James Hackney
#3 Oklahoma State over #12 South Dakota State (31-6)
The Cowboys continue their undefeated streak and in dominant fashion with eight match wins to beat SDSU. They didn’t get any big upsets ranking wise but separated the score with bonus point wins from Fix, Williams, and Olejnik. Spratley avenged a loss from CKLV while Williams scored a ranked pin with a nice cradle. Thompson and Surber struggled against top ten opponents, but managed to not give up bonus points. Now just two duals left, OK State continues to establish themselves as a top team this season.
- A mix of dominant and gritty wins make a well rounded performance.
Fix, Williams, and Olejnik looked good in getting bonus points as Fix got a major while Williams and Olejnik pinned their opponents. Fix scored five takedowns in his match, but gave up a surprising third period takedown rideout. Williams twice locked up cradles against Martin, able to settle and get the fall with the second one. Olejnik countered a dangerous opponent in Cook to get a fall at the end of the third period, the biggest win he’s had over him.
They didn’t all come easy though, as Tagen Jamison, Teague Travis, and Dustin Plott won in overtime. Jamison battled back from a late takedown to score a match tying escape with short time, then found a takedown of his own in the third period to beat a dangerous two-time All-American. Travis wore down Swensen with hand fighting and scrambling, and got the match winning takedown. Plott was actually in a 6-2 hole against Berge, but used a takedown of his own late to tie it before taking the match in overtime. Being able to grit wins out like that are what makes top teams what they are, as few wrestlers can be consistently dominant.
- Doucet was about to major until he wasn’t.
In a surprisingly high scoring match, Doucet scored big points with a takedown and nearfall in the first. With his style it seemed likely that he could get bonus points and not give too much up. Rasmussen was game however, and actually put Doucet to his back in t…
