The Road Ahead…

[JAY45]

Looking at current Intermat Rankings, here is a look at each Cowboy's opponent both in the Big 12 & Non-Conference Match-Ups.

Candidates for the toughest overall road ahead: Teague Travis, Konner Doucet, & Luke Surber (Olejnik & Plott are givens due to their unique Big 12 Challenges).

In my opinion, OSU's progression should include:

1. Win Big 12 Tournament
2. Top 3-5 at National Tournament
3. Contend for National Title

OSU looks to be on track for #1 & #2, in my opinion.

***ALSO: I'm calling my shot...Oklahoma State WILL beat Iowa in Gallagher-Iba Arena in February (6 matches to 4)

Please let me know if I've overlooked someone.

125: Troy Spratley #20
5. Ayala, Iowa (previously #1)
7. Surtin, Missouri
8. Volk, Wyoming
10. Figueroa, Arizona State
17. Poulin, Northern Colorado
18. Jordan, South Dakota State
25. Terukina, Iowa State
30. Anderson, Northern Iowa

133: Daton Fix #3 (Big 12 Champ, All-American, Finalist?)
7. Frost, Iowa State
14. Teske, Iowa
17. Serrano, Northern Colorado
18. Cardinal, South Dakota State
23. Farber, Northern Iowa
24. Chelbove, Arizona State
27. Moore, Missouri

141: Tagen Jamison, #9 (Big 12 Finalist? All-American?)
1. Woods, Iowa
6. Happel Northern Iowa
8. Echemendia, Iowa State
10. Titus, West Virginia
22. Schwartz, Oklahoma
23. Edmond, Missouri
26. Carlson, South Dakota State
28. Drexler, North Dakota State

149: Sammy Alvarez, #17 (Big 12 Quarterfinals? Blood Round?)
4. Parco, Arizona State
7. Watters, West Virginia
10. Swiderski, Iowa State
11. Rathjen, Iowa
19. March, North Dakota State
21. Martin, South Dakota State
24. Willochel, Wyoming
25. Gioffre, Missouri
32. McDougald, Oklahoma

157: Teague Travis, #18
2. Franek, Iowa
3. Zerban, Northern Colorado
4. Teemer, Arizona State
5. Mauller, Missouri
13. Chittum, Iowa State
14. Downey, Northern Iowa
15. Swenson, South Dakota State
31. Hill, Oklahoma

165: Izzak Olejnik, #4 (Big 12 Finals?, All American, National Quarterfinals?)
1. O'Toole, Missouri
3. Carr, Iowa State
6. Caliendo, Iowa
8. Hall, West Virginia
17. Petrucem, Air Force
28. Carlson, Oklahoma

174: Brayden Thompson, #25
5. Devoss, South Dakota State
6. Mocco, Missouri
9. Kennedy, Iowa
19. Conley, West Virginia
23. Gaitan, Iowa State
24. Sax, North Dakota State
29. Picklo, Oklahoma
30. Simma, Northern Iowa

184: Dustin Plott, #2 (Big 12 Finalist, National Finalist, All-American)
1. Keckeisen, Northern Iowa
8. Wolf, Air Force
10. Feldkamp, Iowa State
11. Whiting, Missouri
14. Berge, South Dakota State
26. Negron, Arizona State
27. Armstrong, Utah Valley
31. Robin, West Virginia

197: Luke Surber, #16
2. Buchanan, Oklahoma
3. Elam, Missouri
6. Sloan, South Dakota State
14. Gaither, Iowa
17. Bockman, Utah Valley
21. Novak, Wyoming
23. Voelker, Northern Iowa
30. Broderson, Iowa State

285: Konner DOUCET, #9 (Big 12 Quarterfinals, All-American)
2. Captain America, Air Force
3. Bastida, Iowa State
5. Schultz, Arizona State
6. Elam, Missouri
11. Heindselman, Oklahoma
15. Gordon, Northern Iowa
26. Hill, Iowa

 

[MJM]

Good list. OSU has mad a ton of progress from last year, but the problem with winning a title is Penn State has really separated from everyone else. They crushed a very good Michigan team (now, the ref was an issue, but still).

Starting at 285, can Doucet beat Elam/Schultz. That is a reachable goal. Makes him a solid AA. Don't see him beating AF guy or Bastida.

At 197, Surber was clearly off in match against OreSt. Just don't know until he is healthy what we have. In past, Sloan has been able to beat Surber with no trouble. So maybe he beats Iowa guy (I think you misspelled his name) to help us win that dual, but hard to see AA.

184. Plott has been a stud this year. Can't wait to see him up against NIU guy. Could he be a NCAA champ?

174. Long way to go, but he is true freshman. We will know a bit more after this weekend. Hard to see him improving enough to be an AA.

165. Brutal weight class. I think he is AA but who knows where. Key test is against Iowa guy who beat him in last year's NCAA to finish 7th. He has had some big wins, but such a brutal weight calss.

157. Travis came from nowhere to be one of better wrestlers on team. Wasn't a highly ranked recruit. Moved up from his natural rank at 149 to make room for Williams. I really like his style. Gets low single leg. Strong enough where he can escape on bottom. Kind of style that works against really good wrestlers even though he doen't beat weaker wrestlers by much. 157 wide open, not nearly as tough as 165. He will get to go up against a lot of top guys with OSU's schedule, starting with NIU guy who beat Robb.

149. Alvarez or Williams. Lot of talent, but Alvarez has only shown a little and Williams none. Hope spring eternal here.

141. I still think Jamison is AA even though he lost to OreSt and WVU. NIU and ISU are tough tests. As an aside, saw a youtube clip where he beat NIU guy last year in open tournament.

133. Fix will be fine till nationals, then he has to get by Vito and Lehigh guy. Not easy. And if he end up with 3 seed, has to beat them both.

125. 125 is wide open but Spratley has not been able to beat top guy. Not sure why that changes. He made need another year as he is really a freestyle guy. adjusting to folkstyle Unlikely to be an AA this year.

 

[CowboyT]

We are getting better. Our next step should be to win the big 12. I don't favor us to win, but I would not be surprised if it happens. We have ability up and down the lineup. Do we want more consistency, yes, but I think everyone of the wrestlers has at least a top ten win. We know we can compete every time on the mat.

 

[HacklemanPoke]

Thank you guys for this. I’m a basketball junkie at heart but my favorite sport has become Cowboy Wrestling. So much so we have season tix 6 yrs running now. Know the basic rules from just watching but know nothing technical about the sport