Oklahoma State University Athletics
Friday, January 31
Stillwater, OK
7 PM
Oklahoma State University
vs
South Dakota State
Cowboys Welcome Jackrabbits and Tigers to GIA for Weekend Duals
January 29, 2020 | Cowboy Wrestling
South Dakota State Notes
STILLWATER – The Oklahoma State Cowboy wrestling team (8-2 overall, 4-1 Big 12) has two bouts slated at home, beginning with Big 12 opponent South Dakota State on Friday at 7 p.m. The Pokes round out the weekend with the No. 24 Missouri Tigers at 2 p.m. on Sunday. OSU is coming off a weekend split at UNI and Iowa State. The Pokes fell in Cedar Falls before picking up a ranked win over the No. 16 Cyclones.
Dual Details
Dates/Times:
vs. South Dakota State - Jan. 31, 2020/7 p.m. CST
vs. No. 24 Missouri - Feb. 2, 2020/2 p.m. CST
Location: Gallagher-Iba Arena, Stillwater, Okla.
Watch: Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Listen: Hot 93.7 KSPI-FM
Live Stats: Trackwrestling.com
The Basics
The 11th-ranked Oklahoma State wrestling team (8-2 overall; 4-1 Big 12) is set to host South Dakota State at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 31, inside Gallagher-Iba Arena in the team's sixth Big 12 dual of the season. To open the month of February, the Pokes host ACC rival No. 24 Missouri at 2 p.m., Sunday Feb. 2. OSU looks to remain undefeated at home and pick up its fifth Big 12 dual win on the year.
The Series – South Dakota State
Oklahoma State and South Dakota State have met only four times previously. OSU has won each of those meetings. The series with SDSU began in 2014, when the Pokes defeated the Jackrabbits at a neutral site, 25-9. In the four dual bouts, the Cowboys have beaten SDSU by an average margin of 22.3 points. The largest victory came for the Pokes last season in Brookings where they claimed all but one bout, which was an injury forfeit, and topped the Jacks, 45-6.
The Series - Missouri
The Cowboys and Tigers have a history that dates back to 1929 when the teams met for the first time in Stillwater, advantage Cowboys in a 30-0 shutout. OSU and MU have met every season since Smith's second as head coach of the program. In that time, OSU holds a 24-7-1 record against Missouri. Smith and Missouri's Brian Smith have kept the former Big 12 adversaries on the schedule each season since Mizzou's departure from the conference at the end of the 2011-12 season.
An Oklahoma State Win against South Dakota State Would…
• Move the Cowboys to 9-2 on the season
• Push OSU's home dual record to 6-0
• Improve coach Smith's record against SDSU to 5-0
• Give the Pokes their fifth win over a Big 12 team this season
• Mark OSU's fifth consecutive win against South Dakota State
• Give the Cowboys their 17th straight home dual win
• Advance Smith's career coaching record to 435-64-6
Cowboys in the Polls
For the first time this season, the Cowboys have a top-ranked wrestler in the polls. Redshirt junior Boo Lewallen climbed two spots to No. 1 after defeating No. 12 Max Thomsen (UNI) and Iowa State's Ryan Leisure. Pat Lugo of Iowa and Austin O'Connnor (UNC) both suffered losses over the weekend, allowing the Cowboy to take over No. 1 with a perfect record to date. The Oklahoma State lineup features nine wrestlers ranked in various polls this week. Freshman Travis Wittlake climbed one spot to No. 8 in Intermat's 165-pound rankings after two wins over the weekend at UNI and ISU. He majored Austin Yant before picking up a decision against Cyclone Chase Straw. Senior 125-pounder Nick Piccininni comes in across Intermat, The Open Mat, Flo and Win rankings at No. 4 again this week after notching win No. 102 in Ames on Sunday. Reece Witcraft (133) moved to No. 19 in the Win rankings after upsetting No. 15 Todd Small of Iowa State. Cowboy Wyatt Sheets comes in as Flo's 21st-ranked 157-pounder. Senior Joe Smith (174) is positioned as Intermat's 11th-ranked wrestler, and Dakota Geer (197) came in at No. 11 again this week after scoring two bonus-point victories in Iowa in the Cowboys' previous outings. Dusty Hone lands in Win's rankings at No. 16 this week after a couple of difficult road losses in OSU's most recent duals.
Nick's Knacks
Senior Nick Piccininni notched his 100th career victory in the OSU orange singlet on Jan. 18 against the Pittsburgh Panthers inside Gallagher-Iba Arena. He became just the 44th Poke in the history of the program to reach the milestone, joining current Cowboy Kaid Brock. Piccininni is 18-1 on the season with two ranked wins and leads the Pokes in several statistical categories. The senior has 14 bonus-point wins to his name and leads all Pokes with six technical falls. He is tied with teammates Lewallen and Hone for the most major decisions with five and owns a team leading 12 dual nearfalls. His 42 dual points are the most of any starter this season. His two victories against ranked opponents came via major decision.
