Cowboy Wrestling Takes on Busy Thanksgiving Weekend

WR Notes - SDSU and Minnesota

The Basics
The fourth-ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys are set for a busy weekend as they travel to Brookings, South Dakota, to face South Dakota State on Friday at 5 p.m., before making their way back to Stillwater to take on No. 18 Minnesota at Gallagher-Iba Arena at 2 p.m. on Sunday for the squad's home opener.

Live Stats And Play-by-Play
Fans can follow the action online through live results and play-by-play on www.trackwrestling.com. Simply go to the site and the link to live results and play-by-play will be prominently displayed.

Watch the Duals Live
Both duals will be streamed live online at flowrestling.org, a subscription based service. To easily access the events, fans can visit flowrestling.org and the banner will be prominently displayed.

Listen to the Duals Live
Fans can listen to the dual vs. South Dakota State on 780 AM with Rex Holt and Roger Moore on the call. Sunday's dual against Minnesota will be on 93.7 KSPI-FM.

100 Years of Greatness
Oklahoma State wrestling is celebrating 100 years of history this season. The Cowboys, then known as the Oklahoma A&M Tigers and led by A.M. Colville, wrestled their first match in 1915 against the University of Texas. It was a rough start for OSU as it fell to the Longhorns in its lone dual of the season. But the Cowboys pulled through and went on to win 34 NCAA team championships (the most by any school in any sport), 139 individual champions and 444 All-Americans. Overall, the Cowboys hold an incredibly impressive 1,066-124-23 overall record.

John Smith Enters 25th Year as OSU Head Coach
Not only did John Smith leave his legacy on Oklahoma State wrestling as a competitor, Smith continues to do so as he begins his 25th year as the head coach of the Cowboy wrestling team. In 1992, John Smith, along with Kenny Monday, took over as co-head coaches for the squad, and Smith took over on his own in 1993. Since taking over, Smith has led his squad to five NCAA team championships and 17 conference championships. He leads all active coaches in NCAA champions coached (29), and has also seen his wrestlers earn All-American honors 111 times. He is the Cowboys' winningest coach with a 371-57-6 record entering the weekend.

In the Polls
Oklahoma State enters the weekend ranked No. 4 in the USA Today/NWCA/Division I Coaches Poll and No. 2 in the Intermat rankings. Minnesota is ranked No. 18 by USA Today/NWCA/Division I Coaches Poll and No. 23 in the Intermat rankings. SDSU is not ranked in either poll.

The Cowboys are the top-ranked team from the Big 12 in both the USA Today/NWCA/Division I Coaches Poll and the Intermat rankings.

Nine of the Cowboy's potential starters are ranked among the top 20 in the nation at their respective weight classes in at least one poll, including a No. 1 rankings in all four polls for two-time national champion Alex Dieringer (165) and 2015 All-American Dean Heil (141). Kyle Crutchmer is ranked No. 2 at 174 pounds in three polls.

SDSU has two wrestlers ranked in the top 20 of their weight classes by Intermat, while Minnesota has three.

2015 Recap
The Oklahoma State wrestling team finished the 2014-15 season by producing an individual national champion in Alex Dieringer and three other All-Americans, as well as a Big 12 tournament title. The Cowboys turned in a 12-3 overall dual record and a perfect 3-0 conference record.

At the NCAA tournament, the Cowboys sent five to the quarterfinals, including Eddie Klimara (125), Dean Heil (141), Alex Dieringer (165), Kyle Crutchmer (174) and Austin Marsden (285). Dieringer came out on top, while Klimara, Heil and Crutchmer finished in the top eight.

The Pokes crowned seven Big 12 champions in Klimara, Heil, Dieringer, Crutchmer, Anthony Collica, Nolan Boyd and Austin Marsden.

