Oklahoma State University Athletics
Weekend Review: Strong Opening Weekend for Cowboy Wrestling
November 07, 2016 | Cowboy Wrestling
STILLWATER – The Oklahoma State wrestling team turned in a strong start to the 2016-17 campaign, not only dominating Bucknell in its dual opener, but also picking up a win at the NWCA All-Star Classic and returning six titles from the OCU Open.
Cowboys Rout Bison
The top-ranked Cowboys arrived at the NEO Fieldhouse in Miami, Okla., Sunday afternoon ready to do battle with the Bison of Bucknell.
The team proved worthy of its No. 1 ranking in its season opener Sunday afternoon, dominating Bucknell in a 36-3 dual victory behind five bonus-point wins at NEO Fieldhouse.
Kyle Crutchmer highlighted the day with a first-period fall in the 174-pound bout, while Nick Piccininni and Jonce Blaylock recorded technical falls and Kaid Brock and Chandler Rogers added major decisions. Dean Heil was also victorious at 141 pounds in the only match that featured two ranked wrestlers.
"I'm feeling better about my team right now," head coach John Smith said. "I was a little concerned going in with a few starters out, and you don't like starting your season like that."
The Cowboys opened the match with bonus points at 125 pounds as 15th-ranked Nick Piccininni recorded a 15-0 tech fall over Jordan Gessner in 3:46. Piccininni jumped out early, scoring 12 points in the first period, thanks to a takedown, a two-point near fall and a couple of four-point near falls. Starting the second period on bottom, the redshirt freshman escaped and converted a takedown 45 seconds into the frame to finish the match and pick up the first dual victory of his career.
At 133 pounds, redshirt freshman Kaid Brock scored bonus points in his return to the mat from a season-ending injury last year. Brock knocked off Bucknell's Joey Gould in a 16-6 major decision to expand the Oklahoma State lead to 9-0.
"In the end, I thought we looked pretty sharp at 125 and 133," Smith said. "Not that we were perfect. It's hard to be perfect, but getting out there, scoring points and a lot of riding on our part. I didn't expect that."
Jonce Blaylock impressed in his 2016-17 debut, tallying a 21-2 tech fall over Seth Hogue in the 149-pound bout. Blaylock dropped Hogue for a takedown 30 seconds into the match, and recorded a pair of two-point near falls to cap off the first period. Leading, 14-2, heading into the third period, Blaylock would finish strong and score seven quick points to record the tech fall in 6:37.
Returning from an injury that cut his 2016 campaign short, senior Kyle Crutchmer couldn't have asked for a better return. Crutchmer pinned Chad Reese 1:32 into the first period to put the Pokes up, 27-3.
"This was something that I had been looking forward to," Crutchmer said. "Not just the pin, but the match. I've been out for about six months. I've been training a little bit for the last couple of months, but coming back and having a pin. It's unbelievable."
Senior Nolan Boyd (184), redshirt sophomore Preston Weigel (197) and senior Austin Schafer (285) each recorded decisions to close out the match, giving the Cowboys their first triumph of the season.
Collica Impresses at All-Star Classic
In front of his hometown fans, Oklahoma State senior Anthony Collica welcomed the new season in Cleveland, Ohio, Saturday night at the 51st annual NWCA All-Star Classic exhibition dual. Matched up with third-ranked Lavion Mayes, Collica picked up the win to avenge a 3-2 loss in the third-place match at last year's NCAA Championships.
Mayes attacked early, scoring a takedown in the opening 10 seconds of the match to take an early 2-0 lead. After a Collica escape, the Cowboy trailed 2-1 after the first period. Collica would answer in the second, however, and a late takedown inside of 25 seconds gave the senior a 5-4 lead after two frames.
Collica opened the third period on top, but Mayes recorded an escape early on to tie the match at five apiece. With under a minute left, Collica made his move, scoring a takedown with 45 seconds left to take a 7-5 advantage that he would retain for the decision.
Although Saturday's match didn't count toward official records, some intrigue was added with Collica and Mayes' history. In six prior matches against each other, the pair have split 3-3.
Six Cowboys Claim Titles at OCU Open
Six members of the Oklahoma State wrestling team picked up individual titles Sunday at the OCU Open.
After receiving a bye in the first round, redshirt freshman Lincoln Olson won all three of his matches to take the 133-pound title. Olson pinned Bacone's Kaiden Hudson in 1:48 in his quarterfinal match, before recording a 19-2 tech fall over Wayland Baptist's Demarco Speller in the semis. The Linwood, Mich., product posted a 12-6 decision over Central Oklahoma's Aaron Hane to take the title.
Junior Lincoln Lemon placed third in the 133-pound bracket, going 3-1 and getting the 17-1 tech fall over Demarco Speller in the third place match.
