Recall the remarks made by David Taylor upon his appointment as the head coach for wrestling at Oklahoma State University? “What I realized yesterday (when I first met with the team) was that it looked like family. These kids look like they really care about each other, which is awesome. And we’re gonna keep building on that and moving forward… We want to win national championships at Oklahoma State. We want a team championship at Oklahoma State. We want to stay and win gold medals at Oklahoma State.” Now, that’s commitment!
Taylor was acutely aware that he was stepping into the formidable legacy of John Smith, a challenge that would not come without its difficulties. Additionally, he inked a $6.45 million, six-year contract that runs through March 31, 2030. In his inaugural year, he is poised to earn an impressive $1 million. That’s a significant investment from OKSU, clearly demonstrating their expertise in the field. And would you believe it? Taylor has not let his fans down, even in the Big 12 Championships.
Seth Duckworth reported on X, noting, “Every weight for Oklahoma State has locked in an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament except 133. Reece Witcraft will need an at-large to make the tournament.” This marks a significant milestone for a coach in the inaugural year of his contract. David Taylor is far from inexperienced; he is an Olympic champion with a collection of world championships and NCAA titles to his name. On the mat, the information he is imparting to his students is very evident.
Yet, there remains a single wrestler poised to leave his imprint on the Big 12 Championship. According to Duckworth, Reece Witcraft has yet to secure a breakthrough at the tournament. What’s the reason for that? At 133 lbs, he stands out as the contender for OKSU. At the Big 12 Championships, he faced setbacks, losing two matches on Saturday.
Every weight for Oklahoma State has locked in an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament except 133. Reece Witcraft will need an at-large to make the tournament.
— MatBoy (@Seth_Duckworth) March 9, 2025
The initial match resulted in a 10-6 defeat to Kyle Burwick from Northern Dakota State, followed by a 6-3 loss to Julian Farber of Northern Iowa. Clearly, if Taylor aims to position his entire roster for the NCAA title chase, Witcraft represents the crucial final piece of the puzzle. Ultimately, the true measure of his performance in the upcoming matches of the tournament will unfold with time.
This is a developing report…
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