Jacks battle, but fall to top-ranked Cowboys
STILLWATER, Okla. – South Dakota State won some key battles, but the top-ranked Oklahoma State wrestling team proved to be too much in a 31-9 dual victory Sunday afternoon at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
The 19th-ranked Jackrabbits, who had their seven-match winning streak snapped, dropped to 8-3 overall and 4-1 against Big 12 Conference opponents. Oklahoma State, whose entire 10-man lineup in Sunday’s dual featured a ranked wrestler, stayed unbeaten in duals at 8-0 overall and 3-0 in the Big 12.
“It was good to win the three matches we did, but we still lost the dual and it was a Big 12 dual,” SDSU head coach Chris Bono. “We’ve got to get home and get better.”
David Kocer, the 20th ranked wrestler at 174 pounds, pulled off the biggest upset of the day with a 7-2 decision over fifth-ranked Kyle Crutchmer. Kocer recorded an early takedown and four-point near-fall to build a 6-0 lead in the first period and never allowed Crutchmer to mount any sort of offensive attack. A returning NCAA qualifier, Kocer improved to 14-5 overall and 9-2 in duals this season.
Also victorious in a matchup between highly ranked wrestlers was Jackrabbit 197-pounder Nate Rotert, who notched a 3-1, sudden-victory decision over fourth-ranked Preston Weigel. Rotert, ranked eighth, was awarded a point for stalling near the end of the second period and gave up an escape to open the third period. With time winding down in the overtime period, Rotert recorded a takedown to up his season mark to 13-3 and 7-2 in dual action.
The only matchup between ranked wrestlers that Oklahoma State won was at 149 pounds, where second-ranked Anthony Collica posted a 23-8 technical fall win over No. 20 Alex Kocer.
The Cowboys received two other wins by technical fall – from 11th-ranked Nick Piccininni at 125 pounds and sixth-ranked Nolan Boyd in the 184-pound weight class. Seventh-ranked heavyweight Austin Schafer ended the dual with a first-period pin of Alex Macki.
Top-ranked 141-pounder Dean Heil won by major decision for Oklahoma State over Isaac Andrade, with 157-pounder Joe Smith and 165-pounder Chandler Rogers, both ranked sixth, turning in wins by decision.
SDSU returns to action Saturday with a pair of duals in Edwardsville, Illinois. The Jackrabbits will take on host SIUE at 2:30 p.m., followed by a 4 p.m. dual against Gardner-Webb.
#1 Oklahoma State 31, #19 South Dakota State 9
125: #11 Nick Piccininni (OKST) tech. fall Ben Gillette (SDSU), 15-0 (3:47)
133: #7 Seth Gross (SDSU) dec. #2 Kaid Brock (OKST), 6-4
141: #1 Dean Heil (OKST) major dec. Isaac Andrade (SDSU), 9-0
149: #2 Anthony Collica (OKST) tech. fall #20 Alex Kocer (SDSU), 23-8 (7:00)
157: #6 Joe Smith (OKST) dec. Logan Peterson (SDSU), 10-3
165: #6 Chandler Rogers (OKST) dec. Luke Zilverberg (SDSU), 8-3
174: #20 David Kocer (SDSU) dec. #5 Kyle Crutchmer (OKST), 7-2
184: #6 Nolan Boyd (OKST) tech. fall Martin Mueller (SDSU), 18-2 (5:25)
197: #8 Nate Rotert (SDSU) dec. #4 Preston Weigel (OKST), 3-1 (SV-1)
285: #7 Austin Schafer (OKST) def. Alex Macki (SDSU), by fall 2:46