Oklahoma State University Athletics
Photo by: Bruce Waterfield
Smith, Piccininni Preview Cowboy Wrestling Dual Opener
November 07, 2017 | Cowboy Wrestling
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State wrestling head coach John Smith and 125-pound redshirt sophomore Nick Piccininni met with the media Tuesday afternoon to preview this weekend's trip to Albany, N.Y. OSU will open the weekend at the Journeymen Fall Duals where the Pokes will take on North Carolina on Saturday, before wrapping up the trip on Sunday with the Journeymen Collegiate Classic.
Head Coach John Smith
On Piccininni's upset of No. 1 Darian Cruz at the NWCA All-Star Classic:
"It was a good way to start the season for all of us. He had the toughest match of the weekend competing against a defending national champion. I think it fires everyone up. It fired me up and it was exciting. I think his teammates were excited as well. It was a good start for him and a good start for us."
On what he took from the OCU Open on Sunday:
"I was a little disappointed with the depth of the tournament. It's been a little better than it was this past week. Some of our guys didn't really get tested and it wasn't even like they were wrestling matches…There were some weight classes that were not very strong, but we did get some good matches from our 125 pounders wrestling each other. Dean Heil got tested really well against Mike Magaldo. I thought our 149 pounders scrapped it and made some things happen. The guy that won won't be wrestling until January, but I felt pretty confident with how they all performed against each other. A lot of points scored and not a lot of defense, but outside of that I think my biggest surprise was probably heavyweight with Derek White just handling (Blake) Andrews) and beating him by major decision, so that shocked me and set me back on my heels a little bit."
On how he's seen Coleman Scott develop the North Carolina program over the past couple of years:
"I think he took over at a time that (the program) was in trouble a little bit. He hasn't really had a lot of time to fix it. He went right from the mat in London right into a head coaching position, and that's pretty quick. I did that too back in 1992, but times were way different back then. There is way more compliance and way more responsibilities as a head coach. I'm sure he's struggled a little bit with those but I've seen a good recruiting class the last couple of years and that's important."
Nick Piccininni – 125 pounds, Redshirt Sophomore
On his win over Darian Cruz at the NWCA All-Star Classic:
"It was a great opportunity to go and wrestle a defending national champion, and I took advantage of it. It was a lot of fun and a great opportunity."
On how his fourth-place finish at NCAA's last year affected his expectations for this season:
"My expectations are like anybody's going into a season. You expect to win, so taking fourth helps. It helps your confidence and lets you know that you can compete with the best, but you expect to be a national champion and you expect to win those matches."
On the difference going into this season compared to his freshman year:
"Just experience, honestly. More experience. That's really it. I've been through that season already and know what to expect early on and down the line in the season. The experience really helps out with knowing what's to come, how my body feels now and how it will later on."
Head Coach John Smith
On Piccininni's upset of No. 1 Darian Cruz at the NWCA All-Star Classic:
"It was a good way to start the season for all of us. He had the toughest match of the weekend competing against a defending national champion. I think it fires everyone up. It fired me up and it was exciting. I think his teammates were excited as well. It was a good start for him and a good start for us."
On what he took from the OCU Open on Sunday:
"I was a little disappointed with the depth of the tournament. It's been a little better than it was this past week. Some of our guys didn't really get tested and it wasn't even like they were wrestling matches…There were some weight classes that were not very strong, but we did get some good matches from our 125 pounders wrestling each other. Dean Heil got tested really well against Mike Magaldo. I thought our 149 pounders scrapped it and made some things happen. The guy that won won't be wrestling until January, but I felt pretty confident with how they all performed against each other. A lot of points scored and not a lot of defense, but outside of that I think my biggest surprise was probably heavyweight with Derek White just handling (Blake) Andrews) and beating him by major decision, so that shocked me and set me back on my heels a little bit."
On how he's seen Coleman Scott develop the North Carolina program over the past couple of years:
"I think he took over at a time that (the program) was in trouble a little bit. He hasn't really had a lot of time to fix it. He went right from the mat in London right into a head coaching position, and that's pretty quick. I did that too back in 1992, but times were way different back then. There is way more compliance and way more responsibilities as a head coach. I'm sure he's struggled a little bit with those but I've seen a good recruiting class the last couple of years and that's important."
Nick Piccininni – 125 pounds, Redshirt Sophomore
On his win over Darian Cruz at the NWCA All-Star Classic:
"It was a great opportunity to go and wrestle a defending national champion, and I took advantage of it. It was a lot of fun and a great opportunity."
On how his fourth-place finish at NCAA's last year affected his expectations for this season:
"My expectations are like anybody's going into a season. You expect to win, so taking fourth helps. It helps your confidence and lets you know that you can compete with the best, but you expect to be a national champion and you expect to win those matches."
On the difference going into this season compared to his freshman year:
"Just experience, honestly. More experience. That's really it. I've been through that season already and know what to expect early on and down the line in the season. The experience really helps out with knowing what's to come, how my body feels now and how it will later on."
Tuesday, July 07
Tuesday, July 07
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