Instant Recap: Cowboy Wrestling Wins Season Opener Against Bucknell 38-6

New faces, same ole’ results for Cowboy wrestling.

Oklahoma State beat Bucknell 38-6 in its season opener Friday night at Gallagher-Iba Arena. The Cowboys’ only loss was by medical forfeit at 174 pounds.

Speaking of new, redshirt freshman Troy Spratley earned a 22-3 technical fall over fellow freshman Owen Bell in his OSU debut at 125 pounds to start the dual and the season. Spratley transferred to OSU this offseason after a redshirt season at Minnesota.

Two matches later at 141, Spratley’s former high school and Minnesota teammate Tagen Jamison also won his Cowboy debut after transferring with Spratley this offseason. Jamison beat Braden Bower 10-5.

Jamison’s decision was the first match OSU didn’t tally bonus points after Daton Fix pinned Kurt Phipps in the third period at 133. The Cowboys didn’t add bonus points again until 165 when graduate transfer Izzak Olejnik handled Noah Mulvaney 10-2 in his OSU debut.

Fireworks weren’t really expected at 149 and 157, though, as John Smith is still trying to find his guys there with multiple possible starters at both weights as of Wednesday. Teague Travis, a redshirt sophomore from Stillwater, got the start at 149, beating Aiden Davis in his dual debut, 6-1.

At 157, redshirt senior Jalin Harper got the nod after not appearing in a dual last season. Harper slipped past Nick Delp 5-4 in his GIA return.

The Cowboys’ only loss on the scoreboard came at 174 because of a medical forfeit. Freshman Brayden Thompson was injured only 27 seconds into his very first college action, grabbing his left leg. Freshmen are able to compete in five matches outside of open tournaments and maintain their redshirt. Behind Thompson is another freshman in AJ Heeg, who Smith already said Wednesday would also probably get an opportunity at the weight.

Dustin Plott was one of only a few familiar faces at 184. He pinned Nolan Springer in the second period of his debut at 184 after competing at 174 the past three seasons. Luke Surber was the next recognizable name at 197, getting a 21-5 technical fall.

The heavyweight finale was the closest match of the night, as Konner Doucet edged Dorian Crosby 2-1 after riding him out the third period while up 1-0 and adding a riding-time point.

The Cowboys won’t see dual action again for nearly a month, returning to Gallagher-Iba Arena on Dec. 8 to host Lehigh.