The Oklahoma State Wrestling squad defeated UNI, 22-14, but the real action took place within. Though there was a big margin of difference between the points scored by OSU and that of UNI, head coach David Taylor knows the victory in the dual is just half the battle. With the team always in the pursuit of an upgrade, he pointed out the one wrestler that stood out with the kind of discipline and maturation that will ultimately raise expectations.

But there’s another component to this tale: as head coach at Oklahoma State, Taylor has learned and adjusted equally as much as his athletes have after each match. So, who was the standout, and what does this mean for the Cowboys as they move forward in the season?

David Taylor’s praise for his current favorite and the team’s progress

Immediately after the win, Oklahoma State head coach David Taylor wasted no time in mentioning Caleb Fish as one of the night’s standouts. Disciplined on and off the mat, Fish has been a consistent force for the Cowboys this year. And the win he secured in the UNI dual was simply more of the same, as far as Taylor is concerned.

“I just think he’s doing a lot of really good stuff this year… He’s very disciplined on and off the mat, very coachable, and that was a good opportunity for him to go out tonight and get a good win,” stated David Taylor to FloWrestling after their latest win against Northern Iowa. But Taylor doesn’t stop there with the praises, only for Fish.

As the season has marched on, Taylor has been quick to stress that the principle of gradual improvement in fact applies to every individual within the team. “Every time you wrestle, it’s another opportunity to find some different areas that you’ve got to get better in,” Taylor said. Such a spirit keeps the Cowboys hungry to improve more and more, because the goal always is to get better, even after winning.

Looking ahead, Taylor realizes team building is all about consistency. The real target is the NCAA Championships in March, and he is optimistic this toiling now will set a platform for success later on. “We’re always moving the needle,” explains Taylor, citing the mentality leading Oklahoma State’s top-ranked program.

A hard-won victory and on to the next challenge

There is a quiet confidence about Taylor and his squad, but they are far from being satisfied. The 22-14 win against UNI was just the next step up, and the road goes on. However, Oklahoma State will have to take advantage of an unusually quick turnaround after the dual. With a Sunday away match coming ahead, it’s trying times to keep the edge. “Very proud of the team for the win, but every match is an opportunity,” Taylor said. “This was a really good duel in a great wrestling environment, and the dual has some ups and downs, but that’s why we wrestle these matches,” Taylor said.

As the season progresses, Taylor switches to momentum and never allows the Cowboys an opportunity to lag behind. Quick turnarounds from match to match are enough to ask for improvements, as it proves the serious quest of Oklahoma State to fine-tune every little thing. In the midst of his first season at the helm, Taylor is quickly becoming a ubiquitous presence, not only on the mat but also as a guiding presence in the lives of his athletes. “It’s a blast,” he says of his coaching so far.

“There’s so many different aspects of this job that I enjoy.” Going forward, the emphasis for Taylor is crystal clear: ensuring the Cowboys capitalize on every match to take them closer to their eventual goal while building momentum toward the NCAA season.

As Oklahoma State Wrestling continues to strut its stuff on the mat, one would think that David Taylor’s leadership is a major illuminating factor. With performances such as Caleb Fish’s, among others, this team is committed to constantly bettering themselves so that even in victory, there’s always room for improvement for the Cowboys. The commitment to improvement for his athletes and the team across the board from Taylor means Oklahoma State will be a force in the world of NCAA Wrestling moving into the postseason.