Oklahoma State puts all 10 wrestlers in Big 12 finals in record-setting day in Tulsa
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by Roger Moore, Special to TheMat.com
Photo courtesy of OKState.com
TULSA, Okla. – Oklahoma State was perfect on Saturday.
The Cowboys went 20-0 and scored bonus points in 17 matches. All 10 Cowboys will wrestle in Sunday’s finals of the 2017 Big 12 Conference Championships and OSU head coach John Smith’s team will destroy the league scoring record after totaling 155 ½ points on Day 1. A year ago, OSU totaled 161 and beat second place Oklahoma by 61 points.
“This team has been a part of a couple of records now,” Smith said. “A couple of weeks ago with attendance … it started early with how Kaid (Brock) and Nick (Piccininni) wrestled and then we followed that up with a pin.
“There wasn’t a lot of negative (Saturday). We wrestled well, we wrestled as a team, and we scored bonus points … a really good day for this team.”
OSU last hit the mats in the title bout of the NWCA’s National Duals Championship Series, falling to Penn State, 27-13, and winning only three bouts in front of a Gallagher-Iba Arena record. On Saturday, OSU looked like a team that has recovered nicely.
“It’s been a great tournament for the team,” said OSU senior heavyweight Austin Schafer, who had a pin and a major decision. “We’ve been wrestling for each other, really lighting it up which is good in the postseason; that is what we need.
“I’ve been out for about a month, so it was good to get back out there and wrestle a full match.”
The Cowboys jumped out to a 33-point lead after the first session thanks to 10 bonus-point victories in the quarterfinals, five of them pins.
“This is what you hope for in these types of tournaments where you go in as a heavy favorite,” Smith added. “You expect to wrestle like that, so it was good to see the major decisions, the tech falls, and the pins. It’s something we haven’t done all season, so it’s good to see it happening now.
“In the postseason you want to wrestle better than you have all year, and in the first round we did that.”
Dean Heil (26-0) had two pins at 141 pounds. Kaid Brock (25-1) had a pin and a tough 7-4 decision over ISU senior Earl Hall at 133. Anthony Collica (19-2) had a pin and a major decision. Joe Smith (10-4) did not give up a point in two matches. Chandler Rogers (20-5) had a pair of pins. Nolan Boyd (20-4) had two major decisions. Preston Weigel (17-5) routed South Dakota State’s Nate Rotert, 9-0, in the 197-pound semifinals a few hours after a technical fall.
The race for second includes North Dakota State, South Dakota State, and Oklahoma, all who will team up for a dual against Oklahoma State on Sunday.
Sunday will feature a number of quality matchups. They include:
Brock squaring off with SDSU’s Seth Gross (29-1) at 133 pounds. Gross gave Brock his only loss this season.
Heil, winner of 35 straight, meets Wyoming’s Bryce Meredith, who lost to Heil in the 2016 NCAA finals in New York City and also during the regular season.
OSU’s Joe Smith (10-4) meets North Dakota State’s Clay Ream (24-3) at 157 pounds, while Rogers meets West Virginia’s Dylan Cottrell (12-4) at 165 pounds. NDSU’s other finalist, Josh Rodriguez (23-1) meets Piccininni in the 125-pound finale.
The biggest surprise of Saturday? Oklahoma senior Matt Reed (8-7) entered Saturday with losing record, but whipped SDSU’s David Kocer in the 174-pound semifinals; Reed meets Crutchmer for gold on Sunday.
“That felt great, especially after losing to (Kocer) earlier this year in our dual,” Reed said. “I felt a lot better than I did the first time. It’s the postseason, so it’s time to show up. You have to come in here and feel like you’re the best wrestler.”
The other major surprise came at 285 pounds where Utah Valley’s Dustin Dennison beat OU senior Ross Larson in the semifinals.
Oklahoma State has won four straight Big 12 titles and will win its 51st overall conference title dating back to 1917.
Sunday’s morning session will be broadcast exclusively on FloSports and FloWrestling. FSN picks up the championship round in the afternoon. For live results, visit FloArena.
BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Tulsa, Okla., March 4, 2017
Finals pairings
125 Josh Rodriguez (North Dakota State) vs. Nick Piccininni (Oklahoma State)
133 Seth Gross (South Dakota State) vs. Kaid Brock (Oklahoma State)
141 Dean Heil (Oklahoma State) vs. Bryce Meredith (Wyoming)
149 Anthony Collica (Oklahoma State) vs. Davion Jeffries (Oklahoma)
157 Joe Smith (Oklahoma State) vs. Clay Ream (North Dakota State)
165 Dylan Cottrell (West Virginia) vs. Chandler Rogers (Oklahoma State)
174 Matt Reed (Oklahoma) vs. Kyle Crutchmer (Oklahoma State)
184 Nolan Boyd (Oklahoma State) vs. Dylan Gabel (Northern Colorado)
197 Jacob Smith (West Virginia) vs. Preston Weigel (Oklahoma State)
285 Austin Schafer (Oklahoma State) vs. Dustin Dennison (Utah Valley)
Team Standings after day one
1 Oklahoma State 155.5
2 North Dakota State 70.5
3 South Dakota State 64.5
4 Oklahoma 63
5 Wyoming 50
6 Iowa State 49.5
7 West Virginia 42.5
8 Northern Colorado 33-
9 Utah Valley 32
10 Air Force 22.5
Semifinal results
125 Josh Rodriguez (North Dakota State) F Christian Moody (Oklahoma), 2:18
125 Nick Piccininni (Oklahoma State) DEC Drew Templeman (Wyoming), 4-0
133 Seth Gross (South Dakota State) MD Cam Sykora (North Dakota State), 14-1
133 Kaid Brock (Oklahoma State) DEC Earl Hall (Iowa State), 7-4
141 Dean Heil (Oklahoma State) F Timmy Box (Northern Colorado), 1:44
141 Bryce Meredith (Wyoming) DEC Mike Longo (Oklahoma), 13-7
149 Anthony Collica (Oklahoma State) MD Cole Mendenhall (Wyoming), 16-4
149 Davion Jeffries (Oklahoma) F Alex Kocer (South Dakota State), 4:43
157 Joe Smith (Oklahoma State) MD Archie Colgan (Wyoming), 8-0
157 Clay Ream (North Dakota State) MD Colston Diblasi (Iowa State), 17-6
165 Dylan Cottrell (West Virginia) DEC Andrew Fogarty (North Dakota State), 11-4
165 Chandler Rogers (Oklahoma State) F Luke Zilverberg (South Dakota State), 2:02
174 Matt Reed (Oklahoma) DEC David Kocer (South Dakota State), 11-5
174 Kyle Crutchmer (Oklahoma State) DEC Lelund Weatherspoon (Iowa State), 3-1
184 Nolan Boyd (Oklahoma State) MD Carson Powell (Iowa State), 9-0
184 Dylan Gabel (Northern Colorado) DEC Martin Mueller (South Dakota State), 4-0
197 Jacob Smith (West Virginia) DEC Brad Johnson (Oklahoma), 4-1
197 Preston Weigel (Oklahoma State) MD Nate Rotert (South Dakota State), 9-0
285 Austin Schafer (Oklahoma State) MD Ben Tynan (North Dakota State), 11-0
285 Dustin Dennison (Utah Valley) DEC Ross Larson (Oklahoma), 6-0
TULSA, Okla. – Oklahoma State was perfect on Saturday.
The Cowboys went 20-0 and scored bonus points in 17 matches. All 10 Cowboys will wrestle in Sunday’s finals of the 2017 Big 12 Conference Championships and OSU head coach John Smith’s team will destroy the league scoring record after totaling 155 ½ points on Day 1. A year ago, OSU totaled 161 and beat second place Oklahoma by 61 points.
“This team has been a part of a couple of records now,” Smith said. “A couple of weeks ago with attendance … it started early with how Kaid (Brock) and Nick (Piccininni) wrestled and then we followed that up with a pin.
“There wasn’t a lot of negative (Saturday). We wrestled well, we wrestled as a team, and we scored bonus points … a really good day for this team.”
OSU last hit the mats in the title bout of the NWCA’s National Duals Championship Series, falling to Penn State, 27-13, and winning only three bouts in front of a Gallagher-Iba Arena record. On Saturday, OSU looked like a team that has recovered nicely.
“It’s been a great tournament for the team,” said OSU senior heavyweight Austin Schafer, who had a pin and a major decision. “We’ve been wrestling for each other, really lighting it up which is good in the postseason; that is what we need.
“I’ve been out for about a month, so it was good to get back out there and wrestle a full match.”
The Cowboys jumped out to a 33-point lead after the first session thanks to 10 bonus-point victories in the quarterfinals, five of them pins.
“This is what you hope for in these types of tournaments where you go in as a heavy favorite,” Smith added. “You expect to wrestle like that, so it was good to see the major decisions, the tech falls, and the pins. It’s something we haven’t done all season, so it’s good to see it happening now.
“In the postseason you want to wrestle better than you have all year, and in the first round we did that.”
Dean Heil (26-0) had two pins at 141 pounds. Kaid Brock (25-1) had a pin and a tough 7-4 decision over ISU senior Earl Hall at 133. Anthony Collica (19-2) had a pin and a major decision. Joe Smith (10-4) did not give up a point in two matches. Chandler Rogers (20-5) had a pair of pins. Nolan Boyd (20-4) had two major decisions. Preston Weigel (17-5) routed South Dakota State’s Nate Rotert, 9-0, in the 197-pound semifinals a few hours after a technical fall.
The race for second includes North Dakota State, South Dakota State, and Oklahoma, all who will team up for a dual against Oklahoma State on Sunday.
