At 133 Forrest is the Answer as No. 3 Oklahoma State Wins at No. 6 Virginia Tech

Oklahoma State head coach David Taylor is a traditionalist, so he likes to start duals at 125 pounds and because he does, the fireworks began quickly at Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg, Va. The opening match featured a rematch of last year’s NCAA semifinal between No. 3 Eddie Ventresca and No. 7 Troy Spratley then at 133 pounds Taylor went with No. 10 and unbeaten Jax Forrest over Ronnie Ramirez and waiting for Forrest was the wrestler he beat in last March’s Pennsylvania High School State Championship in Aaron Seidel. Those two matches were awesome and went to the wire with the two schools splitting. The dual was not a split as Oklahoma State won their 10th in a row 19-12.

Spratley was perfect 2-0 last season vs. Ventresca, but the bearded Hokie wrestler went into overtime tied 1-1 with Spratley. In sudden victory there was a close call but it was on to the tiebreakers. Spratley started the first 30 seconds on top and could only ride for six seconds. A surprise as Spratley has been good on top. In the second 30 seconds Ventresca rode Spratley out, the whole 30 seconds for a 2-1 win. Virginia Tech to the delight of the crowd led 3-0. 

That was short lived as the two rivals from their prep careers in Pennsylvania took the mat. Seidel was aggressive and went over the top of Forrest for an early takedown. After the escape by Forrest, Seidel got a single leg and made it 6-1. 

Forrest came in 8-0 and with the call at Virginia Tech made it apparent that he would have 133 pounds the rest of the way for Taylor and the Cowboys as Rameriz (7-3) had wrestled the home dual last week vs. Little Rock. In the second period, Forrest escaped to make it 6-2 and then got the leg and reeled Seidel in and then turned him for a four-point near fall and a 9-6 lead. 

Oklahoma State Athletics

Absolutley, the most strenuous match of the season so far for Forrest and it came against a well known foe in Aaron Seidel. 

In the third period, Seidel started neutral and got a takedown to tie the match 9-9. There was a coach’s protest for near fall points but the review showed no near fall points. Forrest got the escape and held on for a 10-9 decision. By far, the closest call so far for Jax Forrest. The dual was even at 3-3.

"It was a crazy match," Forrest said. "I had to fight through some adversity with the crowd and being down early. I knew I needed a rally, and that's what I did. Scored some points, got a takedown and some back points, and then rode him out. It was a crazy match, but it all worked out… He's having a very good year, so I knew I had to find a way to dig deep and come out on top." 

Looking for bonus points, Segio Vega delivered for the Cowboys at 141 pounds. No score until the second period when Vega escaped and then attacked a single leg for the first takedown. In the third period, Tom Cook of Tech escaped, but Vega got another single leg. He had riding time, but he needed another takedown and got it after working hard to set it up. The 11-2 major decision was the only bonus points 

Two back-ups went at 149 pounds, for the Cowboys Beau Hickman and for the Hokies Drew Gorman. The match went to overtime tied 1-1 and Gorman took a shot and Hickman was trying to hold out with part of Gorman’s leg but he couldn’t hold on and Gorman had the takedown. Gorman with a 4-1 win in sudden victory made it 7-6 in the dual. 

Virginia Tech University Athletics

David Taylor watches the action at Virginia Tech on Feb. 15.

At 157, No. 7 Landon Robideau took on a veteran in Maryland transfer to TechEthan Miller. The official had a heavy say in this one as he awarded Robideau a stall point early. In the second Robideau started down but escaped quickly to go up 2-0. There was another stall to make it 3-0. Then in the third period, Miller picked up two points when Robideau was called for stalls. The end was a 3-2 decision for Robideau.

Dee Lockett has apparently learned his lesson on waiting late to score in matches. Lockett scored a quick takedown on Mac Church of Va. Tech and was never in trouble as he scored a second period takedown with a single and a twist of the leg spinning Church and then jumping on top. The final count was an 8-2 decision. 

Virginia Tech University Athletics

Lockett took care of his business against Mac Church to stay unbeaten.

There was a late finish at 174 pounds as the Cowboys Alex Facundo broke a 1-1 tie late in the third period. Sergio Desiante got in on facundo’s ankle but the Cowboy did a duck under and took control of Desiante for a takedown with 18 seconds left and a 4-1 decision. Oklahoma State advanced on the team score 16-6.

Virginia Tech closed it up at 184 pounds as No. 32 Jaden Bullock took a 2-0 decision over the Cowboys Trevor Dopps. 

Not a lot of points being scored in the upper weights as at 197 pounds and controversy. First, the official awarded a stall call along with an escape on a review to take it to 2-1 in favor of No. 14 Sonny Sasso over No. 7 Cody Merrill in the third period. Merrill took a shot late and appeared to get his head up before the buzzer and earn the takedown and the win. The Cowboy corner threw the green brick for protest, but the officials ruled no takedown and Sasso had a 2-1 decision to make it 16-12 on the team scoreboard. 

That meant the dual was still in question going into the heavyweight match. There were fireworks there too for the finish. No. 7 Konner Doucet did a great job as it looked like he looked like he was about to be taken down by the Hokies Jimmy Mullen, but with possession of Mullen’s leg, Doucet pulled a “peterson” move and maintained control for a takedown. The best way to describe it is an inside out takedown and Mullen was left with his back down for a two point near fall call. The combination five point move put Doucet up 6-0. 

That was the way it ended and Oklahoma State collected a hard earned 19-12 win to go 14-1 on the season. The Cowboys come home next Sunday for the regular season dual finale hosting No. 5 Iowa at 5 p.m. on ESPN.