Cowboy Wrestling Heads to Big Apple for NCAAs

WR Notes - NCAA Championships

The Basics
No. 2 Oklahoma State wrestling makes its way to New York City this weekend in search of its 35th NCAA title. The Pokes are one of only three teams taking a full squad to the Big Apple, with Nebraska and Rutgers joining them. The qualifying Cowboys include eight seeded wrestlers with two No. 1 seeds in Dean Heil (141) and Alex Dieringer (165). Set to take place in historic Madison Square Garden, the NCAA Championships will run from March 17-19.

Live Stats And Play-by-Play
Fans can follow the action online through live results and play-by-play on www.trackwrestling.com. Simply go to the site and the link to live results and play-by-play will be prominently displayed.

Watch the Duals Live
Every match of the NCAA Championships will be available live on ESPN3. The first, second, third and medal rounds will be available on ESPNU with the semifinals and finals in prime time on ESPN.

Listen to the Duals Live
Fans can listen to all of the sessions of the tournament live on 93.7 KSPI-FM or okstate.com with Rex Holt and Roger Moore on the call.

100 Years of Greatness
Oklahoma State wrestling is celebrating 100 years of history this season. The Cowboys, then known as the Oklahoma A&M Tigers and led by A.M. Colville, wrestled their first match in 1915 against the University of Texas. It was a rough start for OSU as it fell to the Longhorns in its lone dual of the season. But the Cowboys pulled through and went on to win 34 NCAA team championships (the most by any school in any sport), 139 individual champions and 444 All-Americans. Overall, the Cowboys hold an incredibly impressive 1,079-125-23 overall record.

John Smith Wraps 25th Year as OSU Head Coach
Not only did John Smith leave his legacy on Oklahoma State wrestling as a competitor, Smith continues to do so as he wraps his 25th year as the head coach of the Cowboy wrestling team. In 1992, John Smith, along with Kenny Monday, took over as co-head coaches for the squad, and Smith took over on his own in 1993. Since taking over, Smith has led his squad to five NCAA team championships and 18 conference championships. He leads all active coaches in NCAA champions coached (29), and has also seen his wrestlers earn All-American honors 111 times. He is the Cowboys' winningest coach with a 384-59-6 record to wrap up his 25th season.

Dual Season Wrap-Up
Oklahoma State finished the season with a 13-3 overall record and a 6-0 mark in conference competition. The Cowboys had arguably the toughest schedule in the country, taking on four teams that finished the season in the top six. The Pokes started slow with a 2-2 record but rattled off 11-straight wins to earn a spot in the NWCA National Duals finals against Penn State. After falling to the Nittany Lions, the Cowboys finished 7-2 on the road. This year's record marks the third-consecutive year with only one loss at home, going 7-1. The Cowboys wrestling program improves to 474-39-6 all-time record at Gallagher-Iba Arena. In all, OSU notched nine wins over top-25 opponents this season.

In the Polls
Oklahoma State stays put at No. 2 in the Intermat tournament rankings. The Pokes finished the dual season at No. 5 in the USA Today/NWCA/Division I Coaches Poll.

The Cowboys are the top-ranked team from the Big 12 in both the USA Today/NWCA/Division I Coaches Poll and the Intermat rankings. Two other Big 12 teams enjoy spots in the top 25 of the tournament rankings with OU sitting at No. 13 and Big 12 newcomer South Dakota State tied at No. 23 with Arizona State and Northwestern.

All ten of the Cowboys' starters are ranked among the top 20 in the nation at their respective weight classes in at least one poll, including a No. 1 rankings in all four polls for two-time national champion Alex Dieringer (165) and 2015 All-American Dean Heil (141). Five other Pokes are ranked in the top-10 in at least one poll: Eddie Klimara (125), Joe Smith (157), Chandler Rogers (174), Nolan Boyd (184) and Austin Marsden (285).

John Smith at the NCAA Tournament
John Smith has led the Cowboys to five NCAA titles and has coached 29 NCAA individual champions and 111 All-Americans since taking over the program in 1991-92.

His 29 NCAA champions leads all active coaches and his 111 All-Americans ranks second to Minnesota's J Robinson, who has coached five more years than Smith.

Cowboys at the NCAA Tournament
The Oklahoma State wrestling program boasts 34 NCAA titles all-time, making it the winningest program in all of college sports.
Cowboy wrestlers have combined to win 139 NCAA individual titles and 444 All-America honors through the years, far surpassing the second-place totals held by Iowa (81 champions and 313 All-Americans).

