Opening With Massive Win, David Taylor Opens Up About the Cowboys’ Wrestlers’ Current Situation: ‘Really Hungry’

Let’s rewind to May, when the wrestling world witnessed a new chapter unfold as David Taylor was named the eighth head coach in Oklahoma State history. Fast forward to today, and we’re watching his debut weekend as the leader of the Cowboys. For those anticipating greatness, David Taylor, the Tokyo gold medalist, wasted no time delivering. The David Taylor Era at Oklahoma State began in spectacular fashion on Friday night. The No. 3 Cowboys dominated their season opener on the road, securing a commanding 38-6 victory against Utah Valley at the UCCU Center in Orem, Utah. OSU (1-0, 1-0 Big 12) won eight of 10 bouts, showcasing their strength with six bonus-point wins—four tech falls and two pins.

Utah Valley’s (1-3, 0-1 Big 12) only victories came at 141 pounds, where Cowboys’ backup Kolter Burton fell short, and at 165 pounds, when sixth-ranked Terrell Barraclough edged out fifth-ranked Cam Amine, 5-4 in a thrilling rideout. Reflecting on the victory, Taylor couldn’t help but feel excited. “Tonight was a lot of fun,” he shared. “Utah Valley provided a really good wrestling environment, and our guys got challenged in some unique ways. It’s good to get challenged early so we can figure out how to make some adjustments. I was really happy with the way the guys wrestled.” Now, as the season unfolds, David Taylor reflects on the Cowboys’ hunger for success and what he sees in this talented team.

David Taylor opens up about the Cowboys!

In a recent video shared by Flo Wrestling on X, titled “David Taylor Breaks Down Oklahoma State’s Opening Weekend,” the host asked David Taylor, “What have you seen out of your guys this year?” David responded with insight, saying, “Well. I mean, they’re just, they’re veterans, you know, they’ve been around for a long time. They wrestled in national tournaments and, they bring really good leadership to our team.” He emphasized the wealth of experience in his team, noting how this leadership has been invaluable for the Cowboys’ development.

David Taylor then highlighted the drive his team has, despite their experience, saying, “They haven’t really done what they want to do, so they’re really hungry to get better.” This hunger to improve is what fuels the Cowboys, creating an atmosphere of constant growth. He also mentioned the balance within the lineup, explaining, “Our first-half lineup is younger, and our second-half lineup is pretty veteran, you know. So I think it’s a good balance.”

Finally, David Taylor spoke about the culture he’s aiming to build, one where each wrestler pushes the others to elevate their performance: “Just like yesterday, they led by example. And you know, hopefully as the season goes on, they just continue to have confidence to wrestle that way and just keep pushing each other.” His vision is clear—create a team where everyone competes to score bonus points, fostering a friendly competition that drives the Cowboys forward. So how did the game pan out for the Cowboys?

Taylor leads the Cowboys to a win!

David Taylor’s first dual as head coach of Oklahoma State came with a statement victory, and the energy surrounding his debut was electric. From the very start, the Cowboys were ready to showcase their new talent, particularly from the impressive transfer portal additions. Dean Hamiti, a Wisconsin transfer and two-time All-American, opened the night at 174 pounds, bringing the crowd to its feet with a commanding 20-5 tech fall over Mark Takara, capped off by a powerful takedown. Three matches later, Wyatt Hendrickson, a two-time All-American from Air Force, followed suit with a 24-7 tech fall at heavyweight, dominating after an early slip. Both newcomers immediately proved they were more than capable of living up to the hype.

The dual also saw gritty performances from Troy Spratley and Teague Travis, who showed they weren’t afraid of a challenge. Spratley, trailing 3-0 late in the third period against unranked Bridger Ricks, managed to flip the script in the final seconds, scoring a takedown to win 6-3 with riding time. Travis, in a similar position, fought back from a 1-0 deficit, earning a 5-1 win over Ryker Fullmer with a takedown in the final minute. Though both matches were expected to be less competitive, these comebacks were proof of the offseason growth and resilience that will serve the Cowboys well throughout the season.

In a thrilling main-event match, fifth-ranked Cam Amine and sixth-ranked Terrell Barraclough faced off in a nail-biter that had the Orem crowd roaring. Amine, trailing 2-0 for much of the match, made a late push, tying it up with a takedown in the final seconds. Barraclough answered with an escape, sending the match to sudden victory, and ultimately took the win 5-4 in a rideout. Despite the loss, Amine’s tough fight in a top-10 matchup signaled promising growth and competition that OSU has often lacked in recent seasons. Meanwhile, there was a bit of a mystery around Tagen Jamison not wrestling at 141, but Taylor’s decision to give freshman Kolter Burton a shot paid off with valuable experience, even in a 5-1 loss. It seems the Cowboys are off to a strong start under David Taylor, with a blend of veteran leadership and fresh talent that will make them a force this season.