Brayden Thompson and Two Other NCAA Qualifiers Will Start Season in Michigan State Open
(This story was originated by and written by Jake LeForce of Oklahoma State University Athletic Media Relations.)
Several Oklahoma State wrestlers are headed north to compete at the Michigan State Open on Saturday, which provides a solid test to open the 2024-25 season.
Hosted in East Lansing, Michigan, the MSU Open is one of the largest early-season tournaments on the NCAA wrestling calendar with 19 Division I programs expected to be in attendance. Within that group, Central Michigan, Edinboro, Indiana, Kent State, Michigan, Michigan State, Northern Illinois, Northwestern, Ohio and Wisconsin are all sending at least 10 athletes. Of the 10 champions in last season’s open division, seven went on to qualify for the NCAA Championships and three earned a spot on the podium.
Returning national qualifiers Tagen Jamison, Brayden Thompson and Konner Doucet headline the 14 Cowboys competing this weekend. Jamison is currently ranked 14th in the country at 141 pounds and beat 10 ranked wrestlers throughout his redshirt freshman season, while Doucet provides extensive experience at heavyweight with a 45-26 career record. Thompson spent his true freshman campaign starting at 174 pounds but will compete this weekend as an unattached athlete at 184.
Also unattached from the team is 157-pounder Caleb Fish, who compiled an 83-37 record over the past four years at Michigan State. This will be Fish’s fourth time wrestling in the MSU Open after winning the 165-pound bracket in 2022 and reaching the finals last season.
Looking to build off productive redshirt seasons, 125-pounder Sam Smith, 133-pounder Cael Hughes and 184-pounder Jersey Robb are all registered as well. The trio combined for six dual starts and a 28-5 record in 2024. Redshirt sophomores Zach Blankenship and Cutter Sheets will also take the mat at 133 and 149 pounds, respectively.
The tournament will also see five true freshmen make their collegiate debuts in JJ McComas (133 pounds), Kolter Burton (141), Ramon Salazar (149), Colin Young (165) and Cody Merrill (197).
Action at the Michigan State Open begins at 8:30 a.m. CT with streaming available on FloWrestling.org and brackets on TrackWrestling.com.