Cowboys Return Four All-Americans
Two-time NCAA Champion and top-seeded Alex Dieringer is joined by three other All-Americans, going into this season's NCAA tournament.

Sophomore Dean Heil earned the honor after shaking up the 141-pound bracket in 2015, when he entered the tournament seeded 14th and produced a fourth-place finish. Also earning his first All-America honor last season was Eddie Klimara, who finished seventh at 125 pounds.

Austin Marsden, who received All-America honors in 2014, returns for his final NCAA tournament as the No. 4 seed at 285 pounds.

2015 NCAA Championships Standings (Top 10)
1. Ohio State - 102.0 points
2. Iowa - 84.0 points
3. Edinboro - 75.5 points
4. Missouri - 73.5 points
5. Cornell - 71.5 points
6. Penn State - 67.5 points
7. Oklahoma State - 65.0 points
8. Minnesota - 59.5 points
9. Nebraska - 59.0
10. Virginia Tech - 56.0 points

Dieringer Wins Fourth Big 12 Title
Alex Dieringer became only the seventh Cowboy wrestler to earn four individual conference titles last weekend as he defeated second-seeded and 10th-ranked Tanner Weatherman of Iowa State in the 165-pound finals, 4-2.

His historical Big 12 career began in 2013, when Dieringer defeated Matt Lester of Oklahoma with a dominating 11-3 major decision for his first Big 12 crown. His second title came when he handily defeated No. 19 Justin DeAngelis of OU, 8-3. Last season, Dieringer snagged his third Big 12 title, shutting down No. 2 Mike Moreno of Iowa State, 14-4.

The only other Cowboys to have done this were Steve Barrett (1974-77), LeeRoy Smith (1977-80), Pat Smith (1990-92, 94), Johnny Thompson (2001-04), Jordan Oliver (2010-13), and most recently Chris Perry (2011-14).

Dieringer Undefeated and On a Roll
Two-time NCAA champion Alex Dieringer is in the midst of a 77-match win streak, dating back to January 2014. Last season he compiled a perfect 33-0 overall record and currently holds a 28-0 mark in 2015-16. Dieringer sits at third all-time for unbeaten streaks in program history. In addition to his impressive career, Dieringer is also the top guy to beat, entering the NCAA tournament as the No. 1 seed for the second year in a row. He has also not been taken down all season.

Welcome to the 100 Club, Cowboys
Senior Eddie Klimara joined the Oklahoma State 100-Win Club on Valentine's Day with his win over No. 15 Connor Schram of Stanford in an exciting overtime bout. Klimara holds a 103-37 career record. He is the second current Cowboy to join the club as Alex Dieringer closed out his junior campaign with his 100th win.
The third current Cowboy to join the club was Austin Marsden, who notched his 100th win a week later on Senior Day, defeating Cory Daniel of North Carolina in his final match in Gallagher-Iba Arena. The Cowboy senior holds a 104-19 overall record.

Champs in the Classroom
The Big 12 Conference announced five Oklahoma State wrestlers to the 2016 Academic All-Big 12 first team this week.   OSU's first-team honorees include Nolan Boyd, Anthony Collica, Gary Wayne Harding, Dean Heil and Preston Weigel. This was the second-straight first-team selection for Collica and Heil.

NWCA National Duals
After an 11-match win streak and rising to No. 3 in the USA Today/NWCA Division I Coaches Poll, Oklahoma State's wrestling team was selected by the NWCA to compete against No. 1 Penn State in the championship match of the NWCA Bowl Dual Series on Feb. 21.
The Cowboys, suffering from injuries, brought a depleted lineup to State College, Pa., and suffered a 29-18 loss to the top-ranked Nittany Lions, finishing 13-3 on the season.

The Bowl Dual Series featured the top-eight Big Ten programs each hosting a non-Big Ten school in a weekend of dual competition.

Good Ride, Cowboys
Oklahoma State wrestling honored three senior Cowboys prior to the dual against North Carolina.

Alex Dieringer, a native of Port Washington, Wisc., is a two-time NCAA champion and three-time Big 12 champion, competing at 157 and 165 pounds. He has written himself into the history books, holding the fifth-best win streak, fifth-best win percentage and seventh-best win record in program history. The Cowboy has spent the last two years as the top-ranked wrestler in his weight class and is favored for a third national championship. He has compiled a 123-4 overall record with 94 bonus points. Dieringer has also amassed more than 60 dual wins in his incredible career as a Cowboy.

