What Did Oklahoma State Wrestlers Do with National Championship Belts?

STILLWATER — A trio of Oklahoma State freshmen returned to town this week with NCAA Championship belts. All three said they believed they would win when they traveled to Cleveland last week.

So it shouldn’t be a surprise that 157-pounder Landon Robideau knew exactly what to do with his belt.

“I already got mine set up, but I have like, this little shelf and I put it up on the wall, but there’s enough room for a couple more,” Robideau said. “So I just think, waking up, I get to see that, I want three more on that wall.”

Robideau repeatedly spoke of this NCAA individual title as the first, adding that he aspires for much more in his collegiate career. His teammates echoed those thoughts, but not all of them were as prepared when it came to setting up their championship belts.

Fellow freshman Sergio Vega actually thought he lost his.

“I didn’t know where it was, and I was, like, freaking out a little bit,” Vega said. “I’m like, where did I leave it? I’m like, I didn’t know if I left in the airport or something.”

Luckily teammate Austin Johnson let the 141-pounder know the belt was in his car.

“So, yeah, that’s where mine is” Vega said. “… I’ll probably, like, take it to my dad’s (Tuscon wrestling) club, though, or something we’ll see. Or put it in our house, hopefully.”

Jax Forrest’s belt has already found a short-term home, though not where most would expect.

“I put mine in my closet,” Forrest said. “I put it up on the shelf up there next to all my clothes. Because, you know, once there’s multiple of them, then they can come out. But when there’s one, I don’t want it to be a distraction.”