The Oklahoma State University has attracted significant attention during the 2024-25 NCAA wrestling season. Why so? First of all, the Cowboys saw a huge change in their coaching staff, especially their new head coach, who replaced the retired John Smith. It was a big change after a whopping 32 seasons, so fans did expect big things from the team, and no wonder there were plenty of questions about this decision. So how did it go for the Cowboys?

With every bout on the mat, OSU has emerged as a top contender for the title this year, and David Taylor can’t be too proud of his team. With him as the head coach, the entire coaching scene underwent a significant transformation, and how did the wrestlers respond? While the Cowboys do miss their old stuff, the success that this new set of people has brought them is nothing more than a relief for their wrestling careers. Additionally, this year, the team welcomed a few new faces to the mat, and one of them candidly shared their thoughts on the treatment they received from the coaching team, particularly Taylor.

Simple but impactful statement

The moment David Taylor got into OSU, he completely changed the mindset of the wrestlers. Even though the students performed at their very best, the Olympic champion always wanted them to try anything more than just winning the match. Taylor was open to exploring new move sets and other strategies that could enhance their performance, and he was not afraid to take any risks. While this could have two sides to it, his wrestlers welcomed it and grasped it quickly, establishing a dominant form in the current campaign over other colleges.

Zahid Valencia, who is a transfer from Arizona State University, recently weighed in on his point of view towards the addition of Taylor into the squad, which he revealed to FloWrestling on X, stating, “Um, nothing really new. I mean, I’ve seen him around the Olympic center, how he is and how he holds himself. So, it kind of flowed in nicely just coming in, you know.“ Even though it was a big change for the fans to digest, personally, Valencia wasn’t bothered by this. Being a two-time NCAA champion himself, he has seen Taylor in the big leagues, and he acknowledged his presence.

“I’m…not a big ego, so it’s like, ‘Hey, I would learn, I would take anything,’ and he’s willing to help, so it’s been kind of a smooth transition,“ said Valencia. For him, he is open to change and welcomes feedback from experienced individuals, such as the new coaching staff, who have extensive experience in the sport. Therefore, a significant change such as Taylor’s has proven beneficial for him in wrestling, and he expresses gratitude for the support he received from other coaches such as Jimmy Kennedy, Thomas Gilman, and Tyler Caldwell following his transfer.

Indeed, Valencia is having a great time with the OSU under Taylor’s wing. But did you know that the two competed against one another in several matches? In the last 6 years, the 27-year-old is one of the few wrestlers to have competed against Taylor. The duo had wrestled back in 2022 at the Final X. During their first bout, Taylor won by 4-2 but Valencia was rather competitive in the first period with a score of 2-0. But, coming to the second faceoff, Taylor won by a huge margin, 10-0. And this is how the current coach of Oklahoma State made it to the world team. Talk about the arc these two have had, right from a rival to a student!

Moving on, while the Olympic champion tends to help these students throughout their time on and off the mat, he also gives them serious advice that may sound rude, but in the end, it’s only beneficial for their career.

Wrestling coach’s stern message to the team

Oklahoma State University is completely dominant over other colleges in the current campaign. The squad led by David Taylor has been impactful, and the decision to bring the Olympic champion to the team that the management made is benefiting them a lot. Indeed, the management did not make this particular addition overnight, but it has transformed the team into a contender for the title this year. The 34-year-old is also taking his role seriously and has established a ton of changes in his wrestlers.

During an interview with FloWrestling, Taylor shared a message that he has already delivered to his team, stating, “Yeah, I mean, I think we’re just focus on getting better. I mean, it’s still a long season, and this is a tournament where guys can come in if they’re not focused; they leave banged up.” Sure, the Cowboys are dominant on the mat; but that doesn’t mean they should lose their focus for a while.

He expects them to remain resolute throughout the entire season, striving to surpass their current performance and limit opportunities for the competitors to catch up. Taylor has a ton of wrestling experience, and he knows how a single underwhelming performance might cost them a championship in the long run.