Oklahoma State University Athletics
John Smith's Top 25 Moments: 10-6
February 08, 2016 | Cowboy Wrestling
In this series, Oklahoma State's wrestling coach John Smith, who enters his 25th year at the helm of the program, reflects on some of his top moments during his coaching career. Here are moments 10-6.
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10: Eric Guerrero winning three NCAA titles
"Eric Guerrero winning three NCAA championships is unheard of. It is a very hard thing to do. There have been guys who have won two, but the third one takes notice with the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. The dominance of his three championships sets him apart from a lot of people."
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9: Mark Branch's first NCAA championship
"In 1994, Mark Branch won the NCAA championship. He was a freshman, unseeded with a losing record. I don't think it's ever been done, even to this day. He was a big part of us winning our NCAA championship in 1994. He beat the No. 2 seed early on, and he never looked back. It was an exciting event for all of us to see."
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8: Coleman Scott making the Olympic Team in Times Square
"The road he had to take was stressful, and definitely emotional. We found ourselves in the middle of Times Square, wrestling on a mat in front of thousands of people outside. What a way to make the Olympic team! He went on to win a bronze medal in the 2012 Olympics. It was an exciting experience from the moment he made the team to four months later being a bronze medalist."
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7: Jamill Kelly's road to the 2004 Olympics
"One of my greatest feelings was seeing him on the stand receiving his Silver medal in the 2004 Olympics. This young man went from taking fourth in the state championships and never was an All-American at the NCAA level, to beating five NCAA champions to make the Olympic team and defeating the best wrestler at the time for the silver medal, it doesn't get better."
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6: Three Cowboys making the 2004 Olympic team
"In 2004, three of our athletes made the Olympic team, Eric Guerrero, Jamill Kelly and Daniel Cormier. Making the Olympic team is such a challenge, and to have three of the seven guys on the team from Oklahoma State was the greatest weekend that I can remember. All three wrestled flawlessly to make the team. They had no fear."
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10: Eric Guerrero winning three NCAA titles
"Eric Guerrero winning three NCAA championships is unheard of. It is a very hard thing to do. There have been guys who have won two, but the third one takes notice with the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. The dominance of his three championships sets him apart from a lot of people."
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9: Mark Branch's first NCAA championship
"In 1994, Mark Branch won the NCAA championship. He was a freshman, unseeded with a losing record. I don't think it's ever been done, even to this day. He was a big part of us winning our NCAA championship in 1994. He beat the No. 2 seed early on, and he never looked back. It was an exciting event for all of us to see."
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8: Coleman Scott making the Olympic Team in Times Square
"The road he had to take was stressful, and definitely emotional. We found ourselves in the middle of Times Square, wrestling on a mat in front of thousands of people outside. What a way to make the Olympic team! He went on to win a bronze medal in the 2012 Olympics. It was an exciting experience from the moment he made the team to four months later being a bronze medalist."
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7: Jamill Kelly's road to the 2004 Olympics
"One of my greatest feelings was seeing him on the stand receiving his Silver medal in the 2004 Olympics. This young man went from taking fourth in the state championships and never was an All-American at the NCAA level, to beating five NCAA champions to make the Olympic team and defeating the best wrestler at the time for the silver medal, it doesn't get better."
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6: Three Cowboys making the 2004 Olympic team
"In 2004, three of our athletes made the Olympic team, Eric Guerrero, Jamill Kelly and Daniel Cormier. Making the Olympic team is such a challenge, and to have three of the seven guys on the team from Oklahoma State was the greatest weekend that I can remember. All three wrestled flawlessly to make the team. They had no fear."
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Friday, June 05
Friday, May 29
Wednesday, May 27
Monday, May 18
