Oklahoma State wrestling: Kaid Brock will likely apply for medical hardship waiver

Oklahoma State redshirt senior Kaid Brock suffered a setback about 10 days ago during his rehabilitation from a torn ACL and meniscus that could cause him to miss the entire 2019-20 season and apply for a medical hardship waiver for a sixth year of eligibility.

Brock sustained the knee injury prior to the season, but there was some believe he could return in time for the postseason, which begins March 7-8 at the Big 12 Championship in Tulsa. The Stillwater native also sustained a season-ending injury as a true freshman at the 2016 Southern Scuffle.

“I’m going to be real careful about what we do,” OSU wrestling coach John Smith told the media Tuesday. “He’s a little bit over four and a half months in, almost five, and normally it’s a six-month process for this injury, so is that going to give him enough time?

“He’s been injured twice, so we have that option to apply for a sixth year. … I’d say right now, I’m probably more leaning toward not bringing him back because of some of the things I’ve seen.”

Brock went 22-9 for the Cowboys last season and became the 43rd member of OSU’s 100-win club. The Stillwater native was a Big 12 tournament finalist at 141 pounds and fell short of earning All-American status for the third time in his career at the NCAA tournament.

With Brock out and redshirt sophomore Daton Fix taking an Olympic redshirt, Reece Witcraft has gone 11-5 as a true freshman at 133 pounds. Dusty Hone (14-4) has filled in for Kaden Gfeller (5-1), who was the Big 12 champion at 149 last season and is dealing with an ankle injury this season, at 141 pounds.