HS Recruiting News

[Wrassler17]

This is the problem Oklahoma kids aren’t having success elsewhere name one in the last 10 years

Montorie Bridges was an AA at Wyoming. I think he was the only one to get on the podium recently. But there could be some others soon.

Picklo has a pretty good chance over the next few years. Cam Steed had an excellent redshirt year. Harley Andrews had a solid first year. Payton Thomas shows a lot of promise too.

 

[blair2000]

Montorie Bridges was an AA at Wyoming. I think he was the only one to get on the podium recently. But there could be some others soon.

Picklo has a pretty good chance over the next few years. Cam Steed had an excellent redshirt year. Harley Andrews had a solid first year. Payton Thomas shows a lot of promise too.

But now you see my point one kid
Montori is the only kid that’s placed in the NCAA tournament. I did forget about him so in 10 years that’s 1 not a good sign.

 

[Wrassler17]

But now you see my point one kid
Montori is the only kid that’s placed in the NCAA tournament. I did forget about him so in 10 years that’s 1 not a good sign.

Ok, but there might be some reasons...

First, OSU got virtually every top 40 in-state recruit during that timeframe. That might be starting to change -- Picklo and Andrews were both top 20. And NIL will make it even tougher to keep top guys.

Second, most of the other in-state recruits went to OU -- a black hole for development. Their new staff might do a better job. Look at what Mizzou has done with Steed so far. Walker will be a better prospect coming out of HS than Allan Hart and Hart made the bloodround twice.

 

[OHkie]

Tanner Skidgel was a two time EIWA champ at 165, he might have a year of eligibility left, maybe he could make 157. I don’t know what his military obligations are though.

 

[Okie_Pat]

Ok, but there might be some reasons...

First, OSU got virtually every top 40 in-state recruit during that timeframe. That might be starting to change -- Picklo and Andrews were both top 20. And NIL will make it even tougher to keep top guys.

Second, most of the other in-state recruits went to OU -- a black hole for development. Their new staff might do a better job. Look at what Mizzou has done with Steed so far. Walker will be a better prospect coming out of HS than Allan Hart and Hart made the bloodround twice.

Oklahoma HS wrestling has started a resurgence with talent the last couple of years and it looks like we have a couple of more classes left with a lot of talent. Because of this we will likely be seeing many more overlooked kids go on to other D1 programs and possibly have success. Before this most recent wave, there were only a couple of OK HS kids coming out a year. And Wrassler is right, we were getting all of them.

Help me here but I’m trying to remember the biggest OK recruiting class in recent times. Was it maybe Kaid Brock or Joe Smith’s class? Not even sure what year that was now. Fix and Gfeller was a nice OK duo as well in 2008 I believe.

 

[Wrassler17]

Help me here but I’m trying to remember the biggest OK recruiting class in recent times. Was it maybe Kaid Brock or Joe Smith’s class? Not even sure what year that was now. Fix and Gfeller was a nice OK duo as well in 2008 I believe.

The 2014 & 2015 classes were pretty good. 2014 was Chandler Rogers (WA native), Jacobe Smith, Derek White, & GWH. That was the year OU got the Dixon triplets.

2015 was Joe, Kaid & Boo. OU got Davion Jeffries & Christian Moody. WV got the Moore twins. ISU got Pup Simmons.

2017 had Daton & G, but Tanner Litterell was also in that class. He suffered a career ending injury while at OU. I remember him pinning Murin at the PWC all star dual.

 

[DEWrestlingFan]

Kevon Davenport is in the transfer portal. I believe he wrestling a year or two at 157. I do not really know much about him. Is he a good option for Okie State at 157?

 

[osu2082]

Kevon Davenport is in the transfer portal. I believe he wrestling a year or two at 157. I do not really know much about him. Is he a good option for Okie State at 157?

Nothing from his results would point to him being an upgrade for us.

 

[birdman1117]

But now you see my point one kid
Montori is the only kid that’s placed in the NCAA tournament. I did forget about him so in 10 years that’s 1 not a good sign.

Bridges was good and exciting to watch but there was no room for him at Oklahoma state we had pic and Brock.

 

[OState Cowboys]

Oklahoma HS wrestling has started a resurgence with talent the last couple of years and it looks like we have a couple of more classes left with a lot of talent. Because of this we will likely be seeing many more overlooked kids go on to other D1 programs and possibly have success. Before this most recent wave, there were only a couple of OK HS kids coming out a year. And Wrassler is right, we were getting all of them.

