It was a fun time at the Cowboy wrestling reunion last night in Stillwater. Many former OK State wrestlers in attendance plus every member of this year's wrestling team. John had each wrestler introduce himself and state their name and where they were from. Sad to see Boo Lewallen in a large cast and using a scooter to get around. Lee Roy Smith and his wife did a fine job of presenting the 100 years of Cowboy wrestling. Seems like it was only yesterday when I was there for the beginning-JK. It only seems like I was there when I get up in the morning. John reiterated several times during his talk that he feels like this could be our year to return to the top of the heap in wrestling. Lots of enthusiasm. He also mentioned the Iowa match on 11/14 and said that you do not go to a record setting (attendance wise) event and lose. The event broke the attendance record in sales within 45 minutes of opening up ticket sales and latest word is that there have been 29,000 tickets sold.
Cowboy wrestling reunion
- Thread starter oberebo
- Start date
Second wrestling banquet in two nights as I attended the Oklahoma wrestling Hall of fame for induction of new members which included Mark Leen former Shawnee HS wrestling coach who coached Micco and okstatefan. Saw lots of people I had not seen in years and had a good time. I asked John Smith if he was following me around. He reiterated in person the optimism he feels for this year and said we had the people to win this year and now it was up to him and the other coaches to coach this team to victory.
Thanks for the information oberebo. You and Mike T. are bringing great information about the team. Hate Boo broke his ankle. Has John's attitude about his team in the past been more conservative or positive with past teams? I love hearing he is excited but it sure seems like we have three weights with big question marks.
I can say from hearing his remarks and brief interactions with him that he is excited about the whole team.
I can guesstimate what the three weights are that you think there is a big"hole".. In talking with others, including Tognetti who has been to the practices I think one of those three weights in your estimation would be 133. From overall remarks I am hearing, including Tognetti's ,I would say Gary Wayne Harding has improved a lot from last year as he is bigger and stronger and drilling with greater skill. There is no one at his weight that could challenge him in the room from what I hear and that would include Kaid Brock and I was one of those thinking that Brock would come in and challenge immediately. The other weight I know would be considered a "hole"is 197 and I think the jury is still out on this weight. Luke Bean has dropped to 184 which was his true weight all along apparently. That leaves Weigel and Shafer and freshman Andrew Marsden. My personal opinion is that it will be Weigel if he can improve his offense on his feet. He is very good on the mat. Shafer is just not consistent and Andrew they definitely want to redshirt. I would agree that this is the weakest weight on paper but the coaches are working hard to overcome this. The other weight I would guess is 184 and I am going to disagree that this is a weak weight. Nolan improved by a lot last year and beat some highly ranked wrestlers. I think he will make a similar improvement this year particularly since his work ethic is outstanding and he will be pushed to the limit by Bean who was out of his element last year at 197 but is a very talented wrestler. The other seven weights in my opinion are more than solid and outstanding at a few. Eddie Klimara is definitely bigger this year and you can see it even in his street clothes. Dean Heil is a returning All-American and has great talent and should repeat.
The general consensus of what I am hearing is that Anthony Collica looks outstanding and people close to the program say he woefully under-ranked at 149 and should show this in his first match against Sorenson.
Chance Marsteller will be excellent at 157 if the weight issues he had as a true freshman can be controlled.
Alex Dierenger and Kyle Crutchmer enter the year ranked #1. No one is close to Alex. Crutchmer needs more offense to go along with a powerful defense and last year should give him the confidence to turn on the after burners on his feet.
Take that Micco, there is my prediction for 11 AA's this year with 9-10 champions.
LETS GO POKES!!!
I think John generally plays it close to the vest and rarely gets out there and says things like "We're going to Knock their eyes out". I think that was a Jimmy Johnson comment before we went like 3-7 one year.
I do feel like this year could be special. Penn State will be very good as well. Iowa will wrestle us tough, but I see this as our best chance to win it all since the Rosholt, Esposito, and Mocco senior year in 2006.
I do feel like this year could be special. Penn State will be very good as well. Iowa will wrestle us tough, but I see this as our best chance to win it all since the Rosholt, Esposito, and Mocco senior year in 2006.
OSUmatFan, I agree with your post. John always plays it close to the vest and he certainly did not tell me or others what I posted. I do not want anyone to think I have any sort of "in" with the higher powers. However, on the optimism he has expressed both to everyone at the banquet and separately to others I believe it is genuine and you can tell it by his expressions, and the manner it has been delivered. I think he genuinely thinks we have a good chance to win it all this year. I am by far the worst person to get information out of coaches or others in the know as I do not ask questions. Some others I know have no problem asking questions, whether they get the real scoop or not. I am just content to listen and I can also say that unless I am given permission by said coach or others I would not share it on the board Years ago when I began posting I thought everything was fair game and in my lack of discretion I may have stepped on a toe or to in the process. The only thing told me in person was the feeling that this could be our year and of course he told it to everyone at the banquet.
Kaid is a very talented wrestler but he is undersized for 133 right now and his bottom game needs a lot of work. A lot can happen in the next few months and he is working really hard to improves on these area's (still see him RSing). I think at 184 round of 12 worst case, and 197 I have no idea until whoever goes for us show what they can do.
Thanks guys. It is more comfortable knowing what to expect from returning wrestlers but it is exciting to see what can happen with weights that are more open. I know Heil was a highly decorated wrestler in high school but came into his redshirt year with unknown expectations. But obviously continued to improve all year finishing up very strong. That could be said with Crutchmer also. Who will it be this year?
Oberebo, I was at the banquet also as my junior high coach Larry estep was awarded the medal of courage award. I told John that we really needed to win a championship this year. He said they have a chance if the coaches do their job and coach them up. Btw Larry estep only taught the basic moves (double leg, single leg, switch, sit out, standup, bar arm, chicken wing, and half Nelson), but we drilled them tirelessly and several us won state championships with the basics.
Gyppoke, I was inspired by Coach Estep's story. I really believe that just drilling those basic moves over and over again is one of the keys to success. No great wrestler ever won anything without knowing those basic moves and using them over and over again. They become like second nature to you or so I have been told by others since I never wrestled.