Winning Wittlake
Redshirt freshman Travis Wittlake has been a force for the Cowboys in his first year in the lineup. The 165-pounder leads all Cowboys with 20 victories on the year and only one loss. He sits at No. 8 in the country with wins against four ranked opponents, including No. 8, No. 10 and No. 11, twice. The Coos Bay, Ore., native is one of two Cowboys with a perfect dual record entering this weekend's home stand.
Boo is Back
Boo Lewallen landed at the No. 1 spot in the 149-pound rankings this week for the first time in his career. He returned to the OSU starting rotation in the fall and has looked sharp from the get go, claiming an OCU Open title before rattling off 10 consecutive dual wins. Of his dual victories, four have come against ranked opponents, including No. 10 Brayton Lee (MINN) and No. 14 Mike D'Angelo (PRIN). Half of Lewallen's victories have also come in the form of bonus-point wins. On Jan. 25, Lewallen took out No. 12 Max Thomsen of Northern Iowa before majoring Iowa State's Ryan Leisure. The Cowboy has another tough outing this weekend with South Dakota State's No. 11 Henry Pohlmeyer and fifth-ranked Brock Mauller of Mizzou.
What to Watch
Several Cowboys will have tough dual matchups this weekend. Drawing two opponents in the top 11 is Lewallen. He'll defend his No. 1 ranking first against SDSU's Henry Pohlmeyer. A season ago, Pohlmeyer was awarded a win over the Cowboy when Lewallen was forced to injury forfeit in Brookings, S.D. On Sunday, the redshirt junior is slated for a top-five bout with Missouri's Brock Mauller. Wyatt Sheets will look to bounce back from a tough weekend in Iowa when he faces Mizzou's 10th-ranked Jarrett Jacques. Piccininni is slated for a top-20 bout with Danny Vega (SDSU). Anthony Montalvo looks to pick up his second ranked win this year when he squares off with No. 14 Zach Carlson, and No. 11 Dakota Geer has No. 15 Tanner Sloan (SDSU) on the schedule for Friday evening.
Tune In
Fans can follow the Cowboys' duals against South Dakota State and Missouri with @CowboyWrestling on Twitter, watch with Big 12 Now on ESPN+ or follow the live stats at Trackwrestling.com. Both duals will air on Hot 93.7-KSPI FM with Rex Holt and Roger Moore on the call.
STILLWATER – The Oklahoma State Cowboy wrestling team (8-2 overall, 4-1 Big 12) has two bouts slated at home, beginning with Big 12 opponent South Dakota State on Friday at 7 p.m. The Pokes round out the weekend with the No. 24 Missouri Tigers at 2 p.m. on Sunday. OSU is coming off a weekend split at UNI and Iowa State. The Pokes fell in Cedar Falls before picking up a ranked win over the No. 16 Cyclones.
Dual Details
Dates/Times:
vs. South Dakota State - Jan. 31, 2020/7 p.m. CST
vs. No. 24 Missouri - Feb. 2, 2020/2 p.m. CST
Location: Gallagher-Iba Arena, Stillwater, Okla.
Watch: Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Listen: Hot 93.7 KSPI-FM
Live Stats: Trackwrestling.com
The Basics
The 11th-ranked Oklahoma State wrestling team (8-2 overall; 4-1 Big 12) is set to host South Dakota State at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 31, inside Gallagher-Iba Arena in the team's sixth Big 12 dual of the season. To open the month of February, the Pokes host ACC rival No. 24 Missouri at 2 p.m., Sunday Feb. 2. OSU looks to remain undefeated at home and pick up its fifth Big 12 dual win on the year.
The Series – South Dakota State
Oklahoma State and South Dakota State have met only four times previously. OSU has won each of those meetings. The series with SDSU began in 2014, when the Pokes defeated the Jackrabbits at a neutral site, 25-9. In the four dual bouts, the Cowboys have beaten SDSU by an average margin of 22.3 points. The largest victory came for the Pokes last season in Brookings where they claimed all but one bout, which was an injury forfeit, and topped the Jacks, 45-6.
The Series - Missouri
The Cowboys and Tigers have a history that dates back to 1929 when the teams met for the first time in Stillwater, advantage Cowboys in a 30-0 shutout. OSU and MU have met every season since Smith's second as head coach of the program. In that time, OSU holds a 24-7-1 record against Missouri. Smith and Missouri's Brian Smith have kept the former Big 12 adversaries on the schedule each season since Mizzou's departure from the conference at the end of the 2011-12 season.