Help me here but I’m trying to remember the biggest OK recruiting class in recent times. Was it maybe Kaid Brock or Joe Smith’s class? Not even sure what year that was now. Fix and Gfeller was a nice OK duo as well in 2008 I believe.

I refuse to accept that 2002 is not considered “recent times”. Hendricks, Fleenor, Dabbs, Shelton were the nationally ranked Okies that year. Just missed out on Teyon too.

 

[PoOsKuE]

Oklahoma HS wrestling has started a resurgence with talent the last couple of years and it looks like we have a couple of more classes left with a lot of talent. Because of this we will likely be seeing many more overlooked kids go on to other D1 programs and possibly have success. Before this most recent wave, there were only a couple of OK HS kids coming out a year. And Wrassler is right, we were getting all of them.

Help me here but I’m trying to remember the biggest OK recruiting class in recent times. Was it maybe Kaid Brock or Joe Smith’s class? Not even sure what year that was now. Fix and Gfeller was a nice OK duo as well in 2008 I believe.

Daton's been in school for a while but not 15 years.

 

[Wrassler17]

Karson Tomkins (a 195 out of TX) seems like a possible target. Willie has him #73 overall in the 2024 class, but he's been on a pretty good run recently. Won folkstyle nationals, 3rd @ U17s, and just went undefeated in freestyle at junior duals.

Tomkins committed to Air Force. Said they were the first school to contact him. Also has 2 brothers there.

 

[Dobsie]

Tomkins committed to Air Force. Said they were the first school to contact him. Also has 2 brothers there.

Air Force has tried to recruit a lot of Oklahoma kids this past year.

They've been busy in Bixby. They were after Giddens-Buttram before he committed to OU.

 

[leecothran]

If you can get in, it doesn't get much better than a service academy. Full ride. Ivy-adjacent education. If you're a good enough wrestler to compete for world teams, you join the World Class Athlete Program and then get paid to train while also taking classes to rank up and draw more salary. Stay in 10-15 years. Draw a half pension when you retire.

It's incredibly difficult and certainly not for everybody, but for the right guys it is a great deal. Especially if you're good at Greco.

 

[DEWrestlingFan]

If you can get in, it doesn't get much better than a service academy. Full ride. Ivy-adjacent education. If you're a good enough wrestler to compete for world teams, you join the World Class Athlete Program and then get paid to train while also taking classes to rank up and draw more salary. Stay in 10-15 years. Draw a half pension when you retire.

It's incredibly difficult and certainly not for everybody, but for the right guys it is a great deal. Especially if you're good at Greco.

You can not go wrong with joining the military! Happy for this young man!

 

[Wrassler17]

Air Force has tried to recruit a lot of Oklahoma kids this past year.

They've been busy in Bixby. They were after Giddens-Buttram before he committed to OU.

Talon McCollum from Edmond North is also a 2024 commit.

 

[PhantomPete1994]

 

[Chasingthirty-five]

Well that’s disappointing. I guess the lower weights were a little crowded for him? Or is this an NIL thing?

 

[DPJ]

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Not surprising considering we have Spratley and Hughes for the next 4-5 years

 

[leecothran]

Go flip Kiser from Michigan.

 

[Wrassler17]

Well either Spratley or Jordan was going to sit for 2 years.

Kiser is young for his grade, so filling into 125 shouldn't be a problem. Maybe a Joey Dance size comp. Aydan Thomas is also possibility. Might be a 5'9" 125 like Ethan Lizak. Maybe tie guys up in knots.

Should be scholly $ available. Daton & Olejnik come off the books. Plus guys like McLane, Mechler & Birdwell were never replaced. They were probably getting something.

 

[leecothran]

Also opens up some space for McCommas, I reckon. Especially with him having a great showing at Fargo.

It's not ideal to lose Jordan, for sure, but it's not the end of the world with Spratley looking like the answer at 125 for the next four seasons. Get Kiser and maybe you can bump Spratley to 133 and Hughes to 141.

Lower weight depth looking pretty good at the moment. Gotta figure out 57-65.

 

[blair2000]

Well either Spratley or Jordan was going to sit for 2 years.

Kiser is young for his grade, so filling into 125 shouldn't be a problem. Maybe a Joey Dance size comp. Aydan Thomas is also possibility. Might be a 5'9" 125 like Ethan Lizak. Maybe tie guys up in knots.

Should be scholly $ available. Daton & Olejnik come off the books. Plus guys like McLane, Mechler & Birdwell were never replaced. They were probably getting something.

 

[blair2000]

Also opens up some space for McCommas, I reckon. Especially with him having a great showing at Fargo.

