(STILLWATER, Oklahoma / December 10, 2018) – The Oklahoma State wrestling team recorded its largest Bedlam margin of victory in 26 years Sunday in a 41-2 drubbing of Oklahoma, headlined with three pins from Nick Piccininni (125), Chandler Rogers (165) and Derek White (HWT).
“Being from the East Coast, I didn't get to experience Bedlam, but it's a whole different ballgame when you get to experience it,” Piccininni said. “I love it. I learned to love it. This is something that as we get older we'll always look back and remember and reflect on, the Bedlam matches. And to go out and dominate, it makes it even sweeter."
The dual also marked the 50th Bedlam win of John Smith’s career and pushed the all-time series record to 141-27-10.
“You appreciate the wins,” Smith said. “It is a dual meet we take seriously. I have had teams that have gone in where we thought we would win 6,7 or 8 matches, and it didn't end up that way. We take it seriously, and our guys love it. They respect the fact that it is a meet they expect to win.”
The Cowboys’ first fall of the afternoon came at 125 pounds when No. 4 Piccininni pinned OU’s Zach Atencio in 56 seconds. Rogers collected his in 1:53 over the Sooners’ Jeremy Thomas, following two first-period takedowns. The afternoon heavyweight finale marked White’s first career fall in his final Bedlam dual. He nearly went the distance, but pinned Jake Boyd in 6:18.
“"It was big, it's the way you want to start. Nick had a nice single-leg shot, and he fed right into a cradle,” Smith said. “Nick did a nice job of taking it slow. He has a heck of a grip for a 125 pounder; his grip is phenomenal. He kept that grip and ran him right to his back. I am excited for Nick.”
Also notching bonus-point victories for the Cowboys were Daton Fix at 133 pounds, Jacobe Smith (174), and, in his dual-season debut, Preston Weigel at 197 pounds. Fix scored six takedowns in his match against Anthony Madrigal along with a four-point nearfall to win a 20-5 technical fall. Smith won a major decision over OU’s Anthony Mantanona, 19-6, in which he also collected more than three minutes of riding time. Weigel took the mat for the first time since wrestling in the OU open, winning a first-period technical fall, 16-1, over Ruston Duke. The Cowboy scored two takedowns and four nearfalls in 2:21.
At 141 pounds, redshirt freshman Kaden Gfeller won his third-consecutive dual bout in an 11-6 decision over OU senior Davion Jeffries. Andrew Shomers defeated Justin Thomas, 5-3, and Dakota Geer won a 5-3 major decision over Kayne MacCallum to remain undefeated on the year.
The Cowboys return to the mat Dec. 16, to take on the Bears of Northern Colo., in Greeley just before traveling to Nevada for the Reno Tournament of Champions.
No. 3 Oklahoma State 41, Oklahoma 2
Dec. 9, 2018 | Gallagher-Iba Arena | Stillwater.
125: No. 4 Nick Piccininni (OSU) fall. Zach Atencio (OU), 0:56
133: No. 5 Daton Fix (OSU) TF Anthony Madrigal (OU), 20-5, 6:27
141: No. 16 Dom Demas. (OU) dec. No. 5 Kaid Brock (OSU), 7-6
149: No. 14 Kaden Gfeller (OSU) dec. Davion Jeffries (OU), 11-6
157: No. 19 Andrew Shomers (OSU) dec. Justin Thomas (OU), 5-3
165: No. Chandler Rogers (OSU) fall. Jeremy Thomas (OU), 1:53
174: Jacobe Smith (OSU) MD Anthony Mantanona (OU), 19-6
184: No. 15 Dakota Geer (OSU) dec. Kayne MacCallum (OU), 10-3
197: No. 8 Preston Weigel (OSU) TF Ruston Duke (OU), 16-1, 2:21
285: No. 3 Derek White (OSU) fall. Jake Boyd (OU), 6:18