Several Future Cowboys Wrap Up State Tournaments

The four big names OSU has committed or signed finished out their seasons this year with three bringing home state titles. Here’s a wrap up of how it went.

The prize of this recruiting class for OSU, Travis Wittlake, finished out his senior season with his fourth state title in as many years. Wittlake dominated his way through his bracket in Oregon helping his team to a runner-up finish. Wittlake is ranked 2nd in the pound-for-pound category of most recruiting lists and is expected to be a star at OSU. He should able to redshirt next year, but expect some fireworks when he enters the lineup in 2019. Wittlake should be really, really good.

Ended my high school career last night after winning my 4th State title… #GlorytoGod #4timer #Marshfieldhighschool pic.twitter.com/SdtybIpfjy

— Travis Wittlake Jr (@WittlakeJr) February 19, 2018

A kid I think OSU fans should be really excited about is Anthony Montalvo. I had a chance to speak with him a few weeks ago and have watched him pretty closely this season. His high school is one of the top programs nationally and Flo covers the tournaments they are in pretty thoroughly. Montalvo went through a gauntlet midseason and beat 3-4 nationally ranked guys all within a few weeks of each other and, to my knowledge, only lost one match this season and it was to top-ranked sophomore AJ Ferrari out of Allen, Texas. Montalvo really pushed Ferrari more than anyone I’ve seen this year taking him to OT. He’s another that should be able to redshirt next year, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see him compete for a starting spot when he comes in. He dominated his way to his second state title pinning his way to the finals and dominating his match there.

And that’s a wrap. 3x finalist, 2x champ and helped lead my brothers to a 3rd team title. Now I can only hope for future bears to do even better! ? pic.twitter.com/hewfXppU6a

— taco (@__montaco32) March 5, 2018

Daniel “Greg” Kerkvliet is a commit for the 2019 class. He dominated his way to his third title. He only dropped one match this season and it was to one of the best wrestlers in the world in a supermatch where he bumped up to heavyweight to take on the top pound-for-pound wrestler in this year’s recruiting class.

Daniel Kerkvliet of Simley went fall, fall, fall, technical fall for his 3rd state championship title.

49-1 record for 2017-18 for the junior. #mshsl #statemat

— Jared Hines (@Jared_Hines27) March 4, 2018

The only commit/signee in this class that didn’t win a state title was Jalin Harper out of Manhattan, Kansas. Harper isn’t quite as highly-touted as the other guys in this class, but you’d prefer to see expected contributors to the team win state titles. Harper is a guy that will probably be asked to contribute. State tournaments and high school wrestling don’t always tell the whole story, though. Hopefully he’ll flip a switch when he gets in the room and will develop well.

6A Kansas Wrestling State Finals

160lb State Champion

Triston Wills (Derby) 38-3, Jr. over Jalin Harper (Manhattan) 46-2, Sr. (Dec 6-4)

— Sports in Kansas (@sportsinkansas) February 25, 2018

Don’t be shocked to see a few other state champs show up on the OSU roster as freshman next year. There will be some, but these guys are who OSU has committed and signed.

Next step for this group is All-Star matches and the freestyle summer. Wittlake and Kerkvliet are world medalists and could compete for world titles this summer. Montalvo’s not as decorated in freestyle as he is folk style, but hope to see him be an All-American at Fargo and compete for a title there. Similar to Harper, but I think being an All-American would be a good showing for him.