Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State Ranked Second In Preseason Wrestling Coaches Poll
October 24, 2007 | Cowboy Wrestling
The Oklahoma State wrestling team is ranked second in the nation in the USA Today/National Wrestling Coaches Association/InterMat Preseason Division I Wrestling Poll, it was announced today. Additionally, Cowboy senior Coleman Scott was ranked as the No. 1 wrestler in the nation at 133 pounds, with teammates Nathan Morgan (third at 141 pounds), Brandon Mason (third at 174 pounds) and Jared Rosholt (12th at heavyweight) also securing individual rankings in the preseason coaches poll.
The Cowboys compiled a 14-5 dual meet record last year and finished fifth at the NCAA Championships. Coach John Smith returns a trio of 2007 All-America selections in Scott, Morgan and Mason. Other NCAA qualifiers returning for Oklahoma State this year include Rosholt, senior Jack Jensen, junior Newly McSpadden and sophomore Tyler Shinn.
The NCAA runner-up at 133 pounds last year, Scott is a three-time All-America selection and has a chance to become the 12th Cowboy in history to earn All-America honors in each of his four years in Stillwater. Scott compiled a 30-4 overall record in 2007 that included 11 wins over ranked opponents. He knocked off top-ranked Nick Simmons of Michigan State at last year's NCAA Championships.
A two-time All-America honoree, Morgan looks to make it three straight All-America honors when he takes the mat in the 2007-08 season. A native of Bakersfield, Calif., Morgan sported a 19-5 overall record last year that included nine wins over ranked opponents.
Coming off a 2006-07 season in which he compiled a 27-13 overall record and finished fifth at the NCAA Championships, Mason has seen his stock jump dramatically. He finished last year ranked No. 13 at the 174 pound weight class but spiked to No. 3 in this year's preseason rankings.
Reigning NCAA champion Minnesota holds the No. 1 ranking in the preseason coaches poll, followed by OSU, Iowa State, Iowa and Michigan to round out the top five. The Cowboys host the Golden Gophers on Feb. 3 at Gallagher-Iba and host the Cyclones in a on Jan. 27 at Gallagher-Iba. OSU hits the road to face the Hawkeyes in Iowa City on Jan. 5. Other ranked teams on the Cowboys' schedule this year include No. 7 Missouri, No. 11 Penn State, No. 14 Nebraska and No. 19 Oklahoma.
With 34 NCAA team championships, the Oklahoma State wrestling program has won more NCAA team titles than any program at any school in the country. The Cowboys have won four of the last five national championships, with coach John Smith guiding his alma mater to five NCAA titles during his 16-year coaching career.
Oklahoma State opens the 2007-08 season when it competes at the Omaha Open on Sun., Nov. 17 in Omaha, Neb.
USA Today/NWCA/InterMat Preseason Division I Wrestling Coaches Poll
1. Minnesota
2. Oklahoma State
3. Iowa State
4. Iowa
5. Michigan
6. Northwestern
7. Missouri
8. Ohio State
9. Cornell
10. Central Michigan
11. Penn State
12. Wisconsin
13. Hofstra
14. Nebraska
15. Indiana
16. Edinboro
17. Illinois
18. Navy
19. Oklahoma
20. Pittsburgh
21. Tennessee-Chattanooga
22. Harvard
23. Pennsylvania
24. American
25. Oregon State
Oklahoma State in the Individual Rankings
133 pounds
1. Coleman Scott
141 pounds
3. Nathan Morgan
174 pounds
3. Brandon Mason
Heavyweight
12. Jared Rosholt
