Short-Handed Cowboys Roll Over Air Force 43-6
The Oklahoma State Cowboys wrestled their way to their seventh straight victory of the season on Friday with a dominating performance against Air Force. The Cowboys put together their biggest victory of the season by the team score of 43-6.
The Cowboys put up 43 points without the services of Wyatt Hendrickson, who is currently ranked third in the heavyweight division. Hendrickson transferred from Air Force following a four-year career and decided to sit out the match out of respect for his former teammates.
#OkState heavyweight Wyatt Hendrickson, who opted out of tonight’s dual, addresses the GIA crowd during the intermission.
— Daniel Allen (@danielallen1738) January 4, 2025
He thanks OSU, its fans and the U.S. military for helping him reach where he is in his career. pic.twitter.com/ZdbYi6saj5
“I take a lot of pride still being active duty in the Air Force,” Hendrickson said. “But no worries, I’ll be there supporting the Cowboys and the young men that support this great country.”
He remains an active-duty member of the Air Force and had to receive a waiver to continue competing in wrestling apart from the Air Force Academy.
Despite Hendrickson being on the sidelines, the Cowboys didn’t lose much on Friday night. One of the biggest losses of the night was when Tagen Jamison lost part of his front tooth early on in his match at 141 pounds.
141 l Tagen Jamison tacks on in the third period and beats Carter Nogle by a 20-5 tech fall!#GoPokes pic.twitter.com/bAsEaZeypf
— OSU Cowboy Wrestling (@CowboyWrestling) January 4, 2025
“Tagen is really tough. We have kind of figured that out this year,” said Oklahoma State head coach David Taylor. “He just got up and was like, I lost my tooth.”
Jamison held in the blood for the final 3:40 of the match where he came away with five takedowns and a reversal to seal the technical fall. The Cowboys won all nine matches they competed in despite a forfeited match at 133 pounds. Seven of Oklahoma State’s wins were technical falls or pins.
The Cowboys were without a wrestler at 133 pounds on Friday night. Reece Witcraft had been the starter of late, but he has been nursing a tweaked knee since Vegas. Cameron Amine at 165 was also out with a minor injury and was replaced in the lineup by freshman Colin Young. Young’s debut in the dual lineup resulted in an 8-2 decision over Andrew Harmon.
David Taylor on the win and lineup juggling pic.twitter.com/iHN2HgKlWw
— Scott Wright (@ScottWrightOK) January 4, 2025
“This is a time when people get sick over the holidays,” Taylor said. “This is one of those matches where you’re thinking of the long-term of the season. Get our guys healthy while we can, the best that we can.”
The Cowboys improved to 7-0 and will take on North Caroline State on Jan. 12.
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Taylor Skieens has been an avid sports journalist with the McCurtain Gazette in Idabel, Oklahoma for seven years. He holds the title of Sports Editor for one of the oldest remaining print publications in the state of Oklahoma. Taylor grew up in the small lumber town of Wright City Oklahoma where he played baseball and basketball for the Lumberjax.