Eddie Klimara hails from Joliet, Ill., and has been a crucial part of the Cowboy Wrestling squad, competing at 125 pounds. Boasting a 102-38 career record, the Cowboy is a 2015 All-American and a two-time Big 12 Champion. During his time as a Cowboy, he has won 43 duals for the Cowboys and earned 49 bonus-point wins.

Also coming to the squad from Illinois, Austin Marsden has been one of the most successful heavyweights for the Pokes. He sits at 103-19 overall. The Crystal Lake, Ill., native earned All-American status in 2014 and is a two-time Big 12 champion. He has also been ranked in the top-five all season.

Last Time Out - Big 12 Finals
On March 5, the Cowboy Wrestling program clinched its 50th conference title before day one of the Big 12 Championships had concluded. It was also the 300th conference title in OSU history. The Pokes finished the tournament with nine Big 12 finalists, seven Big 12 champs and a record-breaking 161 team points. It was the fourth-straight Big 12 title for OSU and second-consecutive year of seven Big 12 champs.

Big 12 Championships – Finals
March 6, 2016 :: Sprint Center (Kansas City, Mo.)

125: No. 1 Ryan Milhoff (OU) dec. No. 2 Eddie Klimara (OSU), 5-4 TB1
141: No. 1 Dean Heil (OSU) dec. No. 3 Seth Gross (SDSU), 5-3
149: No. 1 Anthony Collica (OSU) MD No. 3 Davion Jeffries (OU), 11-3
157: No. 2 Joe Smith (OSU) dec. No. 1 Cody Pack (SDSU), 8-4
165: No. 1 Alex Dieringer (OSU) dec. No. 2 Tanner Weatherman (ISU), 4-2
174: No. 3 Lelund Weatherspoon (ISU) dec. No. 1 Chandler Rogers (OSU), 8-5
184: No. 2 Nolan Boyd (OSU) dec. No. 1 Hayden Zillmer (NDSU), 8-7
197: No. 5 Preston Weigel (OSU) dec. No. 2 Nate Rotert (SDSU), 4-3
285: No. 1 Austin Marsden (OSU) dec. No. 3 Tanner Harms (WYO), 6-3

Another Redshirt Pulled
Cowboy Wrestling coach John Smith has pulled three true freshmen from their redshirts so far this season. Most recently, his son Joe made his varsity debut in the dual against West Virginia. Smith also pulled freshman Andrew Marsden's redshirt on Jan. 1 as Marsden competed as an attached member of the Oklahoma State team at the Southern Scuffle. The Illinois native went 1-2 at the event. Earlier this season, Smith pulled Kaid Brock's redshirt in the dual versus Oklahoma. Brock won his first match in the lineup for the Cowboys with a 42-second fall over OU's defending national champion and No. 2-ranked Cody Brewer.

OSU Statistical Leaders
Overall Wins:                             30, Joe Smith
Dual Wins:                                 16, Alex Dieringer
Ranked Wins:                            10, Alex Dieringer
Bonus Point Wins:                      24, Alex Dieringer
Wins by Fall:                             12, Chandler Rogers
Wins by Technical Fall:               7, Alex Dieringer and Eddie Klimara
Wins by Major Decision:             7, Nolan Body, Alex Dieringer and Joe Smith
Dual Takedowns:                        47, Alex Dieringer
Dual Nearfalls:                           16, Austin Marsden

Four Cowboys Qualify for Olympic Trials
Eight former Cowboys competed at the US Open last month, which served as a qualifying tournament for the 2016 Olympic Trials. Four Pokes earned top-seven finishes, securing them a spot for the Trials. Chris Perry, a two-time NCAA champion, took second at 74 kilograms. Also qualifying is 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Coleman Scott (57 kg), Tyler Caldwell (86 kg) and Clayton Foster (86 kg).

Historical Grapple on the Gridiron
Oklahoma State opened the season with a trip to Iowa City to take on the then-No.4 Hawkeyes in a dual that was tabbed as the Grapple on the Gridiron, which marked the first time in NCAA history two wrestling programs competed outside at a Division I football stadium. The dual shattered the NCAA dual attendance record, previously held by Penn State (15,996 vs. Pitt in 2013), with 42,287 tickets sold.

Crutchmer, Heil Compete at NWCA All-Star Classic
Returning All-Americans Kyle Crutchmer and Dean Heil were selected to compete in the NWCA All-Star Classic, which was held on Nov. 1 in Atlanta at Georgia Tech University.

Heil fell in the final seconds of a tight, high-scoring bout against 133-pound 2015 NCAA champion Cody Brewer, 13-12.

