After some eligibility drama to start the Oklahoma State Cowboys had themselves a time for Session 1 and 2 of the Big XII Championships Saturday in Tulsa. Six(!) Cowboys made the finals and only one Cowboy was eliminated by the end of the night. Heading into the Session 3 consolations, OSU is leading Northern Iowa 137.5-120.5 with S. Dakota State a distant third at 87.5. Let’s get to the recap and preview of Day 2!
125: (3) Troy Spratley (17-3): Spratley kicked off the session for OSU and did so facing Oklahoma native Gage Walker (Missouri). He narrowly missed the major decision, winning 9-2. As soon as it was over, I noted that I hope that point doesn’t come back to bite us as at the end of the tournament and I hope I wasn’t right. Spratley faced Tanner Jordan (S. Dakota St.) in round to and did get the major, winning 10-0 in a dominating performance setting up a potential matchup with the one seed, Richard Figueroa (Arizona St.). It was not to be, however, as the 10-12 Tristan Daugherty (N. Dakota St.) managed to pull off the big upset in the quarters, beating Richie Figs 4-2 with a takedown in 2P being the difference. Spratley did not take Daugherty lightly in the semis and carefully worked his way to a 2-0 win. Spratley is set to face the 3 seed Jeff Strickenbarger (W. Virginia), who pinned 2 seed Stevo Poulin (N. Colorado) in the quarters to set up a rematch with Sprat. The Cowboy faithfulmight remember his antics from the W. Virginia dual, where he taunted the crowd after pinning Spratley in Gallagher Iba Arena. Other than that pin, they faced each other in March last year, with Sprat pulling out an 8-4 win. PREDICTION: Spratley in a close match.
133: (20) Reece Witcraft (9-4): Reese had a day to forget going 0-2 and being eliminated quickly from the 4 seed, the only real disappointment of the day. 5 seed Kyle Burwick (N. Dakota St.) won 10-6 after putting Witcraft on his back in 1P. Unfortunately,3 seed Julian Farber had been upset in his opening round match too and dropped to the backside where he beat Witcraft 6-3. There is a real question whether Witcraft will even make the NCAA tournament as an at large pick, as a couple of other sure picks failed to auto qualify, so will be ahead of him. If not, he might be the only Poke not to make Philadelphia.
141: (5) Tagen Jamison (15-3): Jamison, also a 4 seed, was not expected to make it to Sunday night’s final, and he almost didn’t make it to his first-round match after some controversy over his eligibility.
