Oklahoma State University Athletics
Photo by: Bruce Waterfield
Smith, Cowboys Preview 2018 Season
October 25, 2017 | Cowboy Wrestling
STILLWATER – The Oklahoma State wrestling team had its first media availability of the season Tuesday afternoon at Gallagher-Iba Arena. John Smith, along with a handful of Cowboy wrestlers met with the media to preview the 2017-18 season.
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Head Coach John Smith
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On why he is redshirting several athletes this year:
"I look at where we're at, and it's a good team. We'll have a pretty competitive team. I'm not sure we drop off any. It also gives some guys some experience that wouldn't get it, so in the future, guys like Wyatt Sheets and Jonce Blaylock, who's a junior, and Sheets who's a freshman, it gives them an opportunity to get a season in and have a full season under them. I'm really doing it to strengthen our team and give us depth in the future."
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On Jacobe Smith's transition to Division I wrestling from the JUCO level:
"It's the toughest weight in the country at 174. You have a new guy coming in your lineup at 174. I'm not talking eight deep, I'm talking 25 or 30 deep. Either you get better quickly or it can be an ugly season for you. I will say this: the effort is in place. The focus is in place. He's a fun kid to watch. He loves to wrestle. He loves to train. That gives you a great chance to get better because people want to help you when you want to wrestle and you want to train."
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On Dean Heil:
"He's taken real leadership, and we needed it. He's doing some things that we haven't had (when it comes to) senior leadership like this before. I think one thing that's nice about Dean is he wants to have a successful team. He's trying to do something that only a handful of athlete have done in wrestling by winning three national championships, and that pretty much locks you into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a member in the future. A lot of things are riding on a young guy like that. He knows what he wants. I've really seen him improve his level of intensity in the room. I just want to see him separate the score this year. He's got some guys chasing him out there as well. If you want to be recognized as one of the outstanding wrestlers in the nation, that's something you're going to have to do.
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On how he's seen Nick Piccininni prepare for this season:
"I saw a little story today with picks of who was going to be the national champion at 125 and he wasn't one of them. That tells you that a lot of guys are back at that weight, but he's pretty good. He took fourth last year, and he wasn't (a national champion pick). That tells you that the weight class is strong, and that should fire him up a little bit. I'm going to show him that. He'll be ready. He's everything you want as a coach. He loves everything he's doing. Life's pretty simple coaching Nick. I'll just say that."
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Dean Heil – Senior, 141 pounds
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On how his mindset has evolved over the course of his career:
"I kind of have to keep the mindset that I've had. One thing that I've kind of had to change was just taking a leadership role. Last year, we had multiple seniors that did a pretty good job of that. This year, it's just me as of right now. I'm just doing the best that I can to be there for my team and take that leadership role."
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On what he's worked on this offseason:
"I've talked to a lot of people and stretching my scores is really something I've looked at. A lot of it has to go into the mental aspect. Although I think I'm mentally tough enough to win by one or two, it takes a different type of mental toughness to stretch the scores. I definitely think I'm capable of doing that, it's just about doing that and I've definitely taken steps to move that direction."
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Jacobe Smith – Junior, 174 pounds
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On the biggest adjustments going from JUCO to Division I:
"I've learned that you've got to take it slow and learn to adapt to tougher obstacles. I didn't come in expecting to be the best like I was where I came from, so I learned to adapt and learn from different people…(JUCO) helped me a lot. It was very beneficial. I wouldn't have had it any other way. I feel like I needed it."
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On what separates John Smith from other coaches he's had during his career:
"He basically gives the responsibility to me. I know he's there to teach me on my skills and stuff. He lets me make the decisions that I want to make, and he's comfortable with that because of the relationship that we've grown. It's more of an independent decision to do the extra things you need to get done on and off the mat."
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Head Coach John Smith
Â
On why he is redshirting several athletes this year:
"I look at where we're at, and it's a good team. We'll have a pretty competitive team. I'm not sure we drop off any. It also gives some guys some experience that wouldn't get it, so in the future, guys like Wyatt Sheets and Jonce Blaylock, who's a junior, and Sheets who's a freshman, it gives them an opportunity to get a season in and have a full season under them. I'm really doing it to strengthen our team and give us depth in the future."
Â
On Jacobe Smith's transition to Division I wrestling from the JUCO level:
"It's the toughest weight in the country at 174. You have a new guy coming in your lineup at 174. I'm not talking eight deep, I'm talking 25 or 30 deep. Either you get better quickly or it can be an ugly season for you. I will say this: the effort is in place. The focus is in place. He's a fun kid to watch. He loves to wrestle. He loves to train. That gives you a great chance to get better because people want to help you when you want to wrestle and you want to train."
Â
On Dean Heil:
"He's taken real leadership, and we needed it. He's doing some things that we haven't had (when it comes to) senior leadership like this before. I think one thing that's nice about Dean is he wants to have a successful team. He's trying to do something that only a handful of athlete have done in wrestling by winning three national championships, and that pretty much locks you into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a member in the future. A lot of things are riding on a young guy like that. He knows what he wants. I've really seen him improve his level of intensity in the room. I just want to see him separate the score this year. He's got some guys chasing him out there as well. If you want to be recognized as one of the outstanding wrestlers in the nation, that's something you're going to have to do.
Â
On how he's seen Nick Piccininni prepare for this season:
"I saw a little story today with picks of who was going to be the national champion at 125 and he wasn't one of them. That tells you that a lot of guys are back at that weight, but he's pretty good. He took fourth last year, and he wasn't (a national champion pick). That tells you that the weight class is strong, and that should fire him up a little bit. I'm going to show him that. He'll be ready. He's everything you want as a coach. He loves everything he's doing. Life's pretty simple coaching Nick. I'll just say that."
Â
Dean Heil – Senior, 141 pounds
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On how his mindset has evolved over the course of his career:
"I kind of have to keep the mindset that I've had. One thing that I've kind of had to change was just taking a leadership role. Last year, we had multiple seniors that did a pretty good job of that. This year, it's just me as of right now. I'm just doing the best that I can to be there for my team and take that leadership role."
Â
On what he's worked on this offseason:
"I've talked to a lot of people and stretching my scores is really something I've looked at. A lot of it has to go into the mental aspect. Although I think I'm mentally tough enough to win by one or two, it takes a different type of mental toughness to stretch the scores. I definitely think I'm capable of doing that, it's just about doing that and I've definitely taken steps to move that direction."
Â
Jacobe Smith – Junior, 174 pounds
Â
On the biggest adjustments going from JUCO to Division I:
"I've learned that you've got to take it slow and learn to adapt to tougher obstacles. I didn't come in expecting to be the best like I was where I came from, so I learned to adapt and learn from different people…(JUCO) helped me a lot. It was very beneficial. I wouldn't have had it any other way. I feel like I needed it."
Â
On what separates John Smith from other coaches he's had during his career:
"He basically gives the responsibility to me. I know he's there to teach me on my skills and stuff. He lets me make the decisions that I want to make, and he's comfortable with that because of the relationship that we've grown. It's more of an independent decision to do the extra things you need to get done on and off the mat."
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Players Mentioned
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