Oklahoma State Claims Team Title, Three Champions at Southern Scuffle

Chattanooga, Tenn. – The Oklahoma State wrestling team captured its third team Southern Scuffle title in program history, led by the three top-seeded Cowboys who won individual titles, including Daton Fix, Dustin Plott and Travis Wittlake.

The Cowboys' 181 points is the third most OSU has ever scored at the Southern Scuffle and was 36.5 points more than second place North Dakota State. The three individual champions for OSU were tied for the most of any team at the event with NDSU.

"I thought we wrestled well in most spots," head coach John Smith said. "We had some matches tonight we were in control of and found a way to lose. But, we also found a lot of ways to win this weekend. Overall, I think it gives our team a chance to continue to develop."

Fix was the first of four finalists to take the mat for Oklahoma State. A takedown in the first period and reversal to start the second gave him a comfortable lead on his way to a 7-1 decision over Chattanooga's Brayden Palmer. Fix moved to 10-0 on the season after winning five matches this weekend.

Victor Voinovich advanced to the 149-pound finals with a 4-1 victory over Michael Gioffre of Virginia in the semifinals earlier in the day. Voinovich jumped out to an early lead against sixth seeded Kellyn March in the championship bout, but gave up a reversal and riding time point in the third period, which sent the match to overtime. In the first sudden victory period, March scored a takedown to take the match, 5-3, and the Scuffle title.

At 174 pounds, a rematch of the 2022 Big 12 Championships match occurred between top-seeded Plott and second seed Peyton Mocco of Missouri. After giving up two takedowns in the first period, Plott settled in and controlled the rest of the match, highlighted by a takedown and four-point near fall in the third period for a 12-7 decision.

Immediately after Plott's victory, Wittlake stepped on the mat to face North Dakota State's Deanthony Parker Jr. Wittlake took the down position after a scoreless first period and escaped early before an injury timeout from Parker allowed Wittlake another escape opportunity. Wittlake added another point after he forced two stalling calls in the second period in a 3-1 victory.

Trevor Mastrogiovanni and Gavin Stika advanced to the semifinal rounds after three wins on Sunday, but each dropped decisions. Mastrogiovanni fell 3-0 to Missouri's Noah Surtin before bouncing back in the consolation semis to defeat Caleb Smith (Appalachian St) and ultimately taking fourth place. Stika would've advanced to face Wittlake in the finals, but fell to Parker, 5-1. He would go on to defeat Iowa State's Joel Devine for a second time in the tournament and set himself up to claim third place when he defeated Sam Fisher of Virginia Tech, 6-0. 

The Cowboys entered the second day of the Scuffle trailing Missouri by 4.5 points in the team race, but overtook the lead and separated the score with help from the Cowboy starters in the wrestlebacks. Following narrow defeats in the quarterfinals, Trevor Mastrogiovanni, Kaden Gfeller, Wyatt Sheets, Luke Surber and Konner Doucet responded on Monday with three wins in the consolations to advance to the third-place matches.

Wyatt Sheets, Konner Doucet and Luke Surber took third place in their respective brackets, while Kaden Gfeller collected a fourth-place finish at 157 pounds. Kyle Haas made it three Cowboys to place at 184 pounds with a seventh-place finish and Carter Young rounded out the Cowboy on the podium at eighth place at 141 pounds. Jordan Williams, Reece Witcraft and Travis Mastrogiovanni all lost their first match of the day, which eliminated them from the tournament.

No. 14 Oklahoma State will return to dual action next weekend as they travel to Corvallis to face Chris Pendleton and the Oregon State Beavers on Sunday, Jan. 8.
 
Finals Results

• 133: No. 1 Daton Fix (OSU) dec. Brayden Palmer (Chattanooga), 7-3
• 149: No. 6 Kellyn March (NDSU) dec. No. 4 Victor Voinovich (OSU), 5-3 SV-1
• 174: No. 1 Dustin Plott (OSU) dec. No. 2 Peyton Mocco (Missouri), 12-7
• 184: No. 1 Travis Wittlake (OSU) dec. Deanthony Parker Jr. (NDSU), 3-1

 
Team Standings

• 1. Oklahoma State – 181
• 2. North Dakota State – 141.5
• 3. Missouri – 125
• 4. Stanford – 105.5
• 5. Minnesota – 96

 
OSU Placements

• 125: Trevor Mastrogiovanni (4th)
• 133: Daton Fix (1st), Reece Witcraft (DNP)
• 141: Carter Young (8th), Andrew Bloemhof (DNP), Teague Travis (DNP)
• 149: Victor Voinovich (2nd), Jordan Williams (DNP), Cutter Sheets (DNP)
• 157: Kaden Gfeller (4th), Travis Mastrogiovanni (DNP), Daniel Manibog (DNP), Luke Mechler (DNP)
• 165: Wyatt Sheets (3rd), Chance McLane (DNP), Jalin Harper (DNP)
• 174: Dustin Plott (1st)
• 184: Travis Wittlake (1st), Gavin Stika (3rd), Kyle Haas (7th)
• 197: Luke Surber (3rd)
• HWT: Konner Doucet (3rd)