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Oklahoma State Wrestling

Cowboy Wrestling Locker Room to Receive $1 Million Upgrade

September 14, 2021
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(Pokes Report contributed to this article)

STILLWATER – Thanks to a generous $1 million gift from an anonymous donor, the Oklahoma State wrestling locker room will undergo a significant remodel.

Besides the wrestling room upgrades, the board of regents also approved a locker room upgrade for football, as well as a new study area and recruit lounge. Cowgirl softball will receive a new outfield fence, artificial turf in the outfield to address the drainage issues and new netting on the backstop.

The project will provide a complete facelift to the 4,200-square-foot space located on the ground floor of the OSU Athletics Center. With Friday's approval from the OSU/A&M Board of Regents, construction will begin immediately and will be overseen by KKT Architects of Tulsa, with completion planned during the 2021-22 academic year.

The reimagined space will now be a place where wrestlers eat, study, play or relax while being immersed in the rich history and tradition of the most decorated collegiate team in the country.

In addition to replacing the current lockers and creating a separate locker room, the design team has created a lounge that also functions as a team gathering space in the north half of the existing space. In the south half, there will be a gaming area complete with OSU-branded pool and ping-pong tables, as well as a kitchen large enough for team meals and a variety of seating options. A separate quiet space is also in the plans that will allow wrestlers to study or rest between classes.

The new amenities also include multiple TVs throughout the space, booth seating and an island with bar seating in the kitchen, computers in the study room and sectionals in the quiet room, as well as 50 new lockers for student-athletes.

"This locker room will be the best in college wrestling," coach John Smith said. "OSU has continued to set a high standard for success on the mat, and now this donation will allow us to start setting the standard for facilities. We are very grateful for this important gift and are excited for it to take Cowboy wrestling to an even higher level."

Other details include custom flooring that resembles a wrestling mat and features OSU logos, as well as trophy cases and custom wall displays to honor Cowboy wrestling's unmatched success.

Displays include team national championship and awards walls to honor OSU's NCAA-record 34 team titles and 55 conference titles, an individual champions wall to honor OSU's nation-leading 143 NCAA champions and 480 All-Americans, and an international champions wall to honor the Cowboys' 41 Olympic wrestling appearances, 11 Olympic gold medals and 16 total Olympic medals, to go along with 18 more medals at the world championships.

"The OSU wrestling program is the most successful Division I program in history with 34 national championships," OSU's benefactor said. "As a decades-old fan of Cowboy wrestling, I thought it was due time to begin the facility improvements. In spite of the current collegiate athletics environment, I take it as a great opportunity to show my faith in the OSU administration, Coach Smith and fellow alumni by giving back a token of my appreciation."

The donor for the project also indicated a desire to continue giving in the future and hopes the gift will inspire others to contribute to the Cowboy wrestling program.

Discussion from...

Cowboy Wrestling Locker Room to Receive $1 Million Upgrade

1,113 Views | 2 Replies | Last: 2 yr ago by TUSKAPOKE
CanadianCowboy
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That is awesome! And is long overdue, too. Here's hoping that this is just one step toward a standalone Cowboy wrestling facility that is second-to-none
TUSKAPOKE
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AMEN for this and the standalone. Time to get the checkbooks out for the standalone. Need a $$$ drive!!!
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