Redshirt freshman Tristan Moran stormed through the 141-pound bracket with three falls to take the championship. He pinned Central Oklahoma's Tyler Tustin in 1:58 in the title match.
Redshirt freshman Andrew Marsden earned the championship at 184 pounds with three falls, including one right out of the gate against Central Oklahoma's Caleb Hawes in the finals.
Junior transfer Geordan Martinez took the 149-pound title, wrestling unattached. After a 5-2 decision in the quarterfinals, Martinez added a couple of tech falls to close out the event, including a 16-1 tech over Fort Hays' Jacob Kay.
Also wrestling unattached, transfer Jacobe Smith won the title at 174-pounds. Smith won four matches, including his last three by fall. He dropped Oklahoma's Jose Taylor by way of a 4:51 fall in the finals.
In the freshman/sophomore division, freshman Wyatt Sheets came up with a title in the 157-pound bracket wrestling unattached. Sheets went 4-0, opening his day with a fall over Basham Dustin in the first round, before advancing to the finals with a decision and a tech fall in the quarters and semis, respectively. Sheets was victorious over Oklahoma's Justin Walker in a 1-0 decision in the final match.
Redshirt sophomore Derek White finished second in the 197-pound open division. White opened the day with a 7-3 decision over Cody Marquez of New Mexico Highlands and a 12-4 major decision over Jovanni Virgen, but was edged by Jon Inman in the finals.
Heavyweights Tanner Allen and Blake Andrews finished second and third, respectively in the 285 open bracket. Allen went 2-1, including a tech fall over Bacone's Daniel Brown, before falling in the finals to Central Oklahoma's Caleb Cotter in a tight, 3-2, match. Andrews went 3-1, defeating Central Oklahoma's Evan McGee in a 9-2 decision in the third-place match.
Cowboys Rout Bison
The top-ranked Cowboys arrived at the NEO Fieldhouse in Miami, Okla., Sunday afternoon ready to do battle with the Bison of Bucknell.
We're ready to roll! #okstate pic.twitter.com/fOes8RVH8d
— OSU Cowboy Wrestling (@CowboyWrestling) November 6, 2016
The team proved worthy of its No. 1 ranking in its season opener Sunday afternoon, dominating Bucknell in a 36-3 dual victory behind five bonus-point wins at NEO Fieldhouse.
FINAL: Cowboys defeat Bucknell, 36-3! #okstate pic.twitter.com/gfLYwg2MSV
— OSU Cowboy Wrestling (@CowboyWrestling) November 6, 2016
Kyle Crutchmer highlighted the day with a first-period fall in the 174-pound bout, while Nick Piccininni and Jonce Blaylock recorded technical falls and Kaid Brock and Chandler Rogers added major decisions. Dean Heil was also victorious at 141 pounds in the only match that featured two ranked wrestlers.
"I'm feeling better about my team right now," head coach John Smith said. "I was a little concerned going in with a few starters out, and you don't like starting your season like that."
The Cowboys opened the match with bonus points at 125 pounds as 15th-ranked Nick Piccininni recorded a 15-0 tech fall over Jordan Gessner in 3:46. Piccininni jumped out early, scoring 12 points in the first period, thanks to a takedown, a two-point near fall and a couple of four-point near falls. Starting the second period on bottom, the redshirt freshman escaped and converted a takedown 45 seconds into the frame to finish the match and pick up the first dual victory of his career.
At 133 pounds, redshirt freshman Kaid Brock scored bonus points in his return to the mat from a season-ending injury last year. Brock knocked off Bucknell's Joey Gould in a 16-6 major decision to expand the Oklahoma State lead to 9-0.
"In the end, I thought we looked pretty sharp at 125 and 133," Smith said. "Not that we were perfect. It's hard to be perfect, but getting out there, scoring points and a lot of riding on our part. I didn't expect that."
Jonce Blaylock impressed in his 2016-17 debut, tallying a 21-2 tech fall over Seth Hogue in the 149-pound bout. Blaylock dropped Hogue for a takedown 30 seconds into the match, and recorded a pair of two-point near falls to cap off the first period. Leading, 14-2, heading into the third period, Blaylock would finish strong and score seven quick points to record the tech fall in 6:37.
Returning from an injury that cut his 2016 campaign short, senior Kyle Crutchmer couldn't have asked for a better return. Crutchmer pinned Chad Reese 1:32 into the first period to put the Pokes up, 27-3.
174: Crutchmer with the fall! The Cowboy pins Chad Reese in 1:32 to give the Pokes a 27-3 lead! #okstate
— OSU Cowboy Wrestling (@CowboyWrestling) November 6, 2016
"This was something that I had been looking forward to," Crutchmer said. "Not just the pin, but the match. I've been out for about six months. I've been training a little bit for the last couple of months, but coming back and having a pin. It's unbelievable."
