OSU Wrestling: Cowboys Finish 2023 with 31-9 Win against Wyoming

Despite debuts galore and key injuries to start, Oklahoma State finished 2023 undefeated heading into 2024.

The No. 9 Cowboys handled Wyoming 31-9 on Tuesday night in Laramie, improving to 4-0. OSU won’t see the mat again until Jan. 5 for a potential top-10 showdown with NC State in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Despite the separated outcome, OSU actually started the dual behind after No. 21 Troy Spratley lost to 16th-ranked Jore Volk 5-1 at 125 pounds. It was the first dual loss of Spratley’s young career, as he dropped to 10-3 in his redshirt freshman campaign.

But then Daton Fix returned at 133 pounds after being sidelined because of injury since the start of December. Fix beat former OSU wrestler Cooper Birdwell 8-2 in his return. Fix’s win started a run of seven straight for OSU to take control. The Cowboys added bonus points in four of those bouts.

Freshman Cael Hughes was the first to tally bonus points in his dual debut. He earned a 14-3 major decision over Stockton O’Brien. Hughes wrestled in replace of Tagen Jamison, who was injured during his Bedlam match last week. Hughes is a four-time state champion from Stillwater High School who finished his preps career with a perfect 140-0 record.

Jordan Williams and Teague Travis earned decisions at 149 and 157, respectively, before No. 2 Izzak Olejnik got a 20-4 tech fall over Cooper Voorhees at 165 pounds. Olejnik, a graduate transfer, finished his first semester in Stillwater at 14-0 with eight bonus-point wins.

Freshman Brayden Thompson continued his roll, also getting bonus points at 174 with a 12-2 major decision against Brett McIntosh. After losing his first two career college matches, Thompson has won three straight, all dual wins. He was NCAA Wrestler of the Week last week after picking up his first college victory against Lehigh’s Thayne Lawrence and upsetting then-No. 17 Tate Picklo in Bedlam.

The Cowboys’ second of two losses came at 197 pounds, where freshman Jersey Robb made his dual debut in replace of an injured Luke Surber. Robb was looking to upset No. 21 Joey Novak before Novak ultimately pinned Robb late in the third period. Robb is a three-time state champion from Bixby High School. FloWrestling had Robb ranked as the No. 13 195-pounder in the class of 2023.

No. 12 Konner Doucet capped the dual and OSU’s year with a 5-1 decision against Kevin Zimmer.

The victory continued OSU’s 26-dual winning streak against Wyoming.

Results

Up Next

Who: NC State
When: 6 p.m. Jan. 5
Where: Raleigh, North Carolina
Watch: ESPNU