Oklahoma State wrestling: Reece Witcraft scores top-10 upset in No. 11 OSU’s 25-7 win at Wyoming

Reece Witcraft scored a top-10 upset in No. 11 Oklahoma State’s 25-7 win against Wyoming in the Cowboy Showdown on Saturday at Arena-Auditorium in Laramie, Wyoming.

Witcraft, a true freshman, slipped out of an arm bar attempt for an escape in the second period by No. 8 Montorie Bridges, but was hit for stalling with about 30 seconds remaining in the third period to send the match to sudden victory. Witcraft then scored a low-level takedown for a 3-1 win at 133 pounds against Bridges, a 2018 All-American and two-time NCAA qualifier.

Witcraft’s win was the second of eight straight victories for OSU (12-2, 7-1 Big 12), which claimed a 37-3 win against Air Force (3-5, 1-4) earlier in the day in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

UW’s (7-9, 3-3) Stephen Buchanan halted OSU’s momentum with an 8-6 win against No. 12 Dakota Geer at 197 then heavyweight Brian Andrews added a 15-0 technical fall against Austin Harris.

Geer escaped to start the third period for a 6-5 lead, but was taken down when he attempted to spin around Buchanan then hit for stalling while on bottom to end Geer’s six-match winning streak.

Harris has lost four straight, including two losses by bonus points against ranked wrestlers.

Fourth-ranked Nick Piccininni at 125 and Dusty Hone at 141 claimed 8-2 decisions against Jake Svihel and Trevor Jeffries, respectively, but weren’t able to finish late takedown attempts to secure a major decision.

At 149, No. 5 Boo Lewallen secured the lone bonus-point win of the dual with a 14-2 major decision against freshman Jacob Greenwood, who was in the lineup for regular starter Jaron Jensen.

Wyatt Sheets, ranked No. 20 at 157, scored a takedown in each period with an escape in the second then rode out the third period for a 6-0 win against Dewey Krueger to give OSU a 16-0 lead at the intermission.

Seventh-ranked Travis Wittlake followed at 165 with four takedowns, but like Piccininni and Hone couldn’t secure a major decision in a 9-5 win against Cole Moody at 165.

At 174, No. 10 Joe Smith scored three takedowns — two in the first with one at the buzzer — and riding time in a 8-2 win against Hayden Hastings in what was suppose to be the marquee match of the dual.

The next match between No. 16 Anthony Montalvo and UW’s Tate Samuelson ended with some controversy. Montalvo escaped in the second and Samuelson did the same in the third to tie it 1-1 then an official hit the UW wrestler for stalling with 17 seconds remaining when he stepped out of bounds to avoid Montalvo’s shot attempt, giving the OSU wrestler a 2-1 win.

UW was deducted a team point for coach misconduct for Mark Branch arguing the call with the officials, which gave the home team minus-1 point before their two victories.

OSU 37, Air Force 3

OSU won the first nine bouts for a 37-3 victory at Air Force to improve to 3-0 in the all-time series.

Seven of OSU’s nine wins had bonus points attached, including three technical falls and four major decisions.

Piccininni, Sheets and Geer each won by tech fall. Hone, Lewallen, Wittlake and Montalvo claimed major decisions.

Air Force heavyweight Kayne Hutchison prevent OSU from getting a shutout with a takedown in the final 10 seconds for a 6-5 win against Cornelius Putnam.

Air Force starters Sidney Flores (125) and Randy Meneweather (165) did not compete.

What’s next

The Cowboys face Bedlam rival Oklahoma at 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16 at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater. The dual will be broadcasted on ESPN2.

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No. 11 Oklahoma State 25, Wyoming 7

125: No. 4 Nick Piccininni (OSU) DEC Jake Svihel (UW), 8-2

133: Reece Witcraft (OSU) DEC No. 8 Montorie Bridges (UW), 3-1 SV1

141: Dusty Hone (OSU) DEC Trevor Jeffries (UW), 8-2

149: No. 5 Boo Lewallen (OSU) MD Jacob Greenwood (UW), 14-2

157: No. 20 Wyatt Sheets (OSU) DEC Dewey Krueger (UW), 6-0

165: No. 7 Travis Wittlake (OSU) DEC Cole Moody (UW), 10-5

174: No. 10 Joe Smith (OSU) DEC Hayden Hastings (UW), 8-2

184: No. 16 Anthony Montalvo (OSU) DEC Tate Samuelson (UW), 2-1

197: Stephen Buchanan (UW) DEC No. 12 Dakota Geer (OSU), 8-6

285: Brian Andrews (UW) TF Austin Harris (OSU), 15-0 in 7:00

*UW deducted one point for coach misconduct

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No. 11 Oklahoma State 37, Air Force 3

125: No. 4 Nick Piccininni (OSU) TF Graham Shore (AF), 18-2 in 5:15

133: Reece Witcraft (OSU) DEC Jared Van Vleet (AF), 11-6

141: Dusty Hone (OSU) MD Lenny Petersen (AF), 13-4

149: No. 5 Boo Lewallen (OSU) MD Dylan Martinez (AF), 16-5

157: No. 20 Wyatt Sheets (OSU) TF Trey Brisker (AF), 19-1 in 6:39

165: No. 7 Travis Wittlake (OSU) MD Vincent Dolce (AF), 17-4

174: No. 10 Joe Smith (OSU) DEC Cody Surratt (AF), 4-1

184: No. 16 Anthony Montalvo (OSU) MD Jake Thompson (AF), 18-5

197: No. 12 Dakota Geer (OSU) TF Casey Jumps (AF), 16-0 in 3:46

285: Kayne Hutchison (AF) DEC Cornelius Putnam (OSU), 6-5