Big 12 Weekly Recap (12/17/2024)

It was a quieter week for the Big 12 this week with just six duals standing out. There was plenty of action within them, however, starting with the 189th Bedlam in Norman, OK. California Baptist traveled across the country and went 2-0, including a huge upset over ranked conference opponent West Virginia. Iowa State and North Dakota State also squared off in-conference, with the Bison getting some quality wins but Iowa State bonus points getting them separation. 

Notable Results:

Friday (12/13): Full Results

Oklahoma State over Oklahoma (35-3)

133: #19 Reece Witcraft (OKST) Fall #18 Cleveland Belton (OU) (5:42)

141: Tagen Jamison (OKST) Dec. Mosha Schwartz (OU) (8-3)

149: Willie McDougald (OU) Dec. Carter Young (OKST) (TB-1 7-6)

174: Dean Hamiti (OKST) Dec. Gaven Sax (OU) (4-0)

The Cowboys won their 20th straight Bedlam, which matched a series record set by the Cowboys from 1969-1978. They won nine of the ten matches, with the only loss coming in overtime at 149lbs. Reece Witcraft had the highlight of the weekend with a fall. He was down 8-1 heading into the third period and was nearly pinned himself. Witcraft horsed Belton over late and got the fall for the upset. Tagen Jamison navigated a match with a dangerous Schwartz for a solid decision. 

Willie McDougald was the Sooner’s lone win and it was tight. Young scored the only takedown of the match, but McDougald had a reversal. From there the two traded escapes until the third period. McDougald pressured and managed to force enough stalls for a penalty point into overtime where McDougald hung on to win in rideouts. From there it was all Cowboys, with bonus point wins at 165, 184, and 285. 

Saturday (12/14): Full Results

California Baptist over Clarion (32-7)

#9 Northern Iowa over Nebraska-Kearney (35-8)

125: Zach Ourada (UNK) Maj. Kyle Gollhoffer (UNI) (8-0)

Nothing too crazy out of this one, but current 125 starter Gollhoffer lost to returning D2 All-American Zach Ourada. 

Sunday (12/15): Full Results

#1 Penn State over #26 Wyoming (54-0)

#12 Iowa State over North Dakota State (27-12)

133: Osmany Diversent (ISU) Dec. Kyle Burwick (NDSU) (7-3)

157: Cody Chittum (ISU) Fall Gabriel Schumm (NDSU) (5:51)

197: Tayshaun Glover (NDSU) Dec. #22 Christian Carroll (ISU) (8-5)

This was both team's Big 12 opener at Humboldt High School and they were not short on action with a shorthanded Iowa State team. The Cyclones won six matches and saw dual debuts for Osmany Diversent, Carter Fousek, and Manny Rojas. Osmany Diversent is a true freshman to look out for as a 2023 Cuban national champion in freestyle. He got a solid win with two first-period takedowns to beat former qualifier Burwick. 

Cody Chittum made his debut and was down 6-3 in the third period, but hit a big mixer for a fall. With his redshirt now officially pulled, it seems to confirm the expected plan to move Paniro Johnson to 149 and Anthony Echemendia to 141. 

A big upset for the Bison came at 197, where true freshman Tayshaun Glover took out a ranked Christian Carroll. Before this match, Glover had only wrestled at 184 with a 4-2 record. After Carroll had the first takedown, Glover scored two of his own with a counter shot and a great attack plus scrambling to finish on top and stymie Carroll’s great leg pass. 

California Baptist over #20 West Virginia (18-15)

133: Richard Murillo (CBU) Fall Jett Strickenberger (WVU)  (SV 7:41)

141: Eli Griffin (CBU) Dec. #10 Jordan Titus (WVU) (5-0)

149: Paul Kelly (CBU) Dec. Sam Hillegas (WVU) (6-3)

184: Nathan Haas (CBU) Dec. Ian Bush (WVU) (7-2)

The Lancers made waves with a big upset over conference opponent West Virginia. The two teams split matches 5-5, but a wild overtime pin for CBU proved to be the difference. A true freshman, Murillo made his second dual appearance this season here. Strickenberger struck early with two first-period takedowns but Murillo finished the period on top with a takedown of his own. He got another takedown in the second, but between escapes and a riding time point, they went into OT. In OT, Strickenberger got in on good shots but Murillo kept moving and ended up getting the takedown and the pivotal fall. 

That momentum carried into the next weight between Eli Griffin and Jordan Titus. Griffin had the lead with a second-period rideout and an escape, and late in the third Titus went for a big move, but was countered by Griffin for the top-ten upset. While not the Mountaineer’s usual starter in Hillegas, he’s a veteran who has had success before and a tough match for true freshman Paul Kelly. In a unique stat sheet, Kelly gave up the matches only takedown but had two reversals to get the win. CBU is now an impressive 4-2 in duals and 2-0 in conference. 

Upcoming Competitions: 

Air Force: CSU Pueblo (Dec. 17)

Arizona State: AT California Baptist (Jan. 12)

California Baptist: AT Cal Poly (Dec. 19); Reno TOC (Dec. 22)

Iowa State: Collegiate Wrestling Duals (Dec. 21 - Lock Haven, North Carolina, Ohio State)

Missouri: Collegiate Wrestling Duals (Dec. 22 - Binghamton, Little Rock, Penn State)

Northern Colorado: UNC Quad Duals (Dec. 21)

North Dakota State: Knockout Christmas Classic (Dec. 21 - West Virginia, Campbell, Wisconsin)

Northern Iowa: Soldier Salute (Dec. 29)

Oklahoma: Norman Duals (Dec. 21 - Southeast CC, CSU-Bakersfield, Chattanooga)

Oklahoma State: Virginia Tech (Dec. 19)

South Dakota State: Tri-Dual (AT Drexel) Drexel/Pitt/Maryland (Dec. 20)

Utah Valley: Oregon State (Dec. 20)

West Virginia: Knockout Christmas Classic (Dec. 21 - North Dakota State, Campbell, Wisconsin)

Wyoming: Reno TOC (Dec. 22)