Bonus points push Oklahoma State to 19-16 victory over North Carolina State in Naples, Italy

NAPLES, Italy – The No. 3 Oklahoma State Cowboys held off a ferocious fifth-ranked North Carolina State squad on Friday afternoon in a dual as a part of Tussle for the Troops on the Naples Naval Base in Naples, Italy.

The Pokes emerged with a 19-16 win that was decided in the final bout at 174 pounds. The key to the Cowboys win was bonus points at 133 pounds, 165 pounds and heavyweight.

The team score went back and forth with three lead changes throughout the dual.  

With action starting at 184 pounds, NC State was first on the board as 2016 All-American and No. 3 Pete Renda edged out OSU freshman Keegan Moore in a 3-0 decision.

OSU responded with a pair of wins at 197 pounds and 285 pounds.

Preston Weigel, a returning All-American for OSU and the fourth-ranked wrestler in the nation, outlasted No. 7 Mike Macchiavello, 5-4. The match was decided on riding time.

No. 9 Derek White of Oklahoma State followed up with a major decision performance against Malik McDonald to put the Cowboys in the lead.

The Wolfpack shook things up as No. 8 Sean Fausz, a two-time NCAA qualifier, knocked off All-American and No. 4 Nick Piccininni, 9-5, thanks to three takedowns and a reversal in the 125-pound match.

At 133 pounds, OSU All-American Kid Brock helped the Cowboys separate themselves, registering a dominant 16-1 technical fall in 6:08 against Tariq Wilson.

Despite trailing 12-6 in the team score, the Wolfpack rattle off three-straight wins to threaten the Cowboys’ perfect record.

In their fourth career meeting, No. 4 Kevin Jack of NC State handed two-time NCAA champion and No. 2 Dean Heil his second loss in a row with a buzzer-beating takedown for a 4-3 win at 141 pounds. Jack’s win evened their series record to 2-2.

At 149 pounds, the match was pushed into overtime as OSU’s Boo Lewallen, who made his varsity debut, scored a late escape against No. 16 Beau Donahue to tie the match, 4-4, at the end of regulation.

In sudden victory, Donahue scored a takedown to pick up a 6-4 win for the Wolfpack.

Freshman stud Hayden Hidlay, ranked No. 3 in the country, put up 12 points against Cowboy Jonce Blaylock en route to a 12-4 major decision, which was secured with riding time.

All-American Chandler Rogers of Oklahoma State responded with a major decision over Brian Hamann, 13-1, to tie the team score at 16-16 with one match remaining.

The dual came down to the 174-pound finale, where two-time NJCAA national champion and OSU junior Jacobe Smith scored three takedowns for a 7-2 decision over Daniel Bullard, sealing the team win for the Pokes.

Oklahoma State improved to 6-0 on the season, while NC State fell to 10-1.

TUSSLE FOR THE TROOPS

at Naples Naval Base (Naples, Italy)

No. 3 Oklahoma State 19, No. 5 NC State 16
*Dual started at 184 pounds
184: No. 3 Pete Renda (NCST) dec. Keegan Moore (OSU) 3-0
197: No. 4 Preston Weigel (OSU) dec. No. 7 Mike Macchiavello (NCST) 5-4
HWT: No. 9 Derek White (OSU) MD Malik McDonald (NCST) 8-0
125: No. 8 Sean Fausz (NCST) dec. No. 4 Nick Piccininni (OSU) 9-5
133: No. 6 Kaid Brock (OSU) TF Tariq Wilson (NCST) 16-1
141: No. 4 Kevin Jack (NCST) dec. No. 2 Dean Heil (OSU) 4-3
149: No. 16 Beau Donahue (NCST) dec. Boo Lewallen (OSU) 6-4, SV1
157: No. 3 Hayden Hidlay (NCST) MD Jonce Blaylock (OSU) 12-4
165: No. 8 Chandler Rogers (OSU) MD Brian Hamann (NCST) 13-1
174: No. 11 Jacobe Smith (OSU) dec. Daniel Bullard (NCST) 7-2

NOTE: Rankings from Flowrestling