Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Take Four Weights in FloWrestling’s “Weight Class U” Series
November 14, 2016 | Cowboy Wrestling
STILLWATER – Over the last couple of weeks, Dan Lobdell and Andrew Spey of FloWrestling have highlighted the best schools at each weight class over the last 15 years. The 10-part series goes weight class by weight class, using an algorithm that factors in a school's NCAA qualifiers, All-Americans and national champions over that time span to name one school the best at each class.
Oklahoma State took top honors in four weight classes: 133, 149, 165 and 174. Not only were the Cowboys one of two schools to take multiple weight classes, but OSU was the only program to take more than two.
133 U: National Champs Carry Oklahoma State to the Top
Over the last 15 years, the Cowboys have boasted four 133-pound national champions and total 10 All-Americans. In all, OSU 133-pounders have totaled 155 points at NCAA's in the previous 15 years, edging Minnesota (147) and Iowa (142) for the top spot on the list.
"Both Iowa and Oklahoma State placed six wrestler in the finals, but the only time they met up was the 2008 finals in St. Louis -- won by former OSU wrestler and current North Carolina head coach Coleman Scott," Lobdell writes. "Before he won an Olympic medal and started running UNC, Scott was one of many in a long line of excellent 133s for the Cowboys.
"Over half of the Cowboys' 133s ended up placing in the top four, with two-thirds of them finishing sixth or better, which is what pushes them over the top."
Key Scorers for OSU:
Johnny Thompson (2002-04): 1st, 1st, 3rd
Coleman Scott (2007-08): 2nd, 1st
Jordan Oliver (2010-12): 4th, 1st, 2nd
149 U: Oklahoma State Ekes Out Win Over Iowa
Decorated with 11 NCAA qualifiers, two NCAA Champions and eight All-Americans over the last 15 seasons, the Cowboys edged the Hawkeyes once again at 149 pounds. OSU has accrued 121 points over that span, just three more than Iowa's 118. The two have some cushion over third-place Minnesota's 102 points.
Both Oklahoma State and Iowa were left out in the cold four times each by not qualifying for the tournament," Lobdell writes. "But they are very efficient when they do qualify wrestlers, as eight of those 11 ended up finishing on the podium for both teams."
Key Scorers for OSU:
Zack Esposito (04-06): 2nd, 1st, 3rd
Jordan Oliver (2013): 1st
Josh Kindig (14-15): 2nd, DNP
165 U: Cowboys are the Standard Bearer
Thanks to four national championships and 10 All-America honors, the Cowboys have dominated the 165-pound weight class over the past decade and a half, racking up 159 points to finish 66 points ahead of second-place Iowa State.
"No other weight has as big of a gap between first and second place as 165 pounds," Lobdell writes. "There's Oklahoma State, and then there's everyone else. The Cowboys have had a wrestler finish in the top three at this weight nine times in 15 years, something no team can match at any other weight.
"From Tyler Caldwell to Alex Dieringer, the fans in Stillwater, Oklahoma, have been treated to four straight years of excellence. Throw in the mid-2000s dominance of Johny Hendricks and Tyrone Lewis, and you have our winner at 165 U."
Key Scorers for OSU:
Tyrone Lewis (2002-03): 3rd, 5th
Johny Hendricks (2005-07): 1st, 1st, 2nd
Tyler Caldwell (2013-14): 3rd, 2nd
Alex Dieringer (2015-16): 1st, 1st
174 U: Oklahoma State Wins All Its Medal Matches
With four national champions and eight All-Americans for 138 points over the last 15 years, the Cowboys top Iowa and Penn State for the 174-pound title.
"Cowboys fans have fond memories of two guys named Chris: Pendleton and Perry," Lobdell writes. "Both of them won a couple national championships and lead the way over second-place Iowa in the time frame we examined, 2002 to 2016.
"Oklahoma State was the only school to qualify the weight every year. Additionally, while several teams put a guy in the finals four times, the Cowboys were the only school to win each of them. In fact, OSU went 8-0 in its All-American matches. The Cowboys were boom or bust at this weight, leaving six in the round of 12 but always finishing on the odd side of the podium if they made it through that round."
Key Scorers for OSU:
Chris Pendleton (2003-05): 3rd, 1st, 1st
Chris Perry (2012-14): 3rd, 1st, 1st
285 U: Oklahoma State Takes No. 2
The Cowboys placed second at heavyweight, thanks to standouts like Steve Mocco, Jared Rosholt and Austin Marsden.
Lobdell: "Oklahoma State has used seven different guys these past 15 years, but every single one of them made it to the NCAA tournament. Looking back on the Cowboys' 285 pounders, the steady improvement of a guy like Jared Rosholt becomes obvious. Acknowledging that Steve Mocco was a free agent who didn't start in Stillwater, OK, Rosholt is the most accomplished homegrown talent for OSU coach John Smith at heavyweight."
