Freshmen have big roles down the stretch
STILLWATER — Oklahoma State's experienced core has the talent to maintain the expectations that fill the Cowboy wrestling room.
But if ninth-ranked OSU is going to elevate itself in the national spotlight, coach John Smith must rely on strong contributions from freshmen scattered throughout his lineup.
Three freshmen have become mainstays in the lineup as OSU enters backto-back duals, hosting West Virginia on Friday and Pitt on Saturday, both 7 p.m. matches at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
One of those freshmen, 165-pounder Travis Wittlake, considers such a weekend a big opportunity.
“I haven't wrestled too much in Gallagher, so it's always a treat to wrestle here,” Wittlake said.
He suffered his first loss of the season at the Southern Scuffle on Jan. 2, but picked up victories over a pair of ranked opponents, rising to No. 9 in the weight class. He added a technical fall in last week's home dual against Northern
Colorado.
“I've got to keep that momentum going,” he said. “These next two matches, I've got to wrestle the same way I did, attack it from the start of the match, get takedowns in the first period and try to score points.”
Reece Witcraft, the only true freshman in the regular lineup, has held his own with a 10-4 record at 133 pounds while senior Kaid Brock
works his way back from injury. And at 184, Anthony Montalvo is 11-4 with seven bonus-point wins.
“We need to keep the same energy and the same attitude,” Montalvo said. “Coach Smith preaches attitude, and keeping that back-to-back days in Gallagher, defending.
“We have 10 duals left. That's still a lot of room for me to grow, and I need that.”
That's the approach Smith needs from all of his lineup, but especially the young ones.
“If we're gonna have a successful season, we're gonna have to count
on young people in our lineup,” Smith said. “That's where we are. And for that reason, it
puts a little pressure on `em. If they can rise to the occasion, it's gonna be a good year.”