Five Thoughts on Oklahoma State’s 32-6 Win against Wyoming

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STILLWATER — Someone other than John Smith coached the Cowboys inside Gallagher-Iba Arena on Friday night.

David Taylor’s first home dual since being named head coach was a 32-6 win over Wyoming. Here are five thoughts from the historical night at GIA.

1. The New Era Seems Real Now

For the first time in 34 years, someone other than John Smith was introduced as the head coach of Cowboy wrestling.

At the end of introductions and after a list of accolades that includes an Olympic gold medal, David Taylor was announced as Oklahoma State’s head coach before his first dual at his new home. And it was maybe the loudest applause of the night from the OSU faithful.

Just as Taylor has said he’ll do this whole offseason, the strong Cowboy wrestling tradition was still present, yet it still wasn’t the same. The team entered the arena with Marilyn Manson’s “Beautiful People” blaring through the speakers, but the Cowboys entered the arena out from behind a new LED board. The leader dressed in orange was as close to the mat as he could get, but Taylor wasn’t wearing a vest or nearly as animated during tense moments.

Cowboy wrestling is now David Taylor’s. Now we’re finally getting to see just what that means.

2. It Felt Like Iowa Was in Town

There was traffic on Hall of Fame Avenue. There were lines to get into Gallagher-Iba Arena. The venue had life from before things even started to the very end. You would not think Wyoming was in Stillwater. It felt more like Iowa was in town, stage and all.

That is the David Taylor effect. That change stirred excitement. But Taylor also said this week that, yes, the wrestling and winning aspects are important, but the Cowboys are part of an event, not just a dual. And the Pokes put on a show. OSU wrestlers wore cowboy hats during introductions before tossing them into the crowd. Each wrestler had his own introduction before every match, jogging out from behind the LED board and high-fiving fans. Confetti fell from the ceiling after Dean Hamiti Jr. pinned his opponent. But most importantly, the Cowboys won.

It doesn’t sound like the Pokes will only bring out all the stops for just the likes of Iowa or OU or home debuts, though.

“I think making it a fun experience, not only for the fans, but for our wrestlers,” Taylor said. “I think wrestling has missed that. Sometimes you just walk out there, you shake hands, you walk off the mat. We’re in Oklahoma. If people are on the fence, like, ‘Should I get in the car and come watch these matches or not?’ The experience is second to none in wrestling. So for the first time tonight, introducing those things. I thought we did a really good job and there’s some things that we can improve on. But it was, I thought was a lot of fun.”

3. Spratley Is a Title Contender

Already ranked inside the top 10 at 125 pounds, Troy Spratley proved he’s even better than that.

The main event of the evening came in the first match when Spratley, ranked sixth, matched up with No. 2 Jore Volk, who was a Big 12 champion and All-American last season. Volk had the better of Spratley until Spratley scored his first takedown of the match with 34 seconds left to tie it up 4-4 and send the match to sudden victory. Spratley, again, was clutch and scored and another takedown to win it and upset the second-best wrestler in the country.

As a freshman last year, Spratley was 23-8 and one win shy of reaching All-America status. Reaching the podium seemed almost like a sure thing for Spratley as a sophomore, but after Friday, he showed he’s not just good enough to get on but be at the top. For comparison, Volk beat Spratley 3-2 and 5-1 last season.

Spratley just beat the No. 2 guy at 125. Right now, Arizona State’s Richie Figureroa, who is the defending NCAA champion, has the No. 1 spot. Figureroa will be in Stillwater on Sunday, giving Spratley a chance to knock off the two best wrestlers at his weight in the same weekend. Even during his season that ended with a championship last year, Figureroa lost to Spratley in a 13-5 major decision in a dual.

If this weekend goes perfect for Spratley, 125 pounds would be his to lose early.

4. A Healthy Surber

Surber admitted before the season started that there were times last year he was in pain just shooting a takedown because of multiple injuries. He basically had to limit himself to one takedown a match and hope it was enough.

In Friday night’s match, Surber, ranked 17th, scored a takedown and a reversal in a 7-4 decision over No. 16 Joey Novak. Last weekend, Surber went 2-0 while upsetting then-No. 7 Trey Munoz of Oregon State 5-0.

Through only three matches, Surber has already proven how much those injuries hampered him last season. Now healthy, Surber looks to be on pace to fight for a spot on the podium at the end of the season.

5. I’m Glad Hendrickson Will Be Defending My Country

Wyatt Hendrickson pinned his opponent, shot his finger pistols, put them in the holster, then, at more than 245 pounds, did a backflip at the center of Gallagher-Iba Arena.

Wyatt Hendrickson, a heavyweight, casually doing a backflip after a pin. I’m glad this guy will be defending our country one day.

📸 @DevinWilber pic.twitter.com/oDLCebo0Px

— Dekota Gregory (@dekotagregory) November 23, 2024

Hendrickson transferred from Air Force this past offseason and is 3-0 so far as a Cowboy after sticking Kevin Zimmer in the second period. Hendrickson already had a 15-4 lead in the match even before the fall.

When Hendrickson’s wrestling career is over, his five-year commitment to the Air Force will begin. Based on pure eye test then witnessing him dismantle another high-level athlete and celebrate with a backflip, I’ll sleep better at night once I know Hendrickson is someone that’s defending our country. Until then, though, he’ll be a blast to watch on the mat this season.