OSU Wrestling: All-American South Dakota State Transfer Bennett Berge Commits to Oklahoma State

David Taylor will, in fact, use the transfer portal ahead of his third season leading the Cowboys.

South Dakota State All-American Bennett Berge announced Wednesday that he has committed to Oklahoma State. Berge was an All-American for the Jackrabbits at 184 pounds in 2024. He wrestled up at 197 pounds for the first time in his career this past season. This upcoming year should be Berge’s last.

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— Bennett Berge (@BergeBennett) April 8, 2026

Berge went 17-7 at 197 pounds, qualifying for the NCAA Tournament, where he went 1-2. Berge took fifth at the Big 12 Championships in Tulsa, dropping a bout to Cowboy Cody Merrill in the consolation semifinals.

Berge’s road to the podium back in 2024 was impressive. He actually dropped his opening round match at the national tournament before rattling off five straight wins to finish fourth.

He’s 75-26 to this point in his career with a 39.8% bonus rate and has qualified for the past three NCAA Championships.

It seems likely that with this move to Stillwater, Berge would jump back down to 184 pounds. Merrill is coming off a second-place finish at nationals as a freshman and beat Berge. But down at 184 pounds, Zack Ryder dealt with a constantly dislocating shoulder at Big 12s and NCAAs, an injury that could require some offseason work.

Berge becomes the first guy Taylor took out of the portal this window. Taylor has built through traditional recruiting, evident by the fact that his team that just took second at the national tournament featured six freshmen in the lineup.

Taylor has another stud freshman class coming in with the likes of Dreshaun Ross, Jayden Raney, Jordyn Raney, Rocklin Zinkin and Mikey White. Should there be a battle that takes place for OSU’s 184-pound spot, White could be a part of that, as well.