Why Jaydin Eierman transferring to wrestle at Oklahoma State would make sense

Jaydin Eierman won’t be strapping on a Missouri wrestling singlet anymore after he entered the NCAA transfer portal Wednesday.

Eierman, a three-time NCAA All-American at 141 pounds, will have one year of eligibility remaining for the 2020-21 season after taking an Olympic redshirt this season. The Columbia, Missouri native is currently trying to qualify for the 2020 Olympic Trials after competing at the under-23 World Championships.

Eierman said he decided to transfer because he felt stagnant and Missouri’s regional training center isn’t the best in an interview with Mark Bader of FloWrestling. Eierman also stated he has a No. 1 choice for where he wants to transfer to and has talked to the program and “wanted to go there my own life.” He plans to visit the school in the near future.

Could Oklahoma State be that school?

It’s certainly possible as the Cowboys have a few things working for them.

1. John Smith

- The Cowboys head coach is widely considered the greatest of all time with six world-level gold medals to his name in men’s freestyle at 62 kilograms (134 pounds): two Olympics (1988, ’92) and four World Championships (’87, ’89-91). There’s no better coach to learn from than the GOAT for Eierman, who is vying for the 65 kilogram (143 lbs) spot.

Smith also has assistant Zack Esposito, who has coached four wrestlers to win a combined nine NCAA individual titles and was a coach for the title-winning 2018 World Cup team. Smith, of course, can also tout OSU’s history at the Olympics.

2. Daton Fix

- Any wrestler trying to improve needs a training partner to push them. Enter redshirt sophomore Daton Fix, who will also take an Olympic redshirt to pursue the 57 kg (125 lbs) spot after making the senior-level World team and being the NCAA runner up at 133. Eierman and Fix would both benefit from the former Tiger coming to Stillwater as they push for the Tokyo Olympics and 2021 NCAA individual titles.

3. The 2020-21 lineup

- Eierman also needs a spot in a NCAA lineup when he returns for the 2020-21 season, and the Cowboys have two at 141 or 149. His addition to OSU’s lineup would help the Cowboys push for a NCAA team title and help the young Cowboy core grow. Here’s how OSU’s lower weight lineup could look like with Eierman in it for the 2020-21 campaign:

125: Rhett Golowenski OR Jakason Burks (2020 commit)

133: Fix

141: Eierman OR Kaden Gfeller

149: Eierman OR Gfeller

If Eierman is in the lineup that would also allow OSU to redshirt No. 16-ranked 2020 commit Trevor Mastrogiovanni at 133.

4. Connections and proximity

- Eierman grew up in Columbia and wrestled at Mizzou, which is about a 6-hour drive to Stillwater. It’s the not as close as Iowa, Iowa State or Nebraska, but it’s still close enough. Eierman would see a familiar face in Stillwater with 2021 commit Teague Travis, who is a two-time Missouri high school state champion at Tolton, Eierman’s alma mater. Travis is projected to be at 141 or 149 at OSU. Monroe Mills, a 2020 OSU football commit, wrestled for Tolton at heavyweight as well. Iowa, ISU and Nebraska do not have Columbia connections on their respective wrestling teams.

Eierman may have already tipped his hand on social media about his decision being between Iowa, OSU and Virginia Tech based on some recent follows and liked tweets. He followed Iowa wrestling’s official account and Des Moines (Iowa) Register wrestling writer Cody Goodwin; Virginia Tech’s associated head coach Jared Frayer (2012 Olympian at 66kg) and 165-pounder David McFadden; and five OSU wrestlers.

Past: Obe Blanc (North Dakota State assistant coach)

Current: Nick Piccininni, Daton Fix, Boo Lewallen

Future: Teague Travis (2021 commit)