Oklahoma State wrestling was on a roll this season—or so it seemed. Under the charismatic leadership of Olympic gold medalist David Taylor, the Cowboys looked like they were finally climbing back to the top of college wrestling. Taylor, a legend on the mat and now a coach with big ambitions, brought fresh energy to Stillwater. His influence was undeniable, and fans believed this could be the year the Cowboys reclaimed their dominance.

But then, the latest InterMat NCAA Division I rankings hit the wrestling world like a body slam. Despite their strong start, Oklahoma State failed to secure a top spot in any of the 10 weight classes. For a program with such a rich wrestling history, this was a major reality check. So, what happened? Let’s dig into the rankings and see where it all went wrong.

InterMat rankings expose OSU’s wrestling woes

InterMat’s Week 8 of the season rankings are here, and they brought both clarity and criticism, and the Cowboys didn’t fare well in either department. Here is the top contender from the list, and it’s not looking very good for Oklahoma State as they are lagging behind:ltw1

125 pounds: Matt Ramos of Purdue clinched the top spot, while Oklahoma State’s Troy Spratley grabbed second place with an 11-1 record. Though impressive, it’s clear Spratley still has a way to go to reach the level of Ramos.

133 pounds: The No. 1 ranking went to Ryan Crookham, with Oklahoma State’s Reece Witcraft not even in the top ten as he is sitting at 18th with an 8-2 record. This shows that OSU has room to grow in this weight class.

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Can’t snap your fingers and get ranked #1. All of the OSU wrestlers have improved their ranking since season start....more

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141 pounds: Andrew Alirez of Northern Colorado took the No. 1 spot, while Oklahoma State’s Tagen Jamison came in at No. 4 with a 12-1 record.

149 pounds: Caleb Henson of Virginia Tech was ranked No. 1, while OSU’s Carter Young was ranked No. 14.

157 pounds: Jacori Teemer of Iowa dominated the top spot, with OSU’s Caleb Fish sitting at No. 14. This is another weight class where the Cowboys are not even in the top 10 and need to work hard on it.

165 pounds: Mitchell Mesenbrink of Penn State claimed the No. 1 ranking, while Cameron Amine of Oklahoma State landed at No. 6. While still a solid ranking, Amine will need to improve if he wants to crack the top tier.

174 pounds: In this class, we’ve got Keegan O’Toole from Missouri taking the top spot. And hey, OSU’s Dean Hamiti isn’t too shabby either, landing in 3rd with a solid record of 11 wins and no losses. Impressive, right?

184 pounds: Now, moving on to the next category, Carter Starocci from Penn State is sitting pretty at number one. But let’s not forget about Dustin Plott from Oklahoma State—he’s a little behind at No. 3 with a 9-1 record. Not too bad!

197 pounds: Then we jump to the 197-pound class. AJ Ferrari is really owning it at the top. Meanwhile, OSU’s Luke Surber is ranked eighth.

285 pounds: Finally, in the heavyweight category, Gable Steveson from Minnesota is the one to beat, holding that number-one ranking. And just to keep it interesting, Wyatt Hendrickson from Oklahoma State is at No. 3 with an undefeated record of 11-0. Pretty remarkable stuff!

Although Oklahoma State’s wrestlers are still on the list, this ranking also emphasizes the difficulties the Cowboys face because OSU is still rebuilding. The rankings show how much work still needs to be done as top programs like Purdue and Penn State continue to dominate.

Taylor’s impact is clear, but not enough to overcome the gaps

So, earlier this month, the Cowboys found themselves sitting below Penn State in the college wrestling rankings. Ouch! That’s gotta sting a bit, right? It really shows just how much work they have ahead of them. I mean, let’s be honest—Penn State is pretty much the kingpin in the wrestling scene. Their program is just on fire, dominating nearly every weight class you can think of.

After David Taylor stepped in as head coach, there’s been a breath of fresh air in Stillwater. This former Olympic champ has totally revamped Oklahoma State’s strategy, urging his wrestlers to embrace a more aggressive, high-scoring style. And you know what? Under his guidance, guys like Troy Spratley, Tagen Jamison, and Dean Hamiti have really started to shine. Just look at Hamiti’s recent win over No. 4 Lennox Wolak—it was a huge statement and really hinted at the kind of individual success they could achieve.

Now, the team has been nailing their dual meet scoring—consistently racking up over 30 points—but it hasn’t really translated into individual rankings, you know? Taylor is pretty honest about it all. He sees that there’s a gap, mentioning that Oklahoma State is “still learning” and “growing with these guys.” Even with some early victories, he knows they need more than just a solid team—they really need a superstar who can elevate them to that next level. With Penn State setting the bar so high, the Cowboys have got to close that gap, and fast. Sure, Oklahoma State has talent, but until they find their No. 1 wrestler—the kind of standout who can really change the game for them—they’re going to keep hanging out in the shadows of their rivals. As the season hurtles toward its conclusion, the Cowboys are definitely up against some serious challenges.