In the realm of college wrestling, Cael Sanderson of Penn State stands out as one of the most accomplished coaches, having led his team to an impressive 11 titles. However, Oklahoma State University garnered a lot of attention in the 2024–25 season due to its impressive 13-1 record. The team has been expertly guided by David Taylor, a former student of Penn State, who was under the leadership of Sanderson himself.

Upon joining, he expressed a significant dedication to the Cowboys, remarking, “What I realized yesterday (when I first met with the team) was that it looked like family. These kids look like they really care about each other, which is awesome. And we’re gonna keep building on that and moving forward… We want to win national championships at Oklahoma State. We want a team championship at Oklahoma State. We want to stay and win gold medals at Oklahoma State.”

Despite a season marked by victories and strong performances, the Cowboys faced a setback in their final match against the Iowa Hawkeyes, leading to the end of their winning streak. Nonetheless, Taylor’s resolve remains steadfast in the face of that defeat against the Hawkeyes. What comes next on his agenda? The Big 12 Championships are set to kick off this weekend. What insights does he have regarding the upcoming tournament?

“I mean, it would be great. I mean, um, but really, it’s just I want our guys to be able to go and compete, you know, and I’m excited to watch them wrestle. I mean, tournaments are, uh, you know, tournaments are what defines the end of the season in every aspect,” David Taylor stated in an interview featured on Pistols Firing’s YouTube channel. He elaborated, “You know, as a youth wrestler, as a high school wrestler, as a collegiate wrestler, as wrestling the worlds, the Olympics, and tournaments are what you got to win, you know, so I think it’s individually looking for our guys going out and competing, you know?”

The Olympic champion is filled with enthusiasm. Certainly, he has experienced his own journey through the NCAA, and he understands the significance of these tournaments for a wrestler. With him at the helm, leading a group of individuals on the Cowboys’ roster, he is eager to observe their competition and see them secure those titles.

Taylor shared his concluding thoughts on the NCAA season, remarking, “I think we’ve had a really great end of the season training-wise and preparation mindset. Um, just their attitudes and their demeanor, um, so we just got to go out and you know just go out and compete for seven minutes.” What’s his perspective? Momentum!

Indeed, he expects his wrestlers to maintain the relentless effort they have demonstrated all season long. As the Big 12 Championships approach, he urges them to commit themselves as they did throughout the regular season matches. So which OKSU wrestlers should we keep an eye on this season?

David Taylor’s top wrestlers for the Big 12 Championships

Let’s recall the significant triumph of 36-3 that OKSU achieved against Missouri. In the same match, Troy Spratley decisively defeated Gage Walker with a score of 10-1. Certainly, he stands out as a significant contributor for the Cowboys in the 125 lbs category, and supporters will anticipate nothing less than an impressive display from him.

Up next is Cameron Amine. Recall the moment he transitioned from the University of Michigan to OKSU. Well, would you believe it? The gamble paid off! The redshirt senior in the Cowboys has left a notable mark in the 2024-25 wrestling season at 165 lbs. As we approach the 174 lbs category, all eyes will be on Dean Hamiti to see how he performs under the pressure of expectations. He also took an important gamble by transferring to OKSU from the University of Wisconsin, and indeed, for him as well, much like Amine, it has proven to be a successful decision. What about his record?

In this season, he remains undefeated, boasting a record of 19-0 and an impressive bonus rate of 78%. His achievements include 2 pins, 8 technical falls, and 4 major decisions. Dustin Plott’s narrative in the 184 lbs category stands out, highlighted by his impressive record of 15-2. His two defeats? The initial encounter was with Parker Keckeisen from Northern Iowa, followed by a subsequent match against Angelo Ferrari from Iowa. Nonetheless, he remains among the top contenders.

Now, we turn our attention to the final competitor, Wyatt Hendrickson, who will be competing in the 285 lbs category. The formidable heavyweight boasts an impressive record of 18-0, complemented by an astonishing 83% rate of securing bonus-point victories. For each wrestler included in this list, only time will reveal their performance in the Big 12 Championships.