STILLWATER – The greatest to ever do it is getting a building named after him. On Saturday night, Oklahoma State announced it was named the new wrestling facility after legendary wrestler and head coach John Smith.
The decision is pending approval by the OSU/A&M Board of Regents.
“It is nearly impossible to overstate what John Smith has meant to Cowboy Wrestling and the sport of wrestling around the world,” OSU athletic director Chad Weiberg said in the release. “There is not a more appropriate way to celebrate all he has done for Oklahoma State than to have his name on the building that future generations of OSU wrestlers will walk into every day.”
The new facility will be built on the north side of Gallagher-Iba Arena.
Smith is a six-time world champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist, two-time NCAA individual champion and won five NCAA team titles as the head coach of Cowboy Wrestling.
He finished his international career with a 100-5 all-time record and 77-3 in domestic freestyle.
Following his wrestling career, Smith took over the program he wrestled for and won five team titles, produced 33 individual NCAA champions, 153 All-Americans, 132 individual conference champions, 23 team conference titles and two Hodge Trophy winners.
