OSU Wrestling: Seven Cowboys Included in First Individual Coaches Rankings

With the postseason just over a month away, it’s no longer too early to look ahead.

Seven Oklahoma State wrestlers were included in the first individual coaches rankings of the season, which were released Monday. These are the rankings used to determine seeding for postseason tournaments and are voted on by 14 coaches, with two coaches from each of the seven conferences.

Here’s a look at the presumed OSU starting lineup with rankings. You an see the full rankings here.

Obviously the first takeaway is three-time NCAA finalist and undefeated Daton Fix not being ranked at 133. But, in order to be considered for the rankings, wrestlers have to have at least eight matches on the season, and at least one in the last 30 days, against Division-I opponents at the respected weight class, according to the NCAA. Fix is 6-0 this season after being sidelined with an injury for a few weeks. OSU has two duals this weekend, though, so Fix should appear in next week’s rankings after getting his eighth match under his belt.

Of OSU’s seven ranked wrestlers, four are ranked in the top eight to presumably earn All-American honors if that’s where they were to finish at the NCAA tournament. Fix should be a fifth in that mix next week. The Cowboys haven’t had that many All-Americans since having six in 2021. Fix and Dustin Plott have been the only two the past two seasons.

Plott is currently OSU’s highest-ranked wrestler at No. 2 at 184. His highest finish was sixth last season, but he made the jump from 174 to 184 this season. He’s 18-1 since making the move and beat No. 4 Trey Munoz of Oregon State 4-1 on Sunday. Plott will get top-ranked Parker Keckeisen of Northern Iowa on Friday and No. 7 Will Feldkamp of Iowa State on Saturday.

Plott should see a move in the rankings next week with a pair of top-10 matchups on deck, but he definitely won’t be the only one by the Big 12 Championships on March 9-10. The meat of OSU’s schedule is still ahead.

Individuals like Teague Travis at 157 and Luke Surber at 197 should also crack the top 33 before the postseason gets here. Travis was a late addition to the starting lineup after bumping up from 149, with only seven matches at 157 so far. Surber has been out of the lineup most of the season because of injuries and still didn’t look like himself on Sunday.