Last Meeting vs. South Dakota State
No. 9 Oklahoma State 25, South Dakota State 9
Nov. 16, 2014 :: Miami, Okla. :: Attendance - 1,100

125: Austin Miller (OSU) MD Isaac Andrade (SDSU) 14-4
133: Brance Simms (SDSU) dec. Brian Crutchmer (OSU), 6-1
141: Davey Dolan (OSU) dec. Luke Zilverberg (SDSU), 8-5
149: No. 2 Josh Kindig (OSU) dec. Colin Holler (SDSU), 6-5
157: No. 15 Cody Pack (SDSU) dec. Anthony Collica (OSU), 8-2
165: No. 1 Alex Dieringer (OSU) TF5 Kyle Leet (SDSU), 17-1; 4:02
174: Jordan Rogers (OSU) dec. David Kocer (SDSU), 7-6
184: Nolan Boyd (OSU) TF5 Brady Ayers (SDSU), 18-3; 3:56
197: Nate Rotert (SDSU) dec. Austin Schafer (OSU), 8-6
285: No. 4 Austin Marsden (OSU) dec. J.J. Everard (SDSU), 8-4

Last Meeting vs. Minnesota
No. 2 Minnesota 19, No. 9 Oklahoma State 15
Nov. 29, 2014 :: Minneapolis, Minn. (Sports Pavilion) :: Attendance – 4,124

**Dual started at 174 pounds
174: No. 1 Logan Storley (MINN) dec. No. 19 Kyle Crutchmer (OSU), 8-1
184: No. 15 Brett Pfarr (MINN) dec. Nolan Boyd (OSU), 5-1
197: No. 1 Scott Schiller (MINN) dec. Austin Schafer (OSU), 11-4
285: No. 5 Austin Marsden (OSU) dec. Michael Kroells (OSU), 8-2
125: Eddie Klimara (OSU) fall No. 12 Sam Brancale (MINN), 4:58
133: No. 3 Chris Dardanes (MINN) MD Brian Crutchmer (OSU), 20-8
141: No. 4 Nick Dardanes (MINN) dec. Dean Heil (OSU), 9-5
149: No. 2 Josh Kindig (OSU) dec. No. 20 Jake Short (MINN), 4-1
157: No. 1 Dylan Ness (MINN) dec. No. 14 Anthony Collica (OSU), 6-0
165: No. 1 Alex Dieringer (OSU) dec. No. 14 Nick Wanzek (MINN), 9-2

FloWrestling, Oklahoma State Sign Live Streaming Agreement
Oklahoma State and FloWrestling announced this week a three-year live streaming agreement in which FloWreslting will become the Cowboys' exclusive streaming partner. The agreement includes all of OSU's home duals, with the exception of the Bedlam dual on Feb. 5. In addition to home duals, Oklahoma State will be streamed in away duals at Wyoming and South Dakota State, as well as the Southern Scuffle.

2015-16 Oklahoma State Home Schedule Live On Flo
Nov. 29 – Minnesota
Dec. 6 - NC State
Jan. 22 – Missouri
Jan. 24 - Iowa State
Feb. 12 - Army West Point
Feb. 14 – Stanford
Feb. 19 - North Carolina

Other Oklahoma State Events On Flo Pro This Season
Nov. 27 - @ South Dakota St.
Dec. 18 - @ Wyoming
Jan. 1 & 2 - Southern Scuffle

Crutchmer Named Wrestler of the Week
Junior Kyle Crutchmer was honored as the Big 12 Wrestler of the Week for his performance during the week of Nov. 8-14. It was his first career conference weekly honor. Crutchmer won a crucial match in the Cowboys' dual against Iowa to give the Cowboys a 13-10 lead. Crutchmer, ranked No. 4 in the nation, took on No. 6 Alex Meyer in a top-ten battle. With the bout coming down to the last seconds, Crutchmer scored a critical takedown that gave him the 11-10 win.

Historical Grapple on the Gridiron
Oklahoma State opened the season with a trip to Iowa City to take on the then-No.4 Hawkeyes in a dual that was tabbed as the Grapple on the Gridiron, which marked the first time in NCAA history two wrestling programs competed outside at a Division I football stadium. The dual shattered the NCAA dual attendance record, previously held by Penn State (15,996 vs. Pitt in 2013), with 42,287 tickets sold.

Dieringer's Streak
Two-time NCAA champion Alex Dieringer is in the midst of a 53-match win streak, dating back to January 2014. Last season he compiled a perfect 33-0 overall record. Dieringer sits at eighth all-time for unbeaten streaks in program history. He is two wins away from passing Johny Hendrick's 55-match win streak.

75 and Counting
Two Cowboy seniors start the season closing in on the 100-win club. Austin Marsden boasts 84 career wins, while Eddie Klimara sits at 83 wins.
Marsden earned his 75th win when he defeated AJ Vizcarrondo of West Virginia in the heavyweight finals of the Big 12 Championship, 7-0.
Klimara snatched his 75th win at the NCAA tournament when he scored 11 points on Ben Willeford of Cleveland State.