Senior Nolan Boyd (184), redshirt sophomore Preston Weigel (197) and senior Austin Schafer (285) each recorded decisions to close out the match, giving the Cowboys their first triumph of the season.
#okstate @CowboyWrestling opens season with rout of #Bucknell https://t.co/tDnjRc7Fja pic.twitter.com/XS75g2kzCb
— OSU Sports Extra (@OSUSportsExtra) November 7, 2016
Collica Impresses at All-Star Classic
149 | Collica (Okie St) "We want that title and I think we got the team to get it" | #AllStarClassic
— NWCA (@nwcawrestling) November 6, 2016
?? https://t.co/3YaVahVz3p pic.twitter.com/zikjp1aRdW
In front of his hometown fans, Oklahoma State senior Anthony Collica welcomed the new season in Cleveland, Ohio, Saturday night at the 51st annual NWCA All-Star Classic exhibition dual. Matched up with third-ranked Lavion Mayes, Collica picked up the win to avenge a 3-2 loss in the third-place match at last year's NCAA Championships.
@MizzouWrestling 's Mayes, @CowboyWrestling 's Collica to do battle again at 51st #AllStarClassic
— NWCA (@nwcawrestling) October 21, 2016
?? https://t.co/6CEYU9xgGx pic.twitter.com/Xrt5wPovMc
Mayes attacked early, scoring a takedown in the opening 10 seconds of the match to take an early 2-0 lead. After a Collica escape, the Cowboy trailed 2-1 after the first period. Collica would answer in the second, however, and a late takedown inside of 25 seconds gave the senior a 5-4 lead after two frames.
Collica opened the third period on top, but Mayes recorded an escape early on to tie the match at five apiece. With under a minute left, Collica made his move, scoring a takedown with 45 seconds left to take a 7-5 advantage that he would retain for the decision.
149: @CowboyWrestling's @AcollicA goes home to Cleveland and scores a 7-5 win @nwcawrestling All-Star win against Missouri's Lavion Mayes. pic.twitter.com/EoQ3tNC7GD
— Trackwrestling (@trackwrestling) November 6, 2016
Although Saturday's match didn't count toward official records, some intrigue was added with Collica and Mayes' history. In six prior matches against each other, the pair have split 3-3.
Six Cowboys Claim Titles at OCU Open
Six members of the Oklahoma State wrestling team picked up individual titles Sunday at the OCU Open.
Six Cowboy wrestlers claimed titles at the OCU Open today! Recap: https://t.co/NPHqLejjmS
— OSU Cowboy Wrestling (@CowboyWrestling) November 7, 2016
After receiving a bye in the first round, redshirt freshman Lincoln Olson won all three of his matches to take the 133-pound title. Olson pinned Bacone's Kaiden Hudson in 1:48 in his quarterfinal match, before recording a 19-2 tech fall over Wayland Baptist's Demarco Speller in the semis. The Linwood, Mich., product posted a 12-6 decision over Central Oklahoma's Aaron Hane to take the title.
Junior Lincoln Lemon placed third in the 133-pound bracket, going 3-1 and getting the 17-1 tech fall over Demarco Speller in the third place match.
Redshirt freshman Tristan Moran stormed through the 141-pound bracket with three falls to take the championship. He pinned Central Oklahoma's Tyler Tustin in 1:58 in the title match.
Redshirt freshman Andrew Marsden earned the championship at 184 pounds with three falls, including one right out of the gate against Central Oklahoma's Caleb Hawes in the finals.
Junior transfer Geordan Martinez took the 149-pound title, wrestling unattached. After a 5-2 decision in the quarterfinals, Martinez added a couple of tech falls to close out the event, including a 16-1 tech over Fort Hays' Jacob Kay.
Also wrestling unattached, transfer Jacobe Smith won the title at 174-pounds. Smith won four matches, including his last three by fall. He dropped Oklahoma's Jose Taylor by way of a 4:51 fall in the finals.
In the freshman/sophomore division, freshman Wyatt Sheets came up with a title in the 157-pound bracket wrestling unattached. Sheets went 4-0, opening his day with a fall over Basham Dustin in the first round, before advancing to the finals with a decision and a tech fall in the quarters and semis, respectively. Sheets was victorious over Oklahoma's Justin Walker in a 1-0 decision in the final match.
Redshirt sophomore Derek White finished second in the 197-pound open division. White opened the day with a 7-3 decision over Cody Marquez of New Mexico Highlands and a 12-4 major decision over Jovanni Virgen, but was edged by Jon Inman in the finals.
Heavyweights Tanner Allen and Blake Andrews finished second and third, respectively in the 285 open bracket. Allen went 2-1, including a tech fall over Bacone's Daniel Brown, before falling in the finals to Central Oklahoma's Caleb Cotter in a tight, 3-2, match. Andrews went 3-1, defeating Central Oklahoma's Evan McGee in a 9-2 decision in the third-place match.
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