Cowboys and Hawkeyes on the Mat Always Evokes Stong Memories, Sunday We'll Get More

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State’s No. 2-ranked 184 pound wrestler Dustin Plott doesn’t remember if he had made his commitment to come to Oklahoma State yet but after watching unbeaten Oklahoma State tear up rival Iowa 27-12 in a packed, sold-out Gallagher-Iba Arena he was more than ready to pledge allegiance to Cowboy wrestling. It’s a memory that Plott, now a senior, can still easily recall.

“Of course, the one that really sticks out is the (Nick) Piccininni pin,” Plott started his look back when asked.

Oklahoma State Athletics

Piccininni of OSU vs. Iowa’s Spencer Lee.

Piccininni was a red-shirt senior from New York, but he had become an Oklahoma State wrestling legend when he sent the sell-out crowd into a frenzy when he collected win number 27 on the season in extraordinary fashion, pinning defending NCAA champion No. 2 Spencer Lee by cradle late in the second period. It was the first loss by fall in Lee's career, who entered the dual with a 38-3 career record and had never lost by more than a decision. 

“That was the most memorable experience I have from watching that,” Plott continued. “Chandler Rogers got a pin in that dual too. The celebration was really good.”

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Plott talks to the media this week.

Plott is pretty pumped up for this coming Sunday when unbeaten Oklahoma State, ranked No. 2, will host No. 3-or-4 Iowa and the match, like the dual Plott remembers is sold out. It is the first sellout of GIA since that 2019 dual with the Cowboys and the Hawkeyes. Last Sunday with 9,912 inside Gallagher-Iba for the 34-9 win over Oklahoma Plott said that was the biggest crowd he’s seen as a Cowboy wrestler.

“That was great and my teammates were talking about it,” Plott said. “That is the most packed Gallagher (Iba Arena) has been in my career.”

“I’ve been seeing some stuff, you know a huge crowd and it will be a great environment just like it was for Bedlam,” OSU’s No. 3-ranked 165-pound Izzak Olejnik said. “I’m excited definitely for sure. Having this here is super cool.”

Oklahoma State Athletics

Izzak Olejnik is excited to wrestle in this rivalry.

The transfer from Northern Illinois is new to the rivalry, but you don’t have to educate him. He is up to speed.

“I think so. I’m a huge wrestling fan, so even when I was at NIU I followed what was going on and just the history between these two schools is going to be fun to be a part of,” Olejnik said.

The news of a sellout was music to John Smith’s ears. He is committed to keeping this Big 12-to-Big 10 rivalry between the two greatest progams in college wrestling history going.

“Hopefully, we keep having seasons like this,” Smith said. “People like winners,” head coach John Smith said of the atmosphere for this upcoming Sunday. “We want to win. It is all about your performance and creating action. People want to see it. They don’t want to see you standing around out there. They want to see you go score points. They want to see takedowns and if you have a chance to pin someone, pin em.”

Looking at the rankings, the individual rankings here from Intermat, it looks close.

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John Smith talks Iowa with the media.

“You’re going to have to get upsets,” Smith said without the line-ups in front of him. “You will have to win some matches that you are not favored in.”

You also have to take advantage of rare mismatches. For Oklahoma State that will be at 133 pounds with Daton Fix and with Plott at 184 pounds against an unranked Iowa opponent. Big points there will be huge for the sellout crowd to make the maximum noise.