An Oklahoma State Win against South Dakota State Would…
• Move the Cowboys to 9-2 on the season
• Push OSU's home dual record to 6-0
• Improve coach Smith's record against SDSU to 5-0
• Give the Pokes their fifth win over a Big 12 team this season
• Mark OSU's fifth consecutive win against South Dakota State
• Give the Cowboys their 17th straight home dual win
• Advance Smith's career coaching record to 435-64-6
Cowboys in the Polls
For the first time this season, the Cowboys have a top-ranked wrestler in the polls. Redshirt junior Boo Lewallen climbed two spots to No. 1 after defeating No. 12 Max Thomsen (UNI) and Iowa State's Ryan Leisure. Pat Lugo of Iowa and Austin O'Connnor (UNC) both suffered losses over the weekend, allowing the Cowboy to take over No. 1 with a perfect record to date. The Oklahoma State lineup features nine wrestlers ranked in various polls this week. Freshman Travis Wittlake climbed one spot to No. 8 in Intermat's 165-pound rankings after two wins over the weekend at UNI and ISU. He majored Austin Yant before picking up a decision against Cyclone Chase Straw. Senior 125-pounder Nick Piccininni comes in across Intermat, The Open Mat, Flo and Win rankings at No. 4 again this week after notching win No. 102 in Ames on Sunday. Reece Witcraft (133) moved to No. 19 in the Win rankings after upsetting No. 15 Todd Small of Iowa State. Cowboy Wyatt Sheets comes in as Flo's 21st-ranked 157-pounder. Senior Joe Smith (174) is positioned as Intermat's 11th-ranked wrestler, and Dakota Geer (197) came in at No. 11 again this week after scoring two bonus-point victories in Iowa in the Cowboys' previous outings. Dusty Hone lands in Win's rankings at No. 16 this week after a couple of difficult road losses in OSU's most recent duals.
Nick's Knacks
Senior Nick Piccininni notched his 100th career victory in the OSU orange singlet on Jan. 18 against the Pittsburgh Panthers inside Gallagher-Iba Arena. He became just the 44th Poke in the history of the program to reach the milestone, joining current Cowboy Kaid Brock. Piccininni is 18-1 on the season with two ranked wins and leads the Pokes in several statistical categories. The senior has 14 bonus-point wins to his name and leads all Pokes with six technical falls. He is tied with teammates Lewallen and Hone for the most major decisions with five and owns a team leading 12 dual nearfalls. His 42 dual points are the most of any starter this season. His two victories against ranked opponents came via major decision.
Winning Wittlake
Redshirt freshman Travis Wittlake has been a force for the Cowboys in his first year in the lineup. The 165-pounder leads all Cowboys with 20 victories on the year and only one loss. He sits at No. 8 in the country with wins against four ranked opponents, including No. 8, No. 10 and No. 11, twice. The Coos Bay, Ore., native is one of two Cowboys with a perfect dual record entering this weekend's home stand.
Boo is Back
Boo Lewallen landed at the No. 1 spot in the 149-pound rankings this week for the first time in his career. He returned to the OSU starting rotation in the fall and has looked sharp from the get go, claiming an OCU Open title before rattling off 10 consecutive dual wins. Of his dual victories, four have come against ranked opponents, including No. 10 Brayton Lee (MINN) and No. 14 Mike D'Angelo (PRIN). Half of Lewallen's victories have also come in the form of bonus-point wins. On Jan. 25, Lewallen took out No. 12 Max Thomsen of Northern Iowa before majoring Iowa State's Ryan Leisure. The Cowboy has another tough outing this weekend with South Dakota State's No. 11 Henry Pohlmeyer and fifth-ranked Brock Mauller of Mizzou.
What to Watch
Several Cowboys will have tough dual matchups this weekend. Drawing two opponents in the top 11 is Lewallen. He'll defend his No. 1 ranking first against SDSU's Henry Pohlmeyer. A season ago, Pohlmeyer was awarded a win over the Cowboy when Lewallen was forced to injury forfeit in Brookings, S.D. On Sunday, the redshirt junior is slated for a top-five bout with Missouri's Brock Mauller. Wyatt Sheets will look to bounce back from a tough weekend in Iowa when he faces Mizzou's 10th-ranked Jarrett Jacques. Piccininni is slated for a top-20 bout with Danny Vega (SDSU). Anthony Montalvo looks to pick up his second ranked win this year when he squares off with No. 14 Zach Carlson, and No. 11 Dakota Geer has No. 15 Tanner Sloan (SDSU) on the schedule for Friday evening.
Tune In
Fans can follow the Cowboys' duals against South Dakota State and Missouri with @CowboyWrestling on Twitter, watch with Big 12 Now on ESPN+ or follow the live stats at Trackwrestling.com. Both duals will air on Hot 93.7-KSPI FM with Rex Holt and Roger Moore on the call.
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