James Hackney
#11 Oklahoma State vs Bucknell
Watch Live: November 10th, 7:00 PM CT – ESPN+
Oklahoma State starts their season off this week at home against Bucknell. Last year these two dualed and the Cowboys won eight matches in a 30-6 rout. This year there’s an expected six new starters, with potential for some freshman getting in early matches. The dual itself is likely to be one-sided, but there are some tests in Bucknell’s lineup. Matches at 149, 157, and 165 are intriguing, and getting the first look at the new starters should be a good opportunity for fans.
- True freshman opportunities
True freshmen can wrestle in five competitions attached, including duals, and stay in redshirt. With how tough the schedule jumps through the season, this could be a good chance to give some of the #1 recruiting class matches. At 133lbs Daton Fix has beaten #X Kurt Phipps each of the past two years. Getting ranked matches is always good, but Fix doesn’t necessarily need to worry about that as much. With that, it could be a great chance to get a look at #8 recruit Cael Hughes against a ranked opponent.
Brayden Thompson is the expected starter at 174lbs for the season, so I expect him to go here. At 184lbs Dustin Plott is coming up, but is coming off U23’s. A handful of wrestlers that also competed at U23’s didn’t go in their schools first action, so this could be a chance for Jersey Robb to compete after winning the Broncho Open at 184lbs. Bucknell has a ranked wrestler at 184lbs in Logan Deacetis, but he competed in their intrasquad dual and is listed on the roster at 197lbs…
