STILLWATER – The Oklahoma State wrestling team is set to host a nationally ranked Lehigh team on Sunday afternoon in Gallagher-Iba Arena.
Dual Details
Date/Times: No. 15 Lehigh – Jan. 23, 2022/ 2 p.m. CT
Location: Gallagher-Iba Arena, Stillwater, Okla.
Watch: Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Listen: Hot 93.7 KSPI-FM
Live Stats: Trackwrestling.com
The Basics
The fourth-ranked Oklahoma State wrestling team (9-0 overall; 4-0 Big 12) hosts No. 15 Lehigh in the second of a five-match home stand. The Cowboys defeated Columbia, 35-6, their last time out on Sunday, Jan. 16. The Mountain Hawks, who are on a four-match win streak, will be the fourth ranked team Oklahoma State has faced this season.
The Series – Lehigh
Oklahoma State holds a 10-2 advantage in the series over Lehigh ahead of Sunday’s dual. The Cowboys won the first eight meetings between the programs, but have split the last four. The Mountain Hawks won the last matchup, 21-20, in 2019 in Stabler Arena, but have never won in Stillwater.
An Oklahoma State Win Would...
• Move the Cowboys to 10-0 overall
• Make the series record 11-2 all time in favor of OSU; move the Pokes to 6-0 in Stillwater
• Mark OSU’s 499th dual win in Gallagher-Iba Arena
• Extend Oklahoma State’s win streak in duals to 20, dating back to last season
Cowboys in the Polls
Oklahoma State’s roster features 10 wrestlers ranked in various polls this week, with seven holding spots inside the top-10. Sophomore 197-pounder AJ Ferrari is the consensus No. 1 wrestler at his weight and is the highest ranked Cowboy, after winning his first individual title at the NCAA Championships in March. Following Ferrari, Daton Fix appears at No. 2 at 133 pounds as the reigning Big 12 champion and national finalist. Also making appearances in the top 10 of their respective weight classes are All-Americans Travis Wittlake and Dakota Geer. Wittlake is as high as No. 5 at 165 pounds in the Intermat rankings, while Geer is ranked seventh at 184 pounds by FloWrestling. 125-pounder Trevor Mastrogiovanni holds down the No. 5 spot, according to FloWrestling, which is the highest ranking of his career. An 8-0 start to the season with four wins over ranked opponents has Dustin Plott (174) into the top-10 of every poll. Wyatt Sheets maintained his spot in the top-10 and is ranked ninth at 157 pounds by WIN Magazine. At 149 pounds, Kaden Gfeller (149) lands as high as No. 14 in Intermat’s rankings, while true freshman Carter Young dropped to No. 22 this week in the 141-pound poll. Heavyweight Luke Surber made his way back into the Intermat poll where he is ranked No. 30.
Dustin His Competition
Cowboy 174-pounder Dustin Plott has gotten off to an impressive start in his sophomore season. He defeated a ranked opponent in each of OSU’s first three duals on his way to an 8-0 record so far. He beat No. 31 Tyler Eischens of Stanford, 7-6, No. 23 Jared Krattiger (MINN), 5-1, and No. 12 Mickey O’Malley (DREX), 6-3. His upset over O’Malley marked the highest ranked win of his young career. He matched that on December 17 when he took down No. 12 Hayden Hastings of Wyoming, 7-2. Beginning the season ranked No. 16 by Intermat, Plott has moved up to No. 8 thus far.
Tune In
Sunday’s match will be streamed on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ with J Carl Guymon and Lee Roy Smith on the call. It can be heard on the radio Sunday afternoon with Rex Holt and Roger Moore on air beginning at 1:30 p.m. CT on Hot 93.7 KSPI-FM. Live stats can be found on Trackwrestling.com.
