OSU Wrestling: Cowboys Beat Lehigh 25-12 Heading into Sunday’s Bedlam

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STILLWATER — The Cowboys’ most suspect weight class coming into the season was at 157 pounds, but Friday might’ve gone a long way in the Pokes finding their answer at that spot.

Oklahoma State beat Lehigh 25-12 in Gallagher-Iba Arena to advance to 2-0 on the year, where redshirt sophomore Teague Travis upset No. 25 Max Brignola 5-1 at 157. The match started slow — with a scoreless first period before the pair traded escapes. But then after his escape to start the third period, Travis took Brignola down before riding him out to win the bout. Travis is now 7-1 on the season.

Clutch takedown from Travis for the gusty W!#HomeOfWrestling | #GoPokes pic.twitter.com/Gb00jKBLSG

— OSU Cowboy Wrestling (@CowboyWrestling) December 9, 2023

Travis was a four-time state champ as a high schooler, winning three titles in Missouri before adding his fourth at Stillwater High as a senior. He went 146-4 in high school, earning Fargo All-America honors. He went 35-4 in his first two seasons in college, competing primarily in open tournaments.

“Just a tough kid,” OSU coach John Smith said. “Stayed in there and put himself in position. Did a pretty good job of getting his feet back. Did a nice job of getting off the mat.”

Travis wasn’t the only lineup newcomer to make a statement Friday, as highly touted recruit Brayden Thompson picked up his first collegiate win with an 8-2 decision against Thayne Lawrence at 157 pounds. After a scoreless first, Thompson scored a takedown in the second to enter the third period with a 4-1 lead. After a sizeable ride, Lawrence was able to escape in to cut Thompson’s lead to 4-2 before Thompson secured another late takedown and added a riding time point.

First W of many for the freshman! #HomeOfWrestling | @TheBTH0MPS0N pic.twitter.com/CWrmLuNaLX

— OSU Cowboy Wrestling (@CowboyWrestling) December 9, 2023

Thompson was 152-11 as a high schooler, with his only losses coming as a freshman. He was the No. 3 pound-for-pound wrestler in his recruiting class, according to Flo.

“Nice win from Thompson, getting his first win,” Smith said. “Just saw a little different demeanor and trusting the process to get to where he can compete and feel like he can compete. That was a nice win.”

Two of the Cowboys’ three losses on the night came at weights where OSU was without its starters.

GIA could’ve been treated to a Top 3 matchup at 133, but Daton Fix is still nursing an injury, which led to Reece Witcraft going up against No. 1 Ryan Crookham. Crookham beat Witcraft via an 11-2 major decision.

Then at 197, Kyle Haas wrestled in place of No. 12 Luke Surber against No. 9 Michael Beard. Beard picked up a dominant 17-2 technical fall.

Smith said after the dual he thought Fix and Surber could have wrestled, but he didn’t want to take a risk this early in the season. He said he is “hoping” to have them back for Bedlam on Sunday, but he wasn’t committal.

“If I had to go with this team, I feel good about it,” Smith said.

The Cowboys’ other loss came in a ranked bout at heavyweight, where No. 16 Nathan Taylor beat No. 11 Konner Doucet 4-3. A first-period takedown was the difference in the match. Doucet nearly answered with a takedown in the second, but Taylor was able to survive to the end of the period.

OSU picked up bonus points at 141, 165 and 184. At 141, Tagen Jamison recorded a 17-2 tech fall over Ethan Smith (who weighed in at 133). Izzak Olejnik continued his stellar start to the season at 165, smothering Jake Logan en route to a 14-5 major decision. Dustin Plott beat Caden Rogers 8-1 at 184. Rogers finished that bout with tape wrapped all the way around his head and completely covering his nose in an attempt to stop his nose from bleeding (just wrestler things).

Results

John Smith’s Post Dual News Conference

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Opponent: Oklahoma
Time: 2 p.m. Sunday
Location: Norman
Watch: ESPN+