Monday, January 10, 2022
Despite key absences, Cowboys crush Trojans Rowdy Baribeau Staff Reporter
LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas — Two missing starters didn’t matter. Even with Oklahoma State battling COVID-19 related issues, preventing 149-pound starter Kaden Gfeller and 174-pound Dustin Plott from wrestling, the No. 4 Cowboys handled Little Rock 35-6 on Saturday night at the Jack Stephens Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. Without Gfeller and Plott, OSU coach John Smith opted for Joey Sanchez at 149 and Jalin Harper at 174. Harper, typically a 157-pounder, jumped weight classes because of how shorthanded OSU is at 174. “It is a big difference in moving up two weights,” Smith said. “The weight really made the difference in the score, I thought he did a nice job from the standpoint of staying in the match and being competitive.” Harper fell to Little Rock’s Tristan Wills 7-1, avoiding a major decision loss. The two have a history wrestling against each other in high school and were Cowboy teammates two seasons ago. Sanchez fell to Joseph Bianchi 5-0 and couldn’t seem to get on the offensive as Bianchi maintained control the majority of the match. At 125 pounds, No. 9 Trevor Mastrogiovanni got things started for the Cowboys with a 8-3 decision over Jayden Carson. No. 2 Daton Fix had another dominant performance as he picked up a 17-2 technical fall over Jaylen Carson at 133. Tech falls were a theme in this dual as the Cowboys had tech falls from Fix, No. 13 Wyatt Sheets at 157 and No. 11 Dakota Geer at 184. Geer had arguably the most dominant match of the night as Tanner Mendoza couldn’t make it out of the first period. Geer had a takedown and proceeded to get four near falls, accumulating a 18-0 lead only 2:17 into the first period.
Travis Wittlake Jr. stares down his opponent against SIU-Edwardsville at the Jack Stephens Center in Little Rock, Arkansas on Sunday January 17, 2021.
Sheets was in a deadlock with Austin Keal going into the second period. He quickly changed the course of the match as he picked up two, four-point near falls to give him the edge over Keal 15-0. No. 20 Carter Young continued to flash at 141 despite his youth. Young picked up a major decision victory over Conner Ward 14-4 as he tallied over three minutes of riding time. No. 5 Travis Wittlake battled it out with Tyler Brennan at 165 and came close to a major decision victory. A late takedown for Brennan eliminated any chance for a major decision, but Wittlake
was in control for most of the ized. Size didn’t matter to Surber match, winning 9-4. as he ended the match with a 10-2 major The reigning national champion decision. and No. 1 at 197 pounds, AJ Ferrari, showed why he is the best in the nation with an effortless performance against Brooks Sacharczyk. Ferrari recorded his second career fall 2:39 in the first period. Ferrari’s last fall came against Little Rock last season. At heavyweight, No. 31 Luke Surber had an impressive showing against Josiah Hill. Surber, who is still gaining weight, wrestled well against Hill when he was clearly unders sports.ed@ocolly.com
OSU instructors to host program for athletes Anna Pope News Editor
University athletes their own NIL. can attend an event to learn The event is geared how to capitalize on name, to help athletes understand image and likeness or how to thrive under the “NIL” opportunities during new law through offertheir college careers. ing topics like personal Instructors from the finance, compensation and Spears School of Busitax implications, according ness will put on a program to the statement. It is also from Feb. 16-18 to provide set to show them ways to information about NIL for boost their personal brand athletes, according to a through social media, earnstatement from Oklahoma ing power and marketing State. theory. “This program brings Successful personal together experts from four branding, gaining followdifferent areas to provide ers, storytelling and methattendees with answers to ods for position leveraging some of the most presswill also be discussed ing questions about how at the program, according schools should be navigat- to the statement. ing the new name, image This event will be and likeness landscape,” held online and virtually. said John Holden, assistant Individual registration costs professor in the Spears $350 and registration for a School of Business Depart- group made up over three ment of Management in a people is $300. This instatement. cludes digital materials for Before a the new deci- those who register. sion about NIL, a university athlete gave up their right to publicity. Now, college news.ed@ocolly.com athletes may profit off of
Courtesy of Phil Shockley
Spear School of Business instructors will host a program to talk about name, image and likeness.