(STILLWATER, Oklahoma / February 8, 2019) – The No. 2 Oklahoma State wrestling team improved to 13-0 Friday night, shutting out Air Force, 39-0, to wrap up a four-dual home stand at Gallagher-Iba Arena.

OSU finished with six bonus point victories as the Cowboys won all 10 bouts and scored 35 total takedowns while surrendering just four.

The win marked the ninth time in John Smith’s career the Cowboys have won their first 13 duals of a season, and the 15th time it’s been accomplished in program history. It was also the second shutout for the Cowboys this season.

“It was good,” Smith said. “We kind of looked like we didn't know what we were doing on the bottom when the leg came in. ... It’s something that we need to work on, but I feel good.”

In addition to a dominant team performance, Friday’s dual also marked the return of Chandler Rogers, who had missed more than a month of action due to injury, and Preston Weigel, who had missed nearly two months.

Both wrestlers made the most of their comeback performances as Rogers kicked off the dual with a 6-4 decision at 165 pounds that was sealed by a third-period takedown, and Weigel came away with a 2-0 decision at 197 pounds over Anthony McLaughlin, who entered with the best record on the Air Force team at 10-1.

“I felt good,” Weigel said. “I think from here I'll just keep on climbing, but just to get that first match out of the way you know, it was fun. I think my conditioning is good. I didn't take any breaks while I was off. I kept training. You have to. You can't just give up. I swear it's just made me stronger and it drives me to get back.”

Friday night also marked the career dual debut for Cowboy freshman Christian Bahl, who won over Air Force’s Randy Meneweather II, 4-3.

Heavyweight Derek White made the biggest contribution to the team total, pinning Kayne Hutchison in 6:20 to mark his seventh fall of the season and team-high fourth dual fall this year.  

Daton Fix and Wyatt Sheets added technical falls at 133 pounds and 157 pounds, respectively, while Jacobe Smith, Kaid Brock and Kaden Gfeller won major decisions at 184, 141 and 149 pounds.

125 pounder Nick Piccininni nearly added another major decision, but came away with a 13-6 win to maintain his unbeaten record at 25-0.

Oklahoma State returns to action Feb. 16 as it wraps up its regular season road schedule at Missouri. Following that, the Cowboys host Iowa in the regular season finale at Gallagher-Iba Arena on Feb. 24. Wins in each of the remaining two duals would give Oklahoma State its 46th undefeated season in program history and its first since 2004-05 season. It would also mark the seventh perfect dual season with Coach Smith at the helm.

No. 2 Oklahoma State 39, Air Force 0
Attendance: 3,760
Feb. 8, 2019 | Gallagher-Iba Arena | Stillwater, Okla.            

165: No. 10 Chandler Rogers (OSU) dec. Jacoby Ward (AF), 6-4

174: Christian Bahl (OSU) dec. Randy Meneweather II (AF), 4-3

184: No. 8 Jacobe Smith (OSU) MD Jacob Thompson (AF), 14-3 

197: Preston Weigel (OSU) dec. Anthony McLaughlin (AF), 2-0

285: No. 2 Derek White (OSU) fall Kayne Hutchison (AF), 6:20

125: No. 4 Nick Piccininni (OSU) dec. Sidney Flores (AF), 13-6

133: No. 2 Daton Fix (OSU) TF Anthony DeCesare (AF), 18-2, 3:47

141: No. 14 Kaid Brock (OSU) MD Garrett O`Shea (AF), 15-2

149: No. 5 Kaden Gfeller (OSU) MD Alec Opsal (AF), 12-3

157: Wyatt Sheets (OSU) TF Alex Mossing (AF), 18-3, 7:00