Oklahoma State University Athletics
Smith, Cowboy Wrestlers Preview Big 12 Championships
March 05, 2009 | Cowboy Wrestling
STILLWATER, Okla. – Oklahoma State wrestling coach John Smith, 174-pounder Newly McSpadden and 285-pounder Jared Rosholt met with members of the media this week to preview Saturday's Big 12 Wrestling Championships in Lincoln, Neb. Following are some of the highlights of what they said:
On going into Big 12 tournament on a three-match winning streak
“I feel really good that we're probably going to wrestle the best we have all year. What that means, I don't know. It's a very tough conference. It will definitely put us in a position to take several guys to the NCAA championships if we do that. You've got to be thinking this time of the year is about peaking and peaking is an attitude more than anything.”
On the difficulties of the Big 12 tournament
“What I'm hoping at the Big 12 is whoever has been watching us all year will step back and say we haven't seen that team before. I think we've got that capability. Does that mean we can win it? That's going to be a tall order. When you look at it, who we have first round in the matchups, there's not any match from the start that's given.”
On what it takes to win matches at the Big 12 tournament
“We're going to have earn everything. We're going to have to wrestle hard. We're going to have to prepare that we might have to win by a point, two points, a takedown, a rideout. As long as you mentally prepare for that, a lot of times good things happen.”
On the changes in the NCAA selection process
“Look at Newly McSpadden, his weight class qualifies three. Whoever takes fourth or fifth at that weight may be staying at home. We've got the first three weight classes where there are only three qualifiers. If you finish fourth, you may be staying home. You're putting it in the hands of a committee that chooses and you don't know where you're going to end up.”
On importance of upsets at the Big 12 tournament
“We have the capability of controlling our own destiny. I think this is a team that is prepared. If they get excited about what they have ahead of them, prepare for upsets on Saturday. That's what we've got to do to be real successful in the tournament. We've got to have a lot of upsets. We don't have one guy ranked No. 1 in this tournament; we don't have a champion that's picked to win it.”
On taking automatic NCAA qualifiers to the Big 12 tournament
“The danger there with my guys is that they know they are going to NCAAs regardless. They're taking all five wrestlers at 165, 197 and heavyweight. It's the only conference in the country that's taking everyone that is participating. That tells you a little bit about those weights in our conference. You know you're going, you may not be put into pressure. I do believe this is momentum time and you don't want to be thinking anything different other than creating momentum. We need to be ready and we need to look forward to winning.”
Heavyweight Jared Rosholt
On how Big 12 tournament will affect seeding at NCAA tournament
“I think this tournament is probably going to place us as far as seeding-wise for the NCAA tournament. Either way, to win you're going to have beat whoever. It doesn't really matter.”
On lack of pressure at the Big 12 tournament
“The pressure of being the No. 1 guy is a privilege. I enjoyed it. I don't feel any pressure going in there as the third-ranked guy. I'm not expected to win, so whatever happens, happens.”
174-pounder Newly McSpadden
On having to earn way into the NCAA tournament
“Knowing that last year I wrestled my best the last two tournaments and I think I'm back to that knowing I can do it again this year. I'll be ready to go.”
On depth of 174-pound weight class at the Big 12 tournament
“It's a tough tournament. Two of the guys are top-five in the country. They've both beat me, but I've been within a takedown of beating them. After making adjustments to my weight, I feel like they will see a different wrestler. I'm bigger and stronger and I feel like I'm in better shape.”
On OSU's coaching staff
“I think they wish they could get out there and wrestle for us sometimes. They've helped us the most they can. We can't ask for anything more than what they've done for us. At the same time, we know no matter what happens they'll still be there for us. They want us to win just as bad as we want to win.”
