David Taylor and the Oklahoma State University Cowboys had an impressive start to the New Year, opening their 2025 wrestling season with a dominant 43-6 victory over Air Force at the Gallagher-Iba Arena. Bulldozing their way through the night, the Cowboys won all nine of their matches, barring a forfeited match in the 133-pound division. 

Going into their first five matches, OSU won four of the first five matches via technical falls. Displaying some of the breathtaking performances, both Dustin Plott (184) and Dean Hamiti Jr. (174) secured first-period pins. Well, their opening night on the New Year might have been a cakewalk. However, Coach Taylor is pretty much wary of the upcoming challenges. Thus, despite praising his team, Taylor also wanted them to keep their focus intact. 

“Just picking up where we left off before the break,” an elated Taylor said. He further added, “Good to see the guys continue to improve and work on the stuff that we’re working on. Tonight was good for these guys. We’ve had a lot of tough matches, and tonight, we were able to go out, build our leads and score some points.” Surely, it was indeed a night to cherish for the OSU wrestlers. But they must keep in mind the tough schedule that follows. 

OSU next faces NC State and West Virginia on January 12 and 19, respectively. While these will be home games, January 24 and 26 will see them face Northern Iowa and Iowa State in away encounters. And while these are surely some tough ones, OSU also had a setback as their star prospect, Tagen Jamison, incurred an injury. Making contact with Carter Nogle’s head during the game, Jamison had his tooth broken off. 

Praising the fighting spirits of Tagen Jamison, coach David Taylor heaped praises on the star prospect. “Tagen is really tough. We’ve kind of figured that out this year. He just got up and was like, ‘I lost my tooth,’” said the coach. Meanwhile, Taylor and his team would like Jamison to make a speedy recovery. After all, the OSU already had players missing against the Air Force.

David Taylor breaks silence on OSU lineup absences amid dominant victory over Air Force

David Taylor’s squad opened their 2025 wrestling season with a commanding 43-6 victory over the Air Force Falcons, yet the spotlight wasn’t solely on their stellar performance. Instead, much of the post-match buzz revolved around the absence of four key wrestlers from the Cowboys’ lineup. And head coach David Taylor addressed the issue with both clarity and long-term strategy in mind.

After the win, Taylor emphasized the need to prioritize his athletes’ health, particularly in the early stages of a grueling season. “This is a time when people get sick over the holidays. This is one of those matches where you’re thinking of the long-term of the season,” Taylor explained, reflecting his concerns for his boys. He added, “Get our guys healthy while we can, the best that we can.” His candid remarks also shed light on a calculated approach to managing the team’s roster while still maintaining their unbeaten streak.

Among the missing names, heavyweight Wyatt Hendrickson’s absence carried a unique significance. Having spent four years at the Air Force Academy, the No. 3-ranked wrestler chose to sit out as a gesture of respect toward his former team. Reece Witcraft was out because of a knee injury that he sustained from the 2024 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational performance. Sharing his concern over Witcraft’s injury, coach Taylor stated, “Reece’s knee has been kind of tweaked since Vegas, and he’s been kind of wrestling through it, so I felt like this was a time to get healthy.”

Meanwhile, minor injuries sidelined Carl Hughes (133 pounds) and sixth-ranked Cameron Amine, prompting the Cowboys to turn to younger talent like freshman Colin Young. Young rose to the occasion with a memorable debut, securing an 8-2 win over Air Force’s Andrew Harmon and further solidifying the depth of Taylor’s roster.

While fans celebrated the dominant win, Taylor’s focus is stuck on the bigger picture. With a team poised for another standout season, fans would now count the days to witness the Cowboys’ ability to adapt and succeed despite lineup challenges and secure long-term success.