Grapplers Take Care of South Dakota State, Prepare for Mizzou

Oklahoma State wrestlers started the weekend with a Big 12 win over South Dakota State and wrestle Missouri on Super Bowl Sunday.

(This story originated with Oklahoma State University athletic media relations and was written by Emily Lingenfelter.)

STILLWATER -- The 11th-ranked Oklahoma State wrestling team (9-2 overall, 5-1 Big 12) took nine of 10 bouts from the South Dakota State Jackrabbits in its 17th consecutive dual win inside Gallagher-Iba Arena on Friday evening.

First-ranked Boo Lewallen kept his perfect season intact with a shutout major decision against No. 11 Henry Pohlmeyer, who ended the Cowboy’s season a year ago. After a scoreless first, the Poke escaped in the second and rode out the final period with two four-point turns to seal the 10-0 win.

“I like the way Boo Lewallen broke that match open a little bit in the third period,” coach John Smith said. “He was a little bit slow on his feet and a little bit conservative. Last year, that guy ended his season in November, so maybe he was just a little bit hesitant or concerned about what he does. You just wrestle smart and you wrestle hard, you finish hard. I did like that he broke the match open in the third period.”

Also collecting bonus points for the Cowboys was Nick Piccininni with a 17-1 technical fall against No. 19 Daniel Vega. The senior lit up the scoreboard in the first period, securing two takedowns, a two-point nearfall and four-point nearfall, and put the Cowboys ahead early. The win marked Piccininni’s third win against a ranked opponent this season and seventh technical fall.

Wyatt Sheets nabbed his fifth major decision on the season over Peyton Smith, 11-1, in a bout that featured three third-period takedowns for the Cowboy.

Cowboys Anthony Montalvo and Dakota Geer notched back-to-back bonus-point wins for OSU on the evening, too, both against ranked Jackrabbits. No. 15 Tanner Sloan resigned his match to 11th-ranked Geer due to injury after the first period. Montalvo topped No. 14 Zach Carlson with a takedown in the final seconds in a 3-1 decision.

“I came here to be the man,” Montalvo said. “I see all the guys on my team, and I go in the room every day and see the guys on the wall who are legends of the sport. It's like, you don't go out there hoping to get an upset. I want the fans to think, ‘He's going to go out there and put it on him.’ I want to earn that expectation from the fans and from myself."

A big third period for 133-pounder Reece Witcraft pushed him past Zach Price via decision, 9-4. Dusty Hone followed at 141 pounds and collected a huge takedown with 42 seconds left in the second period and secured a riding time point for a 5-2 victory.

Eighth-ranked Travis Wittlake advanced to 11-0 in dual action earning five takedowns in a 14-6 major decision over South Dakota State’s Tanner Cook. Joe Smith secured his second dual win in a row against Kelby Hawkins, 9-3, Smith tallied three takedowns and two escapes in his second dual appearance this season.

In the final match of the night, Austin Harris fell short to Blake Wolters, 4-3, in a hard-fought bout.

The Cowboys return to the mat at 2 p.m. on Sunday to take on the No. 25 Missouri Tigers in a renewal of a former classic Big 8/Big 12 contest.

No. 11 Oklahoma State 35, South Dakota State 3
Jan. 31, 2020 | Gallagher-Iba | Stillwater, Okla.

Attendance: 2,767
125: No. 4 Nick Piccininni (OSU) TF No. 19 Danny Vega (SDSU) 17-1
133: Reece Witcraft (OSU) dec. Zach Price (SDSU) 9-4

141: Dusty Hone (OSU) dec. Clay Carlson (SDSU) 5-2
149: No. 1 Boo Lewallen (OSU) MD No. 11 Henry Pohlmeyer (SDSU) 10-0
157: Wyatt Sheets (OSU) MD Peyton Smith (SDSU) 11-3
165: No. 8 Travis Wittlake (OSU) MD Tanner Cook (SDSU) 14-6
174: No. 11 Joe Smith (OSU) dec. Kelby Hawkins 9-3
184: Anthony Montalvo (OSU) dec. No. 14 Zach Carlson 3-1
197: No. 11 Dakota Geer (OSU) inj, for. No. 15 Tanner Sloan 3:00

HWT: Blake Wolters (SDSU) dec. Austin Harris (OSU) 4-3