Key Scorers for OSU:
Steve Mocco (05-06): 1st, 2nd
Jared Rosholt (07-10): DNP, 4th, 3rd, 2nd
Austin Marsden (2012, 14-16): DNP, 8th, R12, 8th
The Cowboys also placed in a number of other weight classes. Here is a full rundown:
125: 9th
133: 1st
141: 5th
149: 1st
157: 4th
165: 1st
174: 1st
184: 7th
197: 5th
285: 2nd
Oklahoma State took top honors in four weight classes: 133, 149, 165 and 174. Not only were the Cowboys one of two schools to take multiple weight classes, but OSU was the only program to take more than two.
133 U: National Champs Carry Oklahoma State to the Top
Over the last 15 years, the Cowboys have boasted four 133-pound national champions and total 10 All-Americans. In all, OSU 133-pounders have totaled 155 points at NCAA's in the previous 15 years, edging Minnesota (147) and Iowa (142) for the top spot on the list.
"Both Iowa and Oklahoma State placed six wrestler in the finals, but the only time they met up was the 2008 finals in St. Louis -- won by former OSU wrestler and current North Carolina head coach Coleman Scott," Lobdell writes. "Before he won an Olympic medal and started running UNC, Scott was one of many in a long line of excellent 133s for the Cowboys.
"Over half of the Cowboys' 133s ended up placing in the top four, with two-thirds of them finishing sixth or better, which is what pushes them over the top."
Key Scorers for OSU:
Johnny Thompson (2002-04): 1st, 1st, 3rd
Coleman Scott (2007-08): 2nd, 1st
Jordan Oliver (2010-12): 4th, 1st, 2nd
149 U: Oklahoma State Ekes Out Win Over Iowa
Decorated with 11 NCAA qualifiers, two NCAA Champions and eight All-Americans over the last 15 seasons, the Cowboys edged the Hawkeyes once again at 149 pounds. OSU has accrued 121 points over that span, just three more than Iowa's 118. The two have some cushion over third-place Minnesota's 102 points.
Both Oklahoma State and Iowa were left out in the cold four times each by not qualifying for the tournament," Lobdell writes. "But they are very efficient when they do qualify wrestlers, as eight of those 11 ended up finishing on the podium for both teams."
Key Scorers for OSU:
Zack Esposito (04-06): 2nd, 1st, 3rd
Jordan Oliver (2013): 1st
Josh Kindig (14-15): 2nd, DNP
165 U: Cowboys are the Standard Bearer
Thanks to four national championships and 10 All-America honors, the Cowboys have dominated the 165-pound weight class over the past decade and a half, racking up 159 points to finish 66 points ahead of second-place Iowa State.
"No other weight has as big of a gap between first and second place as 165 pounds," Lobdell writes. "There's Oklahoma State, and then there's everyone else. The Cowboys have had a wrestler finish in the top three at this weight nine times in 15 years, something no team can match at any other weight.
"From Tyler Caldwell to Alex Dieringer, the fans in Stillwater, Oklahoma, have been treated to four straight years of excellence. Throw in the mid-2000s dominance of Johny Hendricks and Tyrone Lewis, and you have our winner at 165 U."
Key Scorers for OSU:
Tyrone Lewis (2002-03): 3rd, 5th
Johny Hendricks (2005-07): 1st, 1st, 2nd
Tyler Caldwell (2013-14): 3rd, 2nd
Alex Dieringer (2015-16): 1st, 1st
174 U: Oklahoma State Wins All Its Medal Matches
With four national champions and eight All-Americans for 138 points over the last 15 years, the Cowboys top Iowa and Penn State for the 174-pound title.
"Cowboys fans have fond memories of two guys named Chris: Pendleton and Perry," Lobdell writes. "Both of them won a couple national championships and lead the way over second-place Iowa in the time frame we examined, 2002 to 2016.
"Oklahoma State was the only school to qualify the weight every year. Additionally, while several teams put a guy in the finals four times, the Cowboys were the only school to win each of them. In fact, OSU went 8-0 in its All-American matches. The Cowboys were boom or bust at this weight, leaving six in the round of 12 but always finishing on the odd side of the podium if they made it through that round."
Key Scorers for OSU:
Chris Pendleton (2003-05): 3rd, 1st, 1st
Chris Perry (2012-14): 3rd, 1st, 1st
285 U: Oklahoma State Takes No. 2
The Cowboys placed second at heavyweight, thanks to standouts like Steve Mocco, Jared Rosholt and Austin Marsden.
Lobdell: "Oklahoma State has used seven different guys these past 15 years, but every single one of them made it to the NCAA tournament. Looking back on the Cowboys' 285 pounders, the steady improvement of a guy like Jared Rosholt becomes obvious. Acknowledging that Steve Mocco was a free agent who didn't start in Stillwater, OK, Rosholt is the most accomplished homegrown talent for OSU coach John Smith at heavyweight."
Key Scorers for OSU:
Steve Mocco (05-06): 1st, 2nd
Jared Rosholt (07-10): DNP, 4th, 3rd, 2nd
Austin Marsden (2012, 14-16): DNP, 8th, R12, 8th
The Cowboys also placed in a number of other weight classes. Here is a full rundown:
125: 9th
133: 1st
141: 5th
149: 1st
157: 4th
165: 1st
174: 1st
184: 7th
197: 5th
285: 2nd
Players Mentioned
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