No. 4 Oklahoma State kicks off Front Range doubleheader with dominant 37-3 win over Air Force
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
No. 4 Nick Piccininni of Oklahoma State takes down Graham Shore of Air Force on the way to an 18-2 technical fall at 125 pounds. Photo by Patricia Fox.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – With the expansion of the Big 12 came the addition of three Div. I programs stretched across the Rocky Mountain West.
Starting down south with the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., going a few hours north to Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colo., and a bit farther north to Wyoming in Laramie, Wyo., Big 12 teams have an opportunity to get a few conference dual meets over a weekend.
In some cases, teams have chosen to do a pair of dual meets on the same day, a “Front Range doubleheader” which is a good test for the athletes in regards to the adversity of travel and competing twice during a long day. This year, Oklahoma State is doing a double dip on Saturday, starting with Air Force at 11:00 a.m. and finishing with Wyoming at 7:00 p.m.
For OSU today, that means a 195-mile drive, covering three and a quarter hours on a good day. Add in the fact that there is construction in “the Gap” north of Colorado Springs and a fresh covering of eight or more inches of snow, and the Cowboys are truly being tested on the travel front.
The Cowboys started their day with a 37-3 win, winning the first nine bouts before Air Force cracked through with a win at heavyweight. John Smith and his team quickly left the gym after the final match, making a fast escape to their awaiting vehicles to head north for part two of the doubleheader.
No. 4 Nick Piccininni unleashed his offense in an 18-2 technical fall over Graham Shore at 125. Piccininni had a pair of takedowns and a four-point tilt in the first period to get an 8-1 lead and set the tone for the match. When it was over, Piccininni had four takedowns and a pair of four-point turns.
Next up, No. 19 Reece Witcraft turned around a slow start by dominating on his feet for an 11-6 win over Jared Van Vleet. Van Vleet scored the first takedown, and the bout was tied 5-5 in the second period. However, Witcraft ended up with four takedowns and riding time for the solid victory.
The Cowboys added a bonus points in the next three bouts before the intermission, two major decisions and a technical fall, to lead 21-0 at the break.
At 141, No. 14 Dusty Hone scored a 13-4 major decision over Lenny Petersen. Hone scored the only two takedown, had a four-point turn and secured riding time to secure the major.
At 149, No. 2 Boo Lewallen added a major decision over Dylan Martinez, 16-5. Lewallen was in control early, stretching a 12-l lead including a pair of four-point tilts after the second period. Martinez tightened it a bit with a four-point tilt, but Lewallen closed it out with an escape and his fourth takedown.
Next came the technical fall, as No. 17 Wyatt Sheets rolled to a 19-1 technical fall over Trey Brisker. Leading just 2-1 after the first period, Sheets scored 14 points on all four different tilts, finishing it off in the third period.
During the short intermission, Air Force recognized USA Wrestling Day, introducing National Coaches Bill Zadick, Joe Russell and Mohammed Abdel Fatah to the crowd.
In the second half of the dual, with the final team outcome not in question, the Cowboys added three more bonus point wins and a decision.
At 165, No. 7 Travis Wittlake made it four straight bonus point wins with a 17-4 major decision over Vincent Dolce. Witlake scored seven takedowns with dominance on his feet, including a sweet ankle pick in the second period.
No. 10 Joe Smith scored a takedown in the first period and a third-period reversal for a 4-1 decision over Cody Surratt at 174.
Talented freshman and No. 14 ranked Anthony Montalvo put on an offensive show in an 18-5 major decision over Jake Thompson at 184. Montalvo ran a powerful bar arm turn for four in the second period, and added four third-period takedowns finishing just short of a technical fall.
No. 7 Dakota Geer was had four four-point turns on the way to a dominant 16-0 technical fall over Casey Jumps at 197 pounds, finishing it off in the second period.
Air Force got on the board with a win at 285, as Kayne Hutchinson broke a 4-4 tie with a spin behind takedown with just 10 seconds left to beat Cornelius Putnam, 6-5. Putnam had scored the only takedown previously, in the second period, but Hutchinson battled back to secure a win for the home team.
Last year in Stillwater, the Cowboys swept the 10 matches for a 39-0 win. Both teams have a young lineup, and Air Force coach Sam Barber was pleased with his heavyweight’s win, but felt his team was a bit overwhelmed in some of their losses.
Interviews with Barber, and Air Force Director of Operations Chandler Rogers, who wrestled for Oklahoma State last year before graduating, will be posted on USA Wrestling’s YouTube channel.
We will update this story with the results of the OSU-Wyoming match tonight.
No. 11 Oklahoma State 37, Air Force 3
125 - No. 4 Nick Piccininni (OSU) tech. fall Graham Shore (AF), 18-2
133 - No. 19 Reece Witcraft (OSU) dec. Jared Van Vleet (AF), 11-6
141 - No. 14 Dusty Hone (OSU) maj. dec. Lenny Petersen (AF), 13-4
149 - No 2 Boo Lewallen (OSU) maj. dec. Dylan Martinez (AF), 16-5
157 - No. 17 Wyatt Sheets OSU) tech. fall Trey Brisker (AF), 19-1
165 - No. 7 Travis Wittlake (OSU) maj. dec. Vincent Dolce (AF), 17-4
174 - No. 10 Joe Smith (OSU) dec. Cody Surratt (AF), 4-1
184 – No. 14 Anthony Montalvo (OSU) maj dec. Jake Thompson (AF), 18-5
197 - No. 7 Dakota Geer (OSU) tech. fall Casey Jumps (AF), 16-0
HWT - Kayne Hutchison (AF) dec. Cornelius Putnam (OSU), 6-5
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – With the expansion of the Big 12 came the addition of three Div. I programs stretched across the Rocky Mountain West.
