Tuesday, January 25, 2022
Breaking down the numbers
Ferrari has yet to allow a takedown Rowdy Baribeau Staff Reporter
Habbie Colen
Illingworth transferring, 12th scholarship player to leave Cowboys this season
Burkhart 23-10. 7: Amount of Cowboys who scored five or less points One of the main reasons Smith was displeased with OSU’s showing against Lehigh was its effort. Smith used the term “minimum” when describing the effort of his wrestlers. Although the Cowboys won four of their seven matches in which they scored five points, Smith stated the team’s aggression was lacking in the dual. “I just think there’s a level of aggression you have to bring to the mat,” Smith said. “You know, you got to be able to get taken down at times because you’re that aggressive.” 10: AJ Ferrari’s match streak of not allowing a takedown Ferrari, the No. 1 197-pound wrestler in the country, has continued his dominance on the mat through ten duals. Ferrari has not allowed a takedown in his matches and handled his opponent, JT Davis, with not much intensity. Ferrari’s sophomore campaign has been impressive as he has only allowed three decision victories, followed by three major decision victories, two technical falls and two pins.
The No. 4 Oklahoma State Cowboys defeated the No. 15 Lehigh Mountain Hawks 26-9 on Sunday at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater. The Cowboys lost three of ten matches, with some surprising finishes and close bouts. Here are some noteworthy statistics on Sunday’s dual. 4:02: The amount of riding time No. 8 Josh Humphreys had on No. 13 Wyatt Sheets Sheets battled a familiar foe in Humphreys, and Sheets could not answer the call. Humphreys had a quick start with two takedowns and proceeded to ride Sheets essentially the entire match. Going into the third period, Humphreys had allotted more than three minutes of riding time and finished with over four minutes. 10: Number of takedowns scored by Dakota Geer. Post-dual, OSU coach John Smith expressed his displeasure with the team’s intensity and grit. One of the few Cowboy wrestlers Smith lauded was 184-pounder Geer. He had a dominant showing over AJ Burkhart. Geer led 11-6 going into the third period, by that time he already had five takedowns. Geer finished the third period demolishing Burkhart with a simple “catch and release” strategy, with five more takedowns in the third period alone to defeat sports.ed@ocolly.com
Dean Sports Editor
On Monday, Max Olson of The Athletic reported Oklahoma State quarterback Shane Illingworth had entered the NCAA transfer portal. In his two seasons with the Cowboys, Illingworth served as quarterback Spencer Sanders’ backup, starting three games, including playing in his first collegiate game after Sanders left with a high right ankle injury. He would guide the Cowboys to a comeback win against Tulsa, and two more victories against West Virginia and Kansas. Illingworth would start in the 2021 season opener against Missouri State after Sanders was placed in COVID-19 protocols, leading the Cowboys to a 23-16 win. He would also toss passes against Oklahoma in 2020 and Kansas in 2021. Illingworth is the 12th scholarship player to transfer out of OSU following the end of the season, and has three years of eligibility remaining. What changes in the OSU quarterback room? Sanders remains the starter, whether or not Illingworth leaves. Illingworth had cemented himself as the second-string option
Dean Ruhl
at quarterback, but now that spot could be given to redshirt senior Ethan Bullock, who can opt to use his free year of eligibility from COVID. If Bullock opts not to use the extra year, OSU would be left with four quarterbacks on roster. Sanders, Gunnar Gundy — who played several fourth quarter snaps in the Cowboys’ blowout win against Kansas — Peyton Thompson and incoming freshman Garret Rangel. Rangel, a 6-foot-2, 175-pound quarterback who earned a four-star designation from 247Sports, could rise the ranks this spring and elevate himself to second-string on the depth chart. Rangel’s performance, and Bullock’s decision, leaves the pecking order currently unknown. Where could Illingworth end up? Illingworth is a native of Norco, California, and was heavily recruited by schools in the west. Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Oregon State, San Jose
State and Washington State offered Illingworth in high school, and a transition west could be possible for Illingworth. Illingworth, a four-star recruit named the No. 18 prospect in California, could also opt to transfer to a school that didn’t recruit him. In the wild west of the transfer portal, Illingworth could be courted by a plethora of schools interested in him now that weren’t when he was in high school. Illingworth can also withdraw him name from the transfer portal and attempt to return to the Cowboys, but only if OSU wants him to return. NCAA transfer rules do not require OSU to bring players back once they enter the transfer portal.
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Habbie Colen