No. 1 Oklahoma State rallies past No. 8 Cornell, 23-19

The top-ranked Oklahoma State wrestling team rallied for a 23-19 win over No. 8 Cornell on Friday night at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater.

Senior Anthony Collica pinned Joey Galasso in 3 minutes, 31 seconds to put the Cowboys up six before returning All-American Joe Smith sealed the win for OSU (5-0) with a major decision over Kyle Simaz in his season debut.

Two highly-anticipated matches kicked off the dual. OSU senior Kyle Crutchmer, ranked No. 4 at 174 pounds, dropped a 3-2 decision to No. 6 Brian Realbuto, a 2015 NCAA finalist. Two-time defending champion Gabe Dean avenged his loss last season to Nolan Boyd with a 14-6 major decision to give the Big Red a 7-0 lead.

No. 5 Preston Weigel (197) scored a takedown with 40 seconds left in the third period for a 3-2 decision over Ben Honis to put the Cowboys on the scoreboard. No. 11 Austin Schafter continued his breakout, perfect season with a 7-3 decision at heavyweight to pull the Cowboys within one.

With the Cowboys rolling and favored in the remaining six matches, Cornell came up with a big stop. Noah Baughman caught No. 9 Nick Piccininni in a non-control pin in the second period to increase Cornell’s lead to 13-6.

But it was just a bump in the road for the Cowboys, who won four of the next five bouts to capture the dual.

Kaid Brock (133), Collica (149), Smith (157) each recorded bonus-point victories while top-ranked Dean Heil (141) settled for a 6-1 decision over Will Koll to tie the team score at 13-13.

Collica pushed the pace early and often with five takedowns and a nearfall in the first period for a 13-4 lead. He continued the pressure in the second before picking up his second bonus-point win this season. Smith sealed the win with a major decision before No. 8 Chandler Rogers was upset by No. 20 Brandon Womack of Cornell with a fall just 1:05 into the match.

The Cowboys are off for Christmas break until the Southern Scuffle on Jan. 2 in Chattanooga, Tenn.

No. 1 Oklahoma State 23, No. 8 Cornell 19

174: No. 6 Brian Realbuto (CU) dec. No. 4 Kyle Crutchmer (OSU) 3-2

184: No. 1 Gabe Dean (CU) MD No. 6 Nolan Boyd (OSU) 14-6

197: No. 5 Preston Weigel (OSU) dec. Ben Honis (CU) 3-2

HWT: No. 11 Austin Schafer (OSU) dec. Craig Scott (CU) 7-3

125: Noah Baughman (CU) fall No. 9 Nick Piccininni (OSU) 4:25

133: No. 5 Kaid Brock (OSU) MD No. 17 Mark Grey (CU) 17-6

141: No. 1 Dean Heil (OSU) dec. Will Koll (CU) 6-1

149: No. 3 Anthony Collica (OSU) fall Joey Galasso (CU) 3:31

157: No. 3 Joe Smith (OSU) MD Kyle Simaz (CU) 15-6

165: No. 20 Brandon Womack (CU) fall No. 8 Chandler Rogers (OSU) 1:05