Starting down south with the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., going a few hours north to Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colo., and a bit farther north to Wyoming in Laramie, Wyo., Big 12 teams have an opportunity to get a few conference dual meets over a weekend.
In some cases, teams have chosen to do a pair of dual meets on the same day, a “Front Range doubleheader” which is a good test for the athletes in regards to the adversity of travel and competing twice during a long day. This year, Oklahoma State is doing a double dip on Saturday, starting with Air Force at 11:00 a.m. and finishing with Wyoming at 7:00 p.m.
For OSU today, that means a 195-mile drive, covering three and a quarter hours on a good day. Add in the fact that there is construction in “the Gap” north of Colorado Springs and a fresh covering of eight or more inches of snow, and the Cowboys are truly being tested on the travel front.
The Cowboys started their day with a 37-3 win, winning the first nine bouts before Air Force cracked through with a win at heavyweight. John Smith and his team quickly left the gym after the final match, making a fast escape to their awaiting vehicles to head north for part two of the doubleheader.
No. 4 Nick Piccininni unleashed his offense in an 18-2 technical fall over Graham Shore at 125. Piccininni had a pair of takedowns and a four-point tilt in the first period to get an 8-1 lead and set the tone for the match. When it was over, Piccininni had four takedowns and a pair of four-point turns.
Next up, No. 19 Reece Witcraft turned around a slow start by dominating on his feet for an 11-6 win over Jared Van Vleet. Van Vleet scored the first takedown, and the bout was tied 5-5 in the second period. However, Witcraft ended up with four takedowns and riding time for the solid victory.
The Cowboys added a bonus points in the next three bouts before the intermission, two major decisions and a technical fall, to lead 21-0 at the break.
At 141, No. 14 Dusty Hone scored a 13-4 major decision over Lenny Petersen. Hone scored the only two takedown, had a four-point turn and secured riding time to secure the major.
At 149, No. 2 Boo Lewallen added a major decision over Dylan Martinez, 16-5. Lewallen was in control early, stretching a 12-l lead including a pair of four-point tilts after the second period. Martinez tightened it a bit with a four-point tilt, but Lewallen closed it out with an escape and his fourth takedown.
Next came the technical fall, as No. 17 Wyatt Sheets rolled to a 19-1 technical fall over Trey Brisker. Leading just 2-1 after the first period, Sheets scored 14 points on all four different tilts, finishing it off in the third period.
During the short intermission, Air Force recognized USA Wrestling Day, introducing National Coaches Bill Zadick, Joe Russell and Mohammed Abdel Fatah to the crowd.
In the second half of the dual, with the final team outcome not in question, the Cowboys added three more bonus point wins and a decision.
At 165, No. 7 Travis Wittlake made it four straight bonus point wins with a 17-4 major decision over Vincent Dolce. Witlake scored seven takedowns with dominance on his feet, including a sweet ankle pick in the second period.
No. 10 Joe Smith scored a takedown in the first period and a third-period reversal for a 4-1 decision over Cody Surratt at 174.
Talented freshman and No. 14 ranked Anthony Montalvo put on an offensive show in an 18-5 major decision over Jake Thompson at 184. Montalvo ran a powerful bar arm turn for four in the second period, and added four third-period takedowns finishing just short of a technical fall.
No. 7 Dakota Geer was had four four-point turns on the way to a dominant 16-0 technical fall over Casey Jumps at 197 pounds, finishing it off in the second period.
Air Force got on the board with a win at 285, as Kayne Hutchinson broke a 4-4 tie with a spin behind takedown with just 10 seconds left to beat Cornelius Putnam, 6-5. Putnam had scored the only takedown previously, in the second period, but Hutchinson battled back to secure a win for the home team.
Last year in Stillwater, the Cowboys swept the 10 matches for a 39-0 win. Both teams have a young lineup, and Air Force coach Sam Barber was pleased with his heavyweight’s win, but felt his team was a bit overwhelmed in some of their losses.
Interviews with Barber, and Air Force Director of Operations Chandler Rogers, who wrestled for Oklahoma State last year before graduating, will be posted on USA Wrestling’s YouTube channel.
We will update this story with the results of the OSU-Wyoming match tonight.
No. 11 Oklahoma State 37, Air Force 3
125 - No. 4 Nick Piccininni (OSU) tech. fall Graham Shore (AF), 18-2
133 - No. 19 Reece Witcraft (OSU) dec. Jared Van Vleet (AF), 11-6
141 - No. 14 Dusty Hone (OSU) maj. dec. Lenny Petersen (AF), 13-4
149 - No 2 Boo Lewallen (OSU) maj. dec. Dylan Martinez (AF), 16-5
157 - No. 17 Wyatt Sheets OSU) tech. fall Trey Brisker (AF), 19-1
165 - No. 7 Travis Wittlake (OSU) maj. dec. Vincent Dolce (AF), 17-4
174 - No. 10 Joe Smith (OSU) dec. Cody Surratt (AF), 4-1
184 – No. 14 Anthony Montalvo (OSU) maj dec. Jake Thompson (AF), 18-5
197 - No. 7 Dakota Geer (OSU) tech. fall Casey Jumps (AF), 16-0
HWT - Kayne Hutchison (AF) dec. Cornelius Putnam (OSU), 6-5
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