Cowboys Clobber Mocs in Opening Dual with Freshman Power
STILLWATER – The first match of the year featured an Oklahoma State first right off the bat as freshman Trevor Mastrogiovanni, part of the Cowboys top-ranked recruiting class of 2020, wrestled his first collegiate match in the opening dual against Chattanooga. He was joined by two other freshmen in the starting line-up by 174-pound Dustin Plott and 197-pound A.J. Ferarri. The 125-pound freshman out of New Jersey and the famed Blair Academy, where he was a three-time Cadet and Fargo All-American, got a single leg and maneuvered around for the takedown on Fabian Gutierrez of the Mocs. That was the start of a 32-9 win for the Pokes.
Mastrogiovanni won two duals last week including a second win in the ranking matches over last year’s starter at 133-pounds in Reece Witcraft 3-2 to earn the start. Mastrogiovanni led 2-1 after period one and had the riding time. In the second period Gutierrez got an escape after starting in the down position to tie the match 2-2. Mastrogiovanni countered a move for another takedown and a 4-2 lead. In the third period Mastrogiovanni started down and got an escape but lost the riding time advantage. He used a counter move to get another takedown and worked the riding time back over a minute and was an 8-2 winner to kick off the day.
At 133-pounds Stillwater native and hardworking senior Andrew Nieman made his starting debut filling in for suspended top-ranked wrestler at the weight Daton Fix. It was not a great start for Nieman as he led 4-3 after the first period, but it went downhill from there as Colton Landers broke Nieman down to a figure four and exposed his shoulders for a four-point near fall and a 7-4 lead as he also worked on reversing what was a 2:07 riding tie advantage. In the end Landers won 9-4 to even the match at 3-3.
Oklahoma State picked up a forfeit at 141 pounds, so No. 8 Kaid Brock got it easy and the Cowboys led 9-3.
No. 4 Boo Lewallen came out at 149 pounds like the Tasmanian Devil on the cartoons and he had to seem like a blur to Chattanooga’s No. 16 Tanner Smith. Lewallen got a quick takedown and turned it into a four-point near fall and the points kept coming. In the second period another four-point near fall finished the technical fall and the Cowboys were up 14-3.
It was not that easy as the roller coaster took a dip with 157-pounds. No. 12 Wyatt Sheets was banged up and Jalin Harper went in his stead. Weston Wichman for Chattanooga and Harper made himself look comfortable with a 2-0 lead in the first and riding time as well. The second period started with Harper getting an escape but leading 3-0, Wichman cradled Harper and put him on his back and worked for the fall that came at 4:44.
All of a sudden, it was 14-9 in favor of the Pokes.
No. 4 Travis Wittlake was out to steady the match and he did just that as he took a 2-0 lead in the first period and rode out the period. He got the escape to start the second period for a 3-0 lead and then used a double leg for a 5-0 lead on Drew Nicholson of Chattanooga with riding time over two minutes.
It got precarious in the third period as Nicholson escaped and then came back with a takedown to narrow the lead at 5-3. Wittlake got the escape and preserved the riding time advantage for a 7-3 decision and a 17-9 lead on the team scoreboard.
The second freshman in the line-up Dustin Plott came out at 174-pounds and built up a 4-1 first period lead as two single leg takedowns were sandwiched by Plott cutting Hunter Fortner loose for an escape. The second period Plott rode out Fortner and the riding time was over five minutes. In the third period, Plott added a point when Fortner was called for stalling. Plott got an escape and then added a takedown and kept up the ride and it finished with a 10-2 major decision as there was 2:52 in riding time. Oklahoma State led the dual 21-9.
Head coach John Smith had to appreciate the effort of No. 10 Dakota Geer. Geer led throughout including 2-0 after period one. In the second Geer started down and got the escape and then a takedown. He cut No. 14 Matthew Waddell loose and used a double leg to put him back on the mat. The riding time kept growing, but through the third period Geer wasn’t satisfied and kept trading takedowns for escapes. A long-range shot resulted in another takedown to make it 11-3. Over three minutes of riding time made it a 12-3 major decision and major decision. Oklahoma State was up 25-9.
The third freshman in the line-up was up at 197 pounds in Allen, Texas freshman A.J. Ferrari. Ferrari was as expected a ball of fire and his strength is amazing. He ran up a big lead and kept his foot on the gas continuing to score. At one point Ferrari used his strength for a double leg wrapping up opponent Logan Andrew around the thighs. Ferrari went on to 16-5 major decision.
Heavyweight Austin Harris jumped out to a 4-1 lead, but ended up hanging on with a 10-6 decision to wrap up victory number one on the season as the points led to the 32-9 final score. Oklahoma State would wrestle it’s second dual 45 minutes later against Oregon State.