STILLWATER — The Oklahoma State Cowboys are continuing their impressive streak of high-scoring dual matches, showcasing their dominance on the mat.
On Sunday afternoon, in the vibrant atmosphere of Gallagher-Iba Arena, the Cowboys secured a resounding victory against Arizona State, with a final score of 33-6. This win marks an impressive 4-0 record for Oklahoma State under the new leadership of David Taylor. Notably, the Cowboys have consistently exceeded the 30-point threshold in each of their duals this season. Over the course of these four contests, they have earned bonus points in 22 out of 40 total matches, underscoring their competitive edge.
“Just happy with the guys, the way they wrestled,” Taylor expressed after the match. “Again, we look fresh in the third period. Guys are getting bonus points or maybe just missing out or already secured them and looking to continue to build. Just happy with that.”
Wyatt Hendrickson further solidified his status as a top contender in the heavyweight division, demonstrating his skills against No. 5 Cohlton Schultz. Ranked third nationally, Hendrickson triumphed with an 11-5 decision, although the match’s dynamic suggested a more decisive performance than the score reflected. Hendrickson initiated the bout with a takedown in the first period and dominated the second with an effective riding technique. He added a reversal and four nearfall points in the third period before relinquishing Schultz to secure more points, resulting in a final takedown by Schultz in a scramble.
“Cohlton Schultz and I, we actually wrestled when we were little,” Hendrickson reminisced. “We had a conversation last year — we were just chatting, we’ve always been good buddies — and we were like, ‘Wow, we never wrestled when we were in college.’ Then I saw him today, and I’m like, ‘Dude.’ The world heard us because now we have like four opportunities to wrestle this year. There’s no bad blood there. We’re high-level wrestlers. We like competing against the best. We want to be the best.”
“Going out there, obviously, against a good wrestler, you can’t be as loosey goosey,” he added thoughtfully. “You gotta be a little bit more strict, and I think I’m really working on slowing down my wrestling, working on a little more technique. Because I can go out there and spaz and break a guy, but if I can do it physically and with some more technique, that’s obviously what I want. I was winning that match, and I wanted to get some more feels, get a couple shots. Cohlton, he’s a big boy. He’s got some good momentum. He rolled me through, now I know what it feels like. I’d rather experience that earlier on in the season vs. NCAAs because I don’t want to be peaking right now. I want to get as much experience as I can so by the time the NCAA Tournament rolls around, we’re all peaking. We’re wrestling our absolute best.”
At the 125-pound weight class, Troy Spratley faced a different challenge after successfully defeating the No. 2 ranked Jore Volk on Friday. However, Arizona State opted against weighing in their No. 1 wrestler, Richard Figueroa, who was sidelined with an injury, instead sending out Max Brewster. Spratley capitalized on this opportunity, securing a pin over Brewster in the second period, which resulted in confetti cannons firing in celebration.
OSU also tallied bonus points at 133, 157, 174, 184, and 197 pounds. The Cowboys’ only losses during the dual were recorded when No. 18 Carter Young fell to No. 15 Jesse Vasquez in a closely contested 9-7 decision, and when No. 28 Nicco Ruiz delivered an upset against the favored No. 6 Cameron Amine, winning 4-1 in sudden victory.
Cutter Sheets (157), Dean Hamiti Jr. (174), Dustin Plott (184), and Luke Surber (197) all contributed to the team’s success with commanding major decisions in their respective matches.
Coach Taylor is faced with an impressive dilemma at 133 pounds, where both Reece Witcraft and Cael Hughes have showcased their talents by each winning both of their matches across the four duals thus far. Hughes, a graduate of Stillwater High, made his debut at Gallagher-Iba Arena on Sunday and delivered an outstanding performance, defeating Carter Dibert with an 18-1 technical fall.
“It was awesome,” Hughes remarked about his experience wrestling in GIA. “I don’t really have anything else to say about it. Thought I wrestled good. Just finally being out in that environment was definitely kind of a dream-come-true moment for me.”
Results
Post-Dual News Conferences
**1. How do you plan to maintain your team’s momentum as the season progresses, particularly in light of your recent successes?**
**Interview with Wyatt Hendrickson: Oklahoma State Wrestling Star**
**Interviewer:** Wyatt, congratulations on the big win against Arizona State! How does it feel to be part of such a strong start to the season?
**Wyatt Hendrickson:** Thanks! It feels amazing. As a team, we’ve really come together under Coach Taylor’s leadership. Winning 33-6 shows how dominant we can be, and I think we’re just getting started.
**Interviewer:** You personally had a solid matchup against Cohlton Schultz, ranked fifth nationally. Can you tell us about that match?
**Wyatt Hendrickson:** Absolutely. Cohlton and I go way back to when we were kids; we’ve always pushed each other. The match was intense. I started strong with a takedown and maintained control throughout. I really focused on strategies I’ve been working on, especially slowing things down and being more technical rather than just relying on pure strength.
**Interviewer:** That strategic approach paid off, as you won 11-5. What’s your perspective on improving your wrestling skills as the season progresses?
**Wyatt Hendrickson:** It’s crucial to keep evolving. I want to peak at the right time, especially with the NCAA Tournament coming up. Every match is an opportunity to learn, and I’d rather face tougher competition now than during the championship. Experience is key, and I’m looking to keep developing my technique.
**Interviewer:** Your teammate, Troy Spratley, had a notable win by pinning his opponent. How important is it to see your teammates excel like this?
**Wyatt Hendrickson:** It’s fantastic! When someone like Troy steps up and gets a pin, it lifts the whole team’s morale. We all feed off of each other’s successes. Seeing confetti fly after his match was such a great moment for all of us.
**Interviewer:** After four matches, the team is yet to lose. What do you think sets this team apart this season?
**Wyatt Hendrickson:** I believe it’s the chemistry and work ethic. We’re all committed to each other and our goals. Plus, our conditioning is on point; we look fresh even in the late periods of matches. That’s how you secure those bonus points, which we’ve managed to do in so many matches.
**Interviewer:** Lastly, what’s your goal for the remainder of the season?
**Wyatt Hendrickson:** My primary goal is to keep improving and help the team maintain this momentum. I want to make sure we’re all hitting our peak form come tournament time. If we keep working hard and staying focused, I believe we can achieve great things together.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for your time, Wyatt! Best of luck with the rest of the season.
**Wyatt Hendrickson:** Thank you! I appreciate it. Go Pokes!