Sunday will feature a number of quality matchups. They include:
Brock squaring off with SDSU’s Seth Gross (29-1) at 133 pounds. Gross gave Brock his only loss this season.
Heil, winner of 35 straight, meets Wyoming’s Bryce Meredith, who lost to Heil in the 2016 NCAA finals in New York City and also during the regular season.
OSU’s Joe Smith (10-4) meets North Dakota State’s Clay Ream (24-3) at 157 pounds, while Rogers meets West Virginia’s Dylan Cottrell (12-4) at 165 pounds. NDSU’s other finalist, Josh Rodriguez (23-1) meets Piccininni in the 125-pound finale.
The biggest surprise of Saturday? Oklahoma senior Matt Reed (8-7) entered Saturday with losing record, but whipped SDSU’s David Kocer in the 174-pound semifinals; Reed meets Crutchmer for gold on Sunday.
“That felt great, especially after losing to (Kocer) earlier this year in our dual,” Reed said. “I felt a lot better than I did the first time. It’s the postseason, so it’s time to show up. You have to come in here and feel like you’re the best wrestler.”
The other major surprise came at 285 pounds where Utah Valley’s Dustin Dennison beat OU senior Ross Larson in the semifinals.
Oklahoma State has won four straight Big 12 titles and will win its 51st overall conference title dating back to 1917.
Sunday’s morning session will be broadcast exclusively on FloSports and FloWrestling. FSN picks up the championship round in the afternoon. For live results, visit FloArena.
BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Tulsa, Okla., March 4, 2017
Finals pairings
125 Josh Rodriguez (North Dakota State) vs. Nick Piccininni (Oklahoma State)
133 Seth Gross (South Dakota State) vs. Kaid Brock (Oklahoma State)
141 Dean Heil (Oklahoma State) vs. Bryce Meredith (Wyoming)
149 Anthony Collica (Oklahoma State) vs. Davion Jeffries (Oklahoma)
157 Joe Smith (Oklahoma State) vs. Clay Ream (North Dakota State)
165 Dylan Cottrell (West Virginia) vs. Chandler Rogers (Oklahoma State)
174 Matt Reed (Oklahoma) vs. Kyle Crutchmer (Oklahoma State)
184 Nolan Boyd (Oklahoma State) vs. Dylan Gabel (Northern Colorado)
197 Jacob Smith (West Virginia) vs. Preston Weigel (Oklahoma State)
285 Austin Schafer (Oklahoma State) vs. Dustin Dennison (Utah Valley)
Team Standings after day one
1 Oklahoma State 155.5
2 North Dakota State 70.5
3 South Dakota State 64.5
4 Oklahoma 63
5 Wyoming 50
6 Iowa State 49.5
7 West Virginia 42.5
8 Northern Colorado 33-
9 Utah Valley 32
10 Air Force 22.5
Semifinal results
125 Josh Rodriguez (North Dakota State) F Christian Moody (Oklahoma), 2:18
125 Nick Piccininni (Oklahoma State) DEC Drew Templeman (Wyoming), 4-0
133 Seth Gross (South Dakota State) MD Cam Sykora (North Dakota State), 14-1
133 Kaid Brock (Oklahoma State) DEC Earl Hall (Iowa State), 7-4
141 Dean Heil (Oklahoma State) F Timmy Box (Northern Colorado), 1:44
141 Bryce Meredith (Wyoming) DEC Mike Longo (Oklahoma), 13-7
149 Anthony Collica (Oklahoma State) MD Cole Mendenhall (Wyoming), 16-4
149 Davion Jeffries (Oklahoma) F Alex Kocer (South Dakota State), 4:43
157 Joe Smith (Oklahoma State) MD Archie Colgan (Wyoming), 8-0
157 Clay Ream (North Dakota State) MD Colston Diblasi (Iowa State), 17-6
165 Dylan Cottrell (West Virginia) DEC Andrew Fogarty (North Dakota State), 11-4
165 Chandler Rogers (Oklahoma State) F Luke Zilverberg (South Dakota State), 2:02
174 Matt Reed (Oklahoma) DEC David Kocer (South Dakota State), 11-5
174 Kyle Crutchmer (Oklahoma State) DEC Lelund Weatherspoon (Iowa State), 3-1
184 Nolan Boyd (Oklahoma State) MD Carson Powell (Iowa State), 9-0
184 Dylan Gabel (Northern Colorado) DEC Martin Mueller (South Dakota State), 4-0
197 Jacob Smith (West Virginia) DEC Brad Johnson (Oklahoma), 4-1
197 Preston Weigel (Oklahoma State) MD Nate Rotert (South Dakota State), 9-0
285 Austin Schafer (Oklahoma State) MD Ben Tynan (North Dakota State), 11-0
285 Dustin Dennison (Utah Valley) DEC Ross Larson (Oklahoma), 6-0
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