Crutchmer also fell in a close one, 2-1 to Zach Epperly of Virginia at 174 pounds.

Alex Dieringer was also invited to compete, but was not able to make it to the competition.

All in the Family
This season's squad features four sets of brothers and a father-son combo.

Hailing from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Brian and Kyle Crutchmer are both juniors for the Pokes. Kyle is a 174-pound starter, Big 12 Champion and NCAA All-American. Brian is a letterwinner at 133 pounds, who has made five starts. Andrew and Austin Marsden came to OSU from Illinois. Austin, a senior, is the Cowboys' starting heavyweight, who has won two Big 12 titles and was a 2014 All-American. Andrew is a freshman this season. Dalton and Tristan Moran are originally from Arizona. Dalton transferred to OSU last season from South Dakota State, Tristan is a freshman this year. The Rogers brothers, Chandler and Jordan, round out the group of brothers. Both are fighting for starting spots at 174 pounds and 184 pounds, respectively.

Coach John Smith and son Joe, who is a freshman for the Pokes, make up an exciting father-son duo. Under his father's direction, Joe is 30-3 on the season.

Signing Day Recap
In mid-November, John Smith announced the signing of three wrestlers during the 2015 early signing period. Signing with the Pokes are Wyatt Sheets of Oklahoma, Keegan Moore of Minnesota and Ethan Andersen of Iowa.

Son of OSU great Mike Sheets, Wyatt is a three-time state champion for Stillwell High School. Moore, a senior at Jackson County High School, is a two-time state champion and a 2014 Cadet National champion. Ethan Andersen is a two-time state champion for Southeast Polk High School and a 2014 FILA Cadet World team in Greco-Roman.

Big 12 Expansion
This year the Big 12 conference has added six new affiliate members for wrestling, bringing the conference to a total of 10 teams. Joining the Big 12 is Air Force, North Dakota State, Northern Colorado, South Dakota State, Utah Valley and Wyoming.
With the addition of the new members, the Big 12 Championships will now serve as a qualifying tournament for the 2016 NCAA Championships.

NCAA Implements New Rules
The NCAA implemented several new rules for the 2015-16 season. Below are a few:
• Awarding two points for a near fall if the referee reaches a two-count. Four points would be awarded if the referee reaches a four-count.
• When wrestlers interlock fingers in the neutral position, the referee will stop the action and call it stalemate, and any subsequent offenses would require the referee to call stalling on the wrestler who initiates the interlocking.
• When wrestling is stopped in the neutral standing position for going out of bounds, the referee can make one of the three following calls:
            • Stalling on one or both wrestlers for leaving the wrestling area.
            • Stalling for pushing or pulling the opponent out of bounds.
            • Wrestling action is taking place.

Follow Cowboy Wrestling
Stay up to date with the Oklahoma State wrestling team on the following social media:
            Twitter: @CowboyWrestling
            Facebook: facebook.com/cowboywrestling
            Instagram: @CowboyWrestling
            Snapchat: OSUathletics
            YouTube: youtube.com/osuathletics

ASICS All-Americans Live Here
There are three different wrestlers on this year's Oklahoma State roster who were ASICS first-team All-Americans during their prep days:

Jordan Rogers                2012
Chance Marsteller          2014
Nick Piccininni               2014 and 2015

Fargo Champs, Too
There are four different wrestlers on this year's Oklahoma State wrestling roster who won titles at the ASICS Junior Freestyle National Championships in Fargo, N.D., during their prep days:
Alex Dieringer    2011
Jordan Rogers    2011
Anthony Collica 2012 and 2013
Joe Smith          2015

Coached by the Best
Members of the Oklahoma State wrestling staff combine for six world championships and two Olympic gold medals.
They also combine for six NCAA championships and 10 All-America honors. The breakdown:

Olympic Medalists
John Smith        1988 and 1992 Gold

Senior World Championships Medalists
John Smith        1987, 1989, 1990 and 1991 Gold

NCAA Individual Championships
John Smith        1987, 1988
Eric Guerrero     1997, 1998, 1999
Zack Esposito    2005

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Nolan Boyd

Kaid Brock

Anthony Collica

Kyle Crutchmer

Alex Dieringer

Gary Wayne Harding

Dean Heil

Eddie Klimara

Andrew Marsden

Austin Marsden

Chance Marsteller

Tristan Moran

Nick Piccininni

Chandler Rogers

Jordan Rogers

Joe Smith

Preston Weigel

Oklahoma State University Athletics