Oklahoma State University Athletics
Photo by: OSU Athletics
Cowboy Wrestling Adds Four in 2024 Class
November 10, 2023 | Cowboy Wrestling
STILLWATER – The Oklahoma State wrestling program signed four wrestlers in the class of 2024 during the early signing period. The class includes one of the nation's top recruits in Cody Merrill and Rin Sakamoto, a Junior World Team member from Japan.
In addition to Merrill and Sakamoto, the 2024 class also includes a homegrown product in JJ McComas and an experienced prospect in Kolter Burton.
Cody Merrill was a late grab for the Cowboys, announcing his commitment to OSU on Tuesday. A projected 197-pounder for Oklahoma State, Merrill is a consensus top-10 recruit in the 2024 class and ranked as high as No. 2 overall by MatScouts.
Originally from Gilroy, Calif., Merrill has seen extensive success while competing for both Gilroy high school and on the international level. In addition to his 2022 California state title, he is three-time Junior Freestyle national champion in Fargo and was a Cadet Greco World bronze medalist. Merrill is FloWrestling's top-ranked 220-pounder in the class of 2024 and the No. 7 pound-for-pound recruit.
Coming from Tokyo, Japan, Rin Sakamoto is a projected 133-pounder in Stillwater after competing at 61 kg in high school. Sakamoto earned a spot on the Japan U20 World Team and competed in Amman, Jordan at the Junior World Championships in August. There, he compiled a 2-1 record and reached the quarterfinal round before falling to Besir Alili of North Macedonia. Although he is not in FloWrestling's Class of 2024 Big Board, Sakamoto brings a unique level of world experience and looks to continue a long line of successful Cowboy wrestlers from Japan.
A familiar prospect out of Stillwater high school, JJ McComas is FloWrestling's 68th overall recruit in the 2024 class and the No. 10 wrestler at 126 pounds. Like Sakamoto, McComas projects as a 133-pounder for Oklahoma State. McComas was a finalist at Fargo's Junior Freestyle National Championships in 2023 and placed third in the Greco-Roman division in 2021. He claimed his first Oklahoma state championship in 2021 and is a three-time state placer.
The longest commit of the 2024 class is Century's Kolter Burton out of Pocatello, Idaho, who gave his verbal commitment in October of last year. Burton has competed at both 132 and 138 pounds throughout high school and projects looks to be either a 141 or 149-pounder for Oklahoma State. He is a three-time Idaho state champion and has seen plenty of success in Fargo throughout his career, reaching the finals twice and earning All-America honors five times.
Oklahoma State begins its season on Friday against Bucknell at 7 p.m. CT in Gallagher-Iba Arena.
For season-long coverage of Cowboy wrestling, visit okstate.com and follow @CowboyWrestling on X and @cowboywrestling on Instagram.
In addition to Merrill and Sakamoto, the 2024 class also includes a homegrown product in JJ McComas and an experienced prospect in Kolter Burton.
Cody Merrill was a late grab for the Cowboys, announcing his commitment to OSU on Tuesday. A projected 197-pounder for Oklahoma State, Merrill is a consensus top-10 recruit in the 2024 class and ranked as high as No. 2 overall by MatScouts.
Originally from Gilroy, Calif., Merrill has seen extensive success while competing for both Gilroy high school and on the international level. In addition to his 2022 California state title, he is three-time Junior Freestyle national champion in Fargo and was a Cadet Greco World bronze medalist. Merrill is FloWrestling's top-ranked 220-pounder in the class of 2024 and the No. 7 pound-for-pound recruit.
Coming from Tokyo, Japan, Rin Sakamoto is a projected 133-pounder in Stillwater after competing at 61 kg in high school. Sakamoto earned a spot on the Japan U20 World Team and competed in Amman, Jordan at the Junior World Championships in August. There, he compiled a 2-1 record and reached the quarterfinal round before falling to Besir Alili of North Macedonia. Although he is not in FloWrestling's Class of 2024 Big Board, Sakamoto brings a unique level of world experience and looks to continue a long line of successful Cowboy wrestlers from Japan.
A familiar prospect out of Stillwater high school, JJ McComas is FloWrestling's 68th overall recruit in the 2024 class and the No. 10 wrestler at 126 pounds. Like Sakamoto, McComas projects as a 133-pounder for Oklahoma State. McComas was a finalist at Fargo's Junior Freestyle National Championships in 2023 and placed third in the Greco-Roman division in 2021. He claimed his first Oklahoma state championship in 2021 and is a three-time state placer.
The longest commit of the 2024 class is Century's Kolter Burton out of Pocatello, Idaho, who gave his verbal commitment in October of last year. Burton has competed at both 132 and 138 pounds throughout high school and projects looks to be either a 141 or 149-pounder for Oklahoma State. He is a three-time Idaho state champion and has seen plenty of success in Fargo throughout his career, reaching the finals twice and earning All-America honors five times.
Oklahoma State begins its season on Friday against Bucknell at 7 p.m. CT in Gallagher-Iba Arena.
For season-long coverage of Cowboy wrestling, visit okstate.com and follow @CowboyWrestling on X and @cowboywrestling on Instagram.
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