Crutchmer, Heil Compete at NWCA All-Star Classic
Returning All-Americans Kyle Crutchmer and Dean Heil were selected to compete in the NWCA All-Star Classic, which was held on Nov. 1 in Atlanta at Georgia Tech University.

Heil fell in the final seconds of a tight, high-scoring bout against 133-pound 2015 NCAA champion Cody Brewer, 13-12.

Crutchmer also fell in a close one, 2-1 to Zach Epperly of Virginia at 174 pounds.

Alex Dieringer was also invited to compete, but was not able to make it to the competition.

Look Who's Back
Returning to the Cowboy lineup for the 2015-16 season is a two-time NCAA champion, four other All-Americans and seven Big 12 champions.
Senior Alex Dieringer earned his second NCAA individual title, this time at 165 pounds, during a flawless junior campaign that saw him go 33-0, pick up his 100th career win and his third Big 12 title.

Dean Heil, a sophomore for the Pokes, grabbed his first All-America honor after finishing fourth at the 2015 NCAA Championships. Kyle Crutchmer also received All-American status in 2015, when he finished fifth at the national tournament. In addition, the junior picked up a Big 12 title at 174 pounds. Eddie Klimara claimed All-American status last season, defeating Penn State's Jordan Conaway in the seventh-place bout of the NCAA tourney. The final All-American is Austin Marsden, who finished eighth at nationals in 2014, but fell short of the podium in 2015.

NCAA qualifier and 2015 Big 12 champions Anthony Collica and Nolan Boyd are also notable returners for the Pokes.

All in the Family
This season's squad features four sets of brothers and a father-son combo.
Hailing from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Brian and Kyle Crutchmer are both juniors for the Pokes. Kyle is a 174-pound starter, Big 12 Champion and NCAA All-American. Brian is a letterwinner at 133 pounds, who has made five starts. Andrew and Austin Marsden came to OSU from Illinois. Austin, a senior, is the Cowboys' starting heavyweight, who has won two Big 12 titles and was a 2014 All-American. Andrew is a freshman this season. Dalton and Tristan Moran are originally from Arizona. Dalton transferred to OSU last season from South Dakota State, Tristan is a freshman this year. The Rogers brothers, Chandler and Jordan, round out the group of brothers. Both are fighting for starting spots at 174 pounds and 184 pounds, respectively.
Coach John Smith and son Joe, who is a freshman for the Pokes, make up an exciting father-son duo. Under his father's direction, Joe is 13-0 on the season.

Follow Cowboy Wrestling
Stay up to date with the Oklahoma State wrestling team on the following social media:
            Twitter: @CowboyWrestling
            Facebook: facebook.com/cowboywrestling
            Instagram: @CowboyWrestling
            Snapchat: OSUathletics
            YouTube: youtube.com/osuathletics

ASICS All-Americans Live Here
There are three different wrestlers on this year's Oklahoma State roster who were ASICS first-team All-Americans during their prep days:
Jordan Rogers               2012
Chance Marsteller         2014
Nick Piccininni               2014 and 2015

Fargo Champs, Too
There are four different wrestlers on this year's Oklahoma State wrestling roster who won titles at the ASICS Junior Freestyle National Championships in Fargo, N.D., during their prep days:
Alex Dieringer               2010
Jordan Rogers               2011
Anthony Collica             2012 and 2013
Joe Smith                     2015

Coached by the Best
Members of the Oklahoma State wrestling staff combine for six world championships and two Olympic gold medals.
They also combine for six NCAA championships and 10 All-America honors. The breakdown:

Olympic Medalists
John Smith       1988 and 1992 Gold

Senior World Championships Medalists
John Smith       1987, 1989, 1990 and 1991 Gold

NCAA Individual Championships
John Smith       1987, 1988
Eric Guerrero     1997, 1998, 1999
Zack Esposito   2005

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Nolan Boyd

Anthony Collica

Brian Crutchmer

Kyle Crutchmer

Alex Dieringer

Davey Dolan

Dean Heil

Josh Kindig

Eddie Klimara

Austin Marsden

Chance Marsteller

Austin Miller

Tristan Moran

Nick Piccininni

Jordan Rogers

Austin Schafer

Joe Smith

Oklahoma State University Athletics