirt freshman still came away with an award this week. Parks was named the National Wrestling Coaches Association's Region 6 Wrestler of the Year. Parks wrestled at Tulsa Union, winning three state championships. He figures to challenge for a starting spot in the lineup next season.

By Matt Patterson