Thursday, February 3, 2022
Smith, Brands, preview Bout at the Ballpark
Kurt Steiss
Daniel Allen Staff Reporter
The highly anticipated Bout at the Ballpark event is 10 days away. Here are three notes from OSU coach John Smith and Iowa coach Tom Brands’ Zoom press conference Wednesday morning. Daton Fix No college wrestler has ever wrestled collegiately and internationally on the same day. Daton Fix, OSU’s 133-pounder, will be the first to do so. There has been a fair amount of uncertainty in regards to how this will affect Fix’s performance with having to wrestle for OSU against Iowa, then shortly after wrestle for the United States against Iran. Smith has not ruled out making adjustments to Fix’s schedule, to ensure that he is in top shape for both duals. “Wrestling two high (caliber wrestlers), two great competitors, I mean you just want to make sure that you’re in the best position to be successful doing that,” Smith said. “And so, likely (Daton) will wrestle both matches, but we’re going to continue to
look at making sure that it’s something that’s fair for him.” Texas wrestling community growing There are currently no Division I college wrestling programs in the state of Texas. There are a fair amount of college wrestlers nationwide from the state of Texas, including two on the OSU roster, yet, they have no in-state D1 programs to look for post-high school. When asked for their opinions in regards to the thought of bringing D1 wrestling to Texas, both head coaches supported it. “Being so close to Texas (and) Oklahoma and seeing Texas evolve in wrestling at the high school level, seeing the youth evolve, it’s amazing the pure numbers that Texas can give,” Smith said. With the Texas wrestling community having grown in recent years, one goal when scheduling this prime event in Arlington was not only to showcase the sport at such a high level, but to provide Texas wrestling fans something to watch and experience. What the event does for the sport of wrestling Neither Smith nor Brands could recall an event
their programs partook in, more paramount than a setting like Bout at the Ballpark. Sean Decker, president of REV Entertainment, the company in charge of the match, anticipates an attendance exceeding 20,000 people. “I think when you create these opportunities, it creates interest in your own communities,” Smith said. The growth and increase in events like Bout at the Ballpark or Grapple on the Gridiron, an event held at Iowa’s football stadium in 2015, shows an increase in popularity for the sport of wrestling. Both head coaches said they believe holding events like this solidifies the notion college wrestling is reaching its peak. “I think we’re in the best time in college wrestling history right now,” Smith said. “I don’t think there’s ever been a better time. You have these old timers saying what it used to be like you know. Well, (we are) at the best time of college wrestling ever.”
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