It's not ideal to lose Jordan, for sure, but it's not the end of the world with Spratley looking like the answer at 125 for the next four seasons. Get Kiser and maybe you can bump Spratley to 133 and Hughes to 141.

Lower weight depth looking pretty good at the moment. Gotta figure out 57-65.

Spratly Hughes Jamison are going nowhere for the next four years

 

[blair2000]

Well either Spratley or Jordan was going to sit for 2 years.

Kiser is young for his grade, so filling into 125 shouldn't be a problem. Maybe a Joey Dance size comp. Aydan Thomas is also possibility. Might be a 5'9" 125 like Ethan Lizak. Maybe tie guys up in knots.

Should be scholly $ available. Daton & Olejnik come off the books. Plus guys like McLane, Mechler & Birdwell were never replaced. They were probably getting something.

Those three guys you mentioned were all Walkons no money

 

[blair2000]

Well that’s disappointing. I guess the lower weights were a little crowded for him? Or is this an NIL thing?

Nothing to do with NIL. TS

 

[TheJimReaper]

Spratly Hughes Jamison are going nowhere for the next four years

Do you mean they’re not going to be any good or that theyre literally not going anywhere?

 

[Wrassler17]

So if Spratley/Hughes/Jamison are locked in at 125-141, then maybe Young to 149 (after redshirting) and Williams to 157.

In 2026 a possible lineup could be...
- Spratley
- Hughes
- Jamison
- Young
- Williams
- Lockett (true frosh)
- Thompson
- Robb (said he could make 84)
- Merrill
- Carroll

 

[leecothran]

So if Spratley/Hughes/Jamison are locked in at 125-141, then maybe Young to 149 (after redshirting) and Williams to 157.

In 2026 a possible lineup could be...
- Spratley
- Hughes
- Jamison
- Young
- Williams
- Lockett (true frosh)
- Thompson
- Robb (said he could make 84)
- Merrill
- Carroll

I just don't see Carter going up to 149.

 

[Wrassler17]

I just don't see Carter going up to 149.

That could be right. Someone will have to sit for a couple of years though.

 

[lincolnhs]

I would like us to go after JJ McCommas, but that’s just me

 

[Toadvine]

I would like us to go after JJ McCommas, but that’s just me

Absolutely. Great kid and showed his true potential against Jax.

 

[leecothran]

That could be right. Someone will have to sit for a couple of years though.

That should be the goal. Every weight has somebody really good that has to sit.

 

[JAY45]

That should be the goal. Every weight has somebody really good that has to sit.

Is that possible this day and age?

 

[osu2082]

Is that possible this day and age?

Probably not but you still recruit to that goal and then backfill via the portal. This is something we may need to get better prepared for from an NIL standpoint.

 

[leecothran]

Yep the portal will taketh away but it should also giveth. This year is a good example as we undoubtedly added more points than we lost.

NIL won't be an issue. In the podcast episode with the president of the CWC he mentioned that we have competitive funding there.

 

[alex1fly]

I just don't see Carter going up to 149.

Aye. Obv want to respect the kids personal life but does look small even at 141. Of course physical growth still happens in early 20s so it could happen.

 

[osu2082]

Yep the portal will taketh away but it should also giveth. This year is a good example as we undoubtedly added more points than we lost.

NIL won't be an issue. In the podcast episode with the president of the CWC he mentioned that we have competitive funding there.

I don’t know that we have the funds to chase the biggest targets (possibly for the right ones) but we have the funding to be active and add solid wrestlers and guys with points potential at nationals.

The RTC slowly coming together and growing is good news for all Cowboy fans and will really help the transition whenever that day comes.

 

[leecothran]

I don’t know that we have the funds to chase the biggest targets (possibly for the right ones) but we have the funding to be active and add solid wrestlers and guys with points potential at nationals.

The RTC slowly coming together and growing is good news for all Cowboy fans and will really help the transition whenever that day comes.

We do have the funds we just aren't going to blindly spend.

 

[Wrassler17]

Depth is nice, but it doesn't win team titles. PSU can afford to have AA caliber guys on the bench for multiple years. Maybe Iowa too, but most can't.

Practically speaking, we need to field the strongest starting lineup possible. Then hope they stay healthy and get them to peak for nationals. This includes not overtraining.

If both Young & Jamison are 141s, one of them will have to sit for at least 2 years. Possibly 3 years if Sammy Alvarez starts. Does that seem like a good use of resources? Instead we could have passed on Jamison, started Alvarez in '24, Young in '25/'26, & used the Jamison $ on a 157. It would also have set up 141 for Roller (or Zepeda) down the line.