New Rankings See Oklahoma State Slip Some in the Tournament Numbers
STILLWATER – The latest rankings came out in college wrestling on Tuesday and for the first time Oklahoma State head coach David Taylor has some serious adversity to deal with. The wear and tear on the season had been gradual but it showed up big last weekend on the double dual road
trip to Iowa. The Cowboys handled Northern Iowa 22-14 coming back from a 12-4 deficit. On Sunday they won 27-12 over Iowa State after coming back from the same 12-4 deficit, but this time it was after five weights were completed.
The Cowboys have a home date with Missouri this weekend and then close out the dual season with road matches at Little Rock and at Iowa. The dual ranking is still strong, but the lower weights and their late season fade has hurt the tournament rankings and the projected points th Cowboys would earn in the NCAA Championship in Philadelphia.
| Rank | Dual Rankings | Record | Rank | Tournament Rankings | Projected Points |
| 1. | Penn State | 9-0 | 1 | Penn State | 137.0 |
| 2. | Iowa | 9-0 | 2. | Iowa | 106.5 |
| 3. | Oklahoma State | 11-0 | 3. | Oklahoma State | 82.5 |
| 4. | Ohio State | 11-1 | 4. | Nebraska | 56.5 |
| 5. | No. Iowa | 10-1 | 5. | Minnesota | 50.5 |
It is very simple. The wrestlers at the five lower weights are struggling some. At 125 pounds, Troy Spratley pulled out of a midseason two match losing streak to sweep in Iowa with a pair of major decisions. However, both Hughes and Witcraft, in his return, lost this weekend. Hughes at UNI and Witcraft at Iowa State. Jamison got beat twice in overtime matches. Carter Young has been up and down. Caleb Fish was a hero turning the tide at Northern Iowa, but losing in sudden victory overtime at Iowa State.
It’s not terrible, but the lower weight wrestlers were better a few weeks ago. Lots of time off between now and the postseason with just a few duals will help.
On the top side, there may not be a better wrestler in the country right now than Dean Hamiti Jr. He will get No. 1 Keegan O’Toole from Missouri this Sunday and I can’t wait. I believe Hamiti Jr. will take the top ranked 174 pounder.
Wyatt Hendrickson is also easily one of the top wrestlers, poumd-for-pound, in the nation.
Below are the updated individual rankings from Intermat.
| Weight | Rank | Oklahoma State Wrestler | Record |
| 125 | 4 | Troy Spratley | 14-3 |
| 133 | 21/*17 | Cael Hughes/*Reece Witcraft | 8-1/*8-3 |
| 141 | 5 | Tagen Jamison | 15-3 |
| 149 | 17 | Carter Young | 9-8 |
| 157 | 12 | Caleb Fish | 15-5 |
| 165 | 6 | Cameron Amine | 12-4 |
| 174 | 3 | Dean Hamiti Jr. | 16-0 |
| 184 | 3 | Dustin Plott | 13-2 |
| 197 | 7 | Luke Surber | 16-1 |
| Hwt. | 3 | Wyatt Hendrickson | 15-0 |
| * | Reece Witcraft ranking from The Open Mat |