2019 Big 12 Wrestling Championships: Oklahoma State awarded 6 top pre-seeds

Oklahoma State received six No. 1 pre-seeds Monday for this weekend’s Big 12 Wrestling Championships at the BOK Center in Tulsa.

The pre-seeds were voted into their positions by the conference’s 12 head coaches and are subject to change. The final seeds will be confirmed during a pre-tournament coaches meeting Friday.

OSU leads the way with six No. 1 seeds: Nick Piccininni (125 pounds), Daton Fix (133), Kaden Gfeller (149), Jacobe Smith (174), Preston Weigel (197) and Derek White (Heavyweight). Despite being the top seed, Fix, Gfeller, Weigel and White all have first-round matches.

Fix vs. Rylee Molitor (South Dakota State)

Gfeller vs. Alec Opsal (Air Force)

Weigel vs. Tyrell Gordon (Northern Iowa)

White vs. Jake Boyd (Oklahoma)

White pinned Boyd in the Dec. 9 Bedlam dual and Gfeller posted a 12-3 major decision over Opsal on Feb. 8. Both matches were at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Fix and Weigel have not wrestled their slated opponents this season.

The Cowboys have two No. 3 seeds in Chandler Rogers (165) and Dakota Geer (184). Wyatt Sheets (157) and Kaid Brock (141) are seeded Nos. 4 and 5 at their respective weights. Brock and Sheets both have first-round bouts:

Brock vs. Aric Williams (South Dakota State)

Sheets vs. Kyler Rea (West Virginia)

Brock and Sheets have not wrestled their scheduled opponents this season.

OSU’s Joe Smith, who was an NCAA All-American at 157 in 2016 and 2017, is not listed for tournament, but that could change since head coach John Smith has until Friday to finalize his lineup.

Iowa State’s Sam Colbray (184), Northern Iowa’s Josh Alber (141), Oklahoma’s Justin Thomas (157) and Wyoming’s Branson Ashworth (165) were also voted No. 1 seeds.

The first three sessions will be broadcasted by FloWrestling, while the championship finals will be telecasted by Fox Sports Regional Networks.

COMPETE PRE-SEEDED BRACKETS

Oklahoma State Pre-Seeds

125: Nick Piccininni (No. 1)

133: Daton Fix (No. 1)

141: Kaid Brock (No. 5)

149: Kaden Gfeller (No. 1)

157: Wyatt Sheets (No. 4)

165: Chandler Rogers (No. 3)

174: Jacobe Smith (No. 1)

184: Dakota Geer (No. 3)

197: Preston Weigel (No. 1)

285: Derek White (No. 1)

Big 12 Championship Schedule

Session 1: 11 a.m., Saturday

Session 2: 5 p.m., Saturday

Session 3: Noon, Sunday

Session 4: 7 p.m., Sunday