The David Taylor Era of Oklahoma State Wrestling Opens with 38-6 Win

Oklahoma State wrestling opened up the new era under head coach David Taylor with a 38-6 win at Utah Valley University. No. 3-ranked Oklahoma State goes to 1-0 on the season and will wrestle again on Sunday at Oregon State coached by former Cowboy wrestler Chris Pendleton. 

The Cowboys used a series of technical falls early in the match with the event starting at 174 pounds were newcomer Dean Hamiti Jr., a transfer from Wisconsin scored a 20-5 tech over Mark Takara.

At 184 pounds, No. 3 ranked Dustin Plott kept wrestling right to the finish and a late takedown rewarded him and the Pokes with a 20-4 technical fall and a 10-0 lead over Utah Valley.

Luke Surber came out at 197 pounds, healthy and looking a lot better than he did in the final stages of last season. Surber worked a lead on Kael Bennie and in the third period scored the first pin of the season for the Cowboys.

At heavyweight the debut of No. 2-ranked transfer from the Air Force Academy in Wyatt Hendrickson went well. After a slow start early, Hendrickson known for pouring on the points did just that. He finished with a 24-7 technical fall over Jack Forbes of the Wolverines. 

Back at 125 pounds Troy Spratley scored a takedown in the final seconds for a 6-3 decision over Bridger Ricks of UVU. Oklahoma State led 24-0.

The second pin of the night came after intermission with Reece Witcraft at 133 pounds scoring the fall at the end of the second period putting Kase Mauger on his back. 

Cowboy freshman Kolter Burton made his dual debut and lost a 5-0 decision at 141 pounds to No. 26 Haden Drury as UVU got on the board trailing 30-3 at that point.

At 149 pounds No. 18 Carter Young put the Cowboys back in the tech fall category with a 25-9 win over OVell Quintanilla of Utah Valley.

The dual finished with No. 8 Teague Travis scoring a 5-1 decision at 157 over Ryker Fullmer and then Utah Valley got their second individual talley with an overtime decision by No. 6 Terrell Baraclough over Oklahoma State No. 5-ranked 165 pounder and Michigan transfer Cameron Amine.