Top 5 Quotes from Oklahoma State Wrestling’s First Win Over Iowa Since 2019

STILLWATER — Don’t make a tattoo bet with David Taylor unless you’re prepared to pay up.

On Sunday, Oklahoma State wrestling set a new average attendance record of 9,259 fans this season. That number is made all the more incredible considering Taylor’s group broke the old record just last year when the Cowboys averaged 7,603 fans per dual in Taylor’s first season in Stillwater.

Here are five things Taylor and wrestlers said after the Cowboys beat Iowa 32-11 on Sunday, starting with the previously mentioned tattoo bet.

1. On breaking the attendance record, again

“Our bar is set a little higher,” Taylor said. “Detrick (Bombarger), our marketing guy, I told him this year that we’re gonna break the record again. And he goes, I don’t know, man, it’s pretty hard. And he goes, if we break the record I will get a Pokes Wrestling tattoo. He already got one before this week because he knew that we already sold out. Got a tattoo on his leg. So I don’t know. Next year we’ll have to pump that incentive up a little bit.”

2. Jax Forrest could be unstoppable

On Sunday, Forrest unsurprisingly took the mat, officially burning any chance of taking a redshirt this season. He should be finishing his final semester of high school right now, but instead the 133-pounder is ranked sixth in the nation and is 10-0 following an absolutely dominant 19-3 win over No. 9 Drake Ayala.

Following the win, the freshman was asked if he’s able to see the big picture and appreciate what he’s doing during his first semester of college.

“I mean I try not to,” Forrest said. “Obviously, I get moments where I’m like, this is pretty crazy. But I think just trying to stay present. Just obviously, tonight I’ll be with my family, and I’ll be like, that was awesome. You know, if I wrestle like that, there’s no one who can stop me. But then it’s just get back to work, get back to work tomorrow, focusing, not letting, like, my head get too big, not letting the moment get to me too much.”

3. David Taylor in awe of Sunday’s crowd

Taylor started his press conference praising the Oklahoma State faithful that packed into GIA to the tune of 12,629 people.

“We’ve kind of talked about this, articulated this vision of what we want this place to be, become, reignite,” Taylor said. “And I hear stories about what this place has been like in the past, and to see it come to fruition in a short period of time is pretty awesome, you know. … I’ve been to a lot of wrestling matches. I’ve been in great environments, but there is nothing like this place, the love, the excitement, the energy, you know.

“We talked about making it a show and something that people, people remember this, like these opportunities, these matches, not maybe the score or what it is, but just the memory of being a part of this, you know, being a part of something special.”

4. On a great sudden-victory stall call

Points were easy to come by for most of the first half on Sunday, but 184-pounder Zack Ryder’s matchup against Gabe Arnold really grinded to a standstill.

The two went to sudden death victory tied 1-1. Ryder seemed to take advantage quickly, nearly securing the win on the very edge of the circle. He tried to drag Arnold back in and ultimately won the day 2-1 after officials penalized the visitor for stalling.

An anti-climatic way to win, but a good outcome for the Cowboys all the same.

“The way the call is on the edge, if you’re on the edge, if you kick and turn out of bounds, that’s a stall,” Taylor said. “You know, that’s what the rule book is. So a lot of guys are good on the edge, but they, sometimes it burns you. And Zack did a good job. Guy kicks, you follow him out of bounds. Stall call, you know. And takes some courage (by official) to make that call. You know, the guy did it. I thought it was a good call, but I thought he earned it. I think Zack was the aggressor the whole match. And think it definitely plays a factor there.”

5. Konner Doucet says goodbye to GIA

Oklahoma State’s heavyweight has been with the program since the 2020-21 season, but on Sunday he wrestled his final opponent inside Gallagher-Iba Arena.

At least he finished with a third-period pin.

“It really didn’t hit me until after the match was over,” Doucet said. “Hit the OSU, and kind of got choked up a little bit. But, you know, I’m never gonna forget wrestling Gallagher-Iba. It’s one of the greatest things I’ve ever done.”