Get Ready for Two Mats and More Matches at Wrestling
STILLWATER – Forget intermissions and post-match autograph sessions, this is a pandemic world even for collegiate sports and that includes wrestling. When you head to Gallagher-Iba Arena on Sunday for the Cowboys opening duals with outside competition be ready for some extra wrestling to break out in the middle or at the end of the duals. The new NCAA scheduling format for wrestling that limits teams to one day of competition a week means they need to make the most of it. There were no early open tournaments for teams to empty the wrestling room and get everybody on the mat. So, while Tennessee-Chattanooga (1-0) and Oregon State (0-3) led by new head coach and former Cowboy Chris Pendleton come to Stillwater for a double dual for the Cowboys. There will be much more going on. It may look like a tournament.
“They’re going to have extra guys and we’re going to wrestle extra matches following our dual meet with Chattanooga at noon and with Oregon State at two o’clock,” explained Oklahoma State head coach John Smith. “We will start that match with Oregon State at two o’clock because it is a TV match. We’ll open up the mats because we’re just going to start wrestling extra matches after the duals. Some of those matches might be us wrestling each other again just so we get in a quality match. Some of the teams may not bring an extra 174 pounder or a 184 pounder and we have guys that need the match, so we will just wrestle each other.”
Chattanooga, who normally hosts the Southern Scuffle wrestling tournament is 0-7 all-time in duals against OSU. They have two ranked wrestlers in No. 16 Tanner Smith (1-0) at 149-pounds who will face No. 4 Boo Lewallen and then No. 14 Matthew Waddell at 184-pounds and he will see No. 10 Dakota Geer. They did not list any extra wrestlers. However, Oregon State lists multiple wrestlers at four weights. They have three ranked individuals with No. 19 Devann Turner (0-3) set to face Stillwater’s own Andrew Nieman at 133-pounds. At 141-pounds, No. 18 Grant Willits (2-1) will see the Pokes No. 8 Kaid Brock and at 157-pounds the Cowboys No. 12 Wyatt Sheets already has a career win over No. 20 Hunter Willits (1-2) of Oregon State.
“The dual matches are going to be run like a normal dual, but keep in mind some of those other matches there may be matches that there isn’t an OSU (wrestler) on the mat,” Smith continued in presenting the extra events. “It may be wrestlers from the other two teams. Those matches count toward (each) individual’s record.”
While Chattanooga and Oregon State have already wrestled, the Cowboys are well into their workout routine and the format of the season. Smith sees depth on a roster as being an absolute necessity because of the conditions.
“I just think in this COVID in general, in these times you’re going to need everybody,” Smith said. “I’m kind of noticing more tweaks and more injuries than I’ve ever seen, you know. I think, Robert, that has more to do that you have more time on your hands for working out. You know with only one day of competition when we would normally be running a Friday-Sunday duals or a Saturday and Sunday duals, we’re just competing on one day and that has extended those workouts out. I think you’re going to need everyone. Our 174-pound class is tough and we could have Montalvo there. Anthony Montalvo is injured and he was at 184 but when he comes back, he could be looking at 174 pounds.”
While Montavo is still on the injured list and out, Smith did say that since the ranking matches last week that regular heavyweight Austin Harris is ready to wrestle and will go in both duals against the Mocs and the Beavers on Sunday.