David Taylor’s OSU stands out as a highly anticipated contender at the Big 12 Championships. What’s the reason behind that? In summary, their current season record stands at 13 wins and 1 loss, with the sole defeat occurring against the Iowa Hawkeyes, concluding with a score of 16-21. Losing to Iowa was undoubtedly a challenging moment for Taylor to come to terms with, marking his inaugural defeat in the role of a college wrestling coach.

What was his reaction to this? “This team has shown resilience all year. We’ll take this experience, learn from it, and come back stronger,” stated the Cowboys coach. Taylor viewed this loss merely as a small hurdle, eagerly anticipating what lies ahead. With eager excitement from the supporters, the Big 12 Championships have at last come to fruition.

Nonetheless, there was some confusion when Justin Basch posted on X, “Oklahoma State’s Tagen Jamison got DQ’d, he’ll be out for the tournament.” Initially, this was quite distressing news for David Taylor’s Cowboys. Jamison certainly stands out as a strong competitor in the 141lbs weight class. This season, he boasts an impressive record of 17 wins and 3 losses, with his only defeats attributed to Jesse Mendez, Cael Happel, and Jacob Frost.

In a recent update regarding the Cowboys at the Big 12, Basch reported, “UPDATE: Belton & Jamison are now both back in and warming up and are in the hole on Mats 3 and 4. Their matches were skipped, and the opposing teams were told they were DQ’d. Decision reversed.”

Misunderstanding? It’s a possibility. With the OKSU wrestlers returning to the mat, anticipation among fans is sure to reach a fever pitch as they prepare to witness the competition unfold. However, what is Taylor looking forward to the most in the Big 12?

David Taylor’s ambition for his wrestlers

At 34 years old, David Taylor boasts a wealth of experience in the world of wrestling. He is an Olympic champion, boasting multiple world championships, NCAA titles, and a plethora of other accolades. When he took the helm at OKSU, succeeding the legendary John Smith, immense expectations were placed upon him. Indeed, boasting an impressive record of 13-1, he has undoubtedly made his mark.

Following the loss to Iowa, he became increasingly determined, particularly regarding the Big 12 Championships, remarking, “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.” Taylor simply seeks to observe his wrestlers in action.

Certainly, every action they take will contribute to their professional journey, and as a mentor, he aims for them to recognize this on the mat. Additionally, he expressed his perspective, saying, “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?”

According to Taylor, the essence of these tournaments—be it the NCAA, the World Championships, or the Olympics—ultimately hinges on individual performances. Indeed, within the NCAA framework, team titles are awarded, yet they are achieved through the hard work and dedication of the wrestlers. The Olympic champion exudes excitement for the tournament, eagerly anticipating the moment he can see his wrestlers compete on the mat.