Cowboys Ready for Big Weekend Across the State

The Basics
The Oklahoma State wrestling team (1-0 overall) is set for a busy weekend, first hosting No. 20 Lehigh on Friday, Dec. 8, before traveling to Norman for the first of two Phillips 66 Bedlam Series duals on Sunday, Dec. 10. This weekend will mark the Cowboys' first dual action in nearly a month after strictly competing in tournaments since the season opener against Bucknell on Nov. 10.

On the Air
Oklahoma State's Friday dual against Lehigh, as well as the matchup with Oklahoma on Sunday, will both be streamed on Big 12 Now on ESPN+. Hardell Moore and J. Carl Guymon will be on the call for OSU's return to Gallagher-Iba Arena on Friday. Both duals can also be heard on the radio with Rex Holt providing coverage on Hot 93.7 KSPI-FM. On Friday, live results will be available on StatBroadcast.com, while TrackWrestling.com will provide live stats for Sunday's dual.

The Series - Lehigh
Friday's meeting between Oklahoma State and Lehigh will be the 15th meeting between the two programs. Oklahoma State holds a 12-2 advantage in the all-time series, but Lehigh head coach Pat Santoro has captured both Mountain Hawk wins in his six tries. The Cowboys opened their 2022-23 season on the road at Lehigh and downed the Mountain Hawks, 25-6. Cowboy returners Konner Doucet, Daton Fix, Carter Young and Dustin Plott all picked up victories in the dual. On Friday, head coach John Smith will be looking for his 10th win in a dozen tries against Lehigh.

The Series - Oklahoma
Sunday marks the 187th Phillips 66 Bedlam Series dual, Oklahoma State's most against any opponent. The Cowboys lead the all-time series, 149-27-10, and have won 17 in a row over the Sooners, including seven straight in Norman. John Smith has continued OSU's dominance over their in-state rival as head coach, compiling a 56-6-3 record in the series. Last season, Oklahoma State swept the season series with a pair of victories, including a 21-15 win in Norman last December. The dual was tied, 15-15, entering the final match, but Luke Surber pinned Oklahoma's Keegan Moore in dramatic fashion to give OSU the victory. Oklahoma State then dominated the Sooners, 26-6, in their second matchup of the season at Gallagher-Iba Arena in February.

About the Cowboys
Oklahoma State enters Friday ranked No. 11 in the NWCA Coaches Poll after competing at the prestigious Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational last weekend and nearly a month off from dual action. The Cowboys defeated Bucknell, 38-6, in their season opener back on Nov. 10.

Returning All-Americans and Big 12 champions Daton Fix and Dustin Plott lead the Cowboy lineup alongside Izzak Olejnik, who was an All-American at 165 pounds last season at Northern Illinois. Daton Fix is a four-time All-American, while Dustin Plott has earned the honor in each of the past two seasons.

The OSU lineup has seen some movement from a year ago due to departures and weight changes from past starters, opening opportunities for a number of talented, yet unproven newcomers. Izzak Olejnik has competed his way into the national spotlight after winning a the loaded 165-pound bracket at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational and moving up to No. 2 in the nation in multiple polls. He, along with Fix and Plott, are all ranked in the top-3 of their respective weight classes. Minnesota transfers Troy Spratley and Tagen Jamison have impressed early in their Cowboy careers. In Las Vegas, Spratley picked up his first ranked win of the season, while Jamison's strong showing has him ranked as high as No. 7 in the nation at 141 pounds. Dustin Plott's weight change allows room for standout freshman Brayden Thompson to move into the 174-pound role, while Jordan Williams looks to secure the 149-pound job after redshirting a season ago. At the backend of the lineup, 197-pounder Luke Surber and heavyweight Konner Doucet round out the squad for the second straight season. Both wrestlers qualified for the NCAA Championships in 2023 and are each hovering right around the top-10 mark in various polls.

A Pair of Oklahoma State Wins Would...
• Make Oklahoma State 3-0 on the season
• Give John Smith 479 career wins as head coach, 13 shy of 2nd-most all-time (Harold Nichols, 492)
• Move Oklahoma State to 8-1 in their last nine duals
• Give Oklahoma State five wins in its past six duals against ranked opponents
• Make Oklahoma State 2-0 in its two home duals of the fall semester
• Give Oklahoma State its 599th home win in program history

An Oklahoma State Win Over Oklahoma Would...
• Make the all-time series record 150-27-10 in Oklahoma State's favor
• Make Oklahoma State 65-15-8 all-time in duals in Norman
• Improve John Smith's record in Bedlam duals to 57-6-3
• Improve John Smith's record in Norman to 28-4-2
• Give Oklahoma State its 18th straight win over Oklahoma
• Extend Oklahoma State's winning streak in Norman to eight

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Konner Doucet

Daton Fix

Tagen Jamison

Izzak Olejnik

Dustin Plott

Troy Spratley

Luke Surber

Brayden Thompson

Jordan Williams

Carter Young

Oklahoma State University Athletics