Six future Oklahoma State wrestlers earn All-American honors at Fargo

Oklahoma State had the most commits earn All-American status at the junior freestyle nationals with six.

But none of them came away with a title at the Fargodome in North Dakota.

Jakason Burks of Nebraska came the closest at 120 pounds with a 17-16 loss to Old Dominion commit Anthony Molton of Illinois. After trailing 6-0 midway through the first period, Burks scored 10 points off three takedowns and two turns to take control of the match. The two traded the lead in a few wild exchanges before Molton scored a go-behind takedown followed by a leg lace for a 17-15 edge. Burks scored a step out in the closing seconds, but Molton held on for the win.

Next up for OSU in the finals was No. 1-ranked Dustin Plott of Tuttle against Iowa commit Abe Assad of Illinois at 182 pounds. Assad took a 1-0 lead when Plott was unable to score while put on the shot clock. Assad added step out points and a takedown before Plott cut the deficit to 5-2 to climb back into the match, but Assad earned another step out and a takedown.

OSU’s six All-Americans earned 30 points, which topped rival Iowa by seven. Assad was joined by 170-pounder Patrick Kennedy as Fargo winners for the Hawkeyes. Nebraska was third with 21 points. Cornell (16) and Big 12 foe South Dakota State (15) rounded out the top five.

OSU, Iowa and Nebraska were the only schools with more than one finalist.

Cornhusker commit Dom Serrano (Colorado) took home the 132-pound title, while Ridge Lovett (Idaho) dropped his title bout at 138 to Cornell’s Josh Saunders (Missouri).

Other OSU All-Americans

The four other future Cowboys that earned All-American status split their placement matches, with 145-pounder Chance McLane (Montana) and 220-pounder Konner Doucet (Commanche, Oklahoma) both dropping their third-place bouts.

McLane, who will be a freshman this year, lost by fall in 5:10 to Manzona Bryant (Ohio) and Doucet fell by technical fall in a mere 1:12 to North Carolina commit Cade Lautt (Kansas).

Doucet dropped his semifinal bout 10-0 to his close friend and No. 2-ranked Braxton Amos, who is undefeated at Fargo. Amos listed OSU in his top five in April. Doucet bounced back with a 4-0 win to reach the third-place match.

McLane will also be competing in Greco-Roman, which starts Thursday.

Freshman Daniel Manibog (Texas) and Luke Surber, a Tuttle teammate of Plott’s, won their fifth- and seventh-place matches by tech fall, respectively. Manibog recorded a 11-0 tech in 1:57 against Cal Poly commit Legend Lamer (Oregon) at 152 pounds and Surber posted a 10-0 win in 1:47 over Bilal Bailey (Illinois).

Medal matches results

Championship

120: Anthony Molton (Illinois) dec. Jakason Burks (Nebraska), 17-16

182: Abe Assad (Illinois) dec. Dustin Plott (Oklahoma), 8-2

Third place

145: Manzona Bryant (Ohio) fall Chance Mclane (Montana), 12-3 - 5:10

220: Cade Lautt (Kansas) tech fall Konner Doucet (Oklahoma), 10-0 1:12

Fifth place

152: Daniel Manibog (Texas) tech fall Legend Lamer (Oregon), 11-0 - 1:57

Seventh place

160: Luke Surber (Oklahoma) tech fall Bilal Bailey (Illinois), 10-0 - 1:47