Posted on 02/16/2015 4:00:29 AM PST by T-Bird45
STILLWATER — The Oklahoma State wrestling team set the stage — literally — thinking upset over four-time defending national champion Penn State.
After the fifth-ranked Nittany Lions picked up pins in two of the first four matches, the seventh-ranked Cowboys rallied with wins in four of the final six matches to pull off a 21-18 victory.
Fifth-ranked Austin Marsden sealed the outcome with a 4-3 win over Jon Gingrich at 285 pounds.
The action took place with the mat elevated on a stage, providing a unique atmosphere much like the NCAA championship finals, in front of 6,491 fans at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
“(Winning) was a great feeling and having the stage really amped up the whole atmosphere along with having a crowd there backing us up,” Marsden said. “I remember going there last year against Penn State they had a huge crowd. Having them come here and feel our crowd was even better.”
Penn State’s Zack Beitz appeared to give the Nittnay Lions a potential dual-deciding victory with stunning second-period pin of OSU’s fourth-ranked Josh Kindig at 149 pounds.
But the Cowboys immediately responded with an upset of their own in the next match at 157 pounds where No. 18-ranked Anthony Collica defeated eighth-ranked Dylan Alton by technical fall, 24-9.
Top-ranked Alex Dieringer followed with a 14-4 major decision over Garett Hammond to put OSU in front 15-12 with four matches remaining.
Penn State would take two of the next three matches by decision to even the score before Marsden’s decisive win.
“You have to look at (the team) and see what you have,” said OSU coach John Smith. “For what we have, we're wrestling above what we are capable of, and that is what you like to see. We have guys who did some things tonight that I wasn't sure could do it, but they did it. Those are the things you like to see. You like to see your team above what they are capable of wrestling. A lot of times it ends up in a good place at the end.”
PING — PING — PING
How about my Cowboys?? Honestly, it appeared there was not going to be a bright spot this wrestling season and then they pull off this upset. They may yet make some noise in the NCAA tournament.
PSU is obviously red-shirting a lot of talent to set themselves up for another run starting next year. That said, congrats to the Cowboys.
Shouldn't there have been more like twice that?
That number was a full house back before the expansion of GIA. You’re right that it would have been awesome to get a really full house of >13k but the reality is it’s still wrestling and it has a smaller fan base.
Than women's Volleyball?
Your question contains its own answer, aka "begging the question." Also, OSU does not currently field a varsity women's volleyball team. However, it may be coming as the equestrian program is likely to fall victim to cost-cutting at other schools, causing it to lose NCAA status due to a lack of schools participating. Title IX will force OSU to add another women's sport, like volleyball, to stay out of the feds' cross-hairs.
Well they also have almost none of the talent that let them dominate the last few years. Losing two national champs certainly doesn’t help.
You guys done good. Reminds me of the good ole days when your school OSU and my school OU were consistently rated in the top three wrestling school in college.
Graduated from Okie State in ‘61. And, as I recall, 9000+ was routine in Gallagher Hall for major matches.
I guess that means you would have been in the first class to go all 4 years with the school known by its current name -- congrats!! I'm Class of 1978.
A crowd of 9000 in Gallagher Hall would have exceeded its seating capacity by over 2000 people. Not saying it didn't happen, just that it would have been...interesting. I've heard plenty of the "back in the day" stories of the full houses for wrestling matches and I was in the crowd for a few that were well-attended when I was in school.
People were smaller back then.
So cheer up!!
“Cowboys rallied with wins in four of the final six matches to pull off a 21-18 victory.”
I must have missed it. What major network aired it? I
checked and there was no mention of it in the TV guide.
This is a big deal.
Was this a National Duals match?
As Iowa has demonstrated as well as Okie State at Nationals, it isn’t the number of champions but how many continue to wrestle back in the consolations.
I'm kidding!
Not National Duals to my knowledge but I can’t state that for certain.
Your comment about wrestle-backs and consolations are right on point. Less than stellar performances in those brackets are why OKST has not scored well in Nationals in recent years so I’m hoping to see an improvement there this year. OKST was in striking distance last year except for poor showings in those important undercard matches.
You said it.
Wow, FJP walked into that one...LOL!! Good catch!
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