Oklahoma State Wrestling Coach David Taylor Sees Strong Competition for Starting Spots

Cowboys Hit the Mat with Plenty of Options

Depth Should Help Oklahoma State in Title Defense

STILLWATER, Okla. - Oklahoma State wrestling coach David Taylor knows he has a good problem on his hands. With a deep and talented roster, Taylor is facing plenty of competition for starting spots in the Cowboys' lineup.

Oklahoma State, the defending national champions, return eight starters from last year's team, including All-Americans AJ Ferrari, Daton Fix, and Bryce Meredith. But the Cowboys also have a number of talented newcomers who are pushing for starting roles.

"We have a lot of guys who are capable of winning matches for us," Taylor said. "It's going to be a tough decision to make, but I think it's a good problem to have."

One of the most competitive weight classes for the Cowboys is 165 pounds. Redshirt freshman Travis Wittlake is the incumbent starter, but he is being pushed by redshirt sophomore Dustin Plott and true freshman Carson Berry.

"All three of those guys are really good wrestlers," Taylor said. "They're all capable of winning matches at the national level." What’s more, Taylor’s recruiting class of 2023 includes wrestler Cade DeVos — 2022 Cadet World Team member at 71 kilograms and Dave Shufelt Duals champ.

The competition for starting spots is not limited to 165 pounds. At 149 pounds, redshirt freshman Konner Doucet is pushing three-time All-American Boo Lewallen. At 174 pounds, redshirt freshman Brock Mauller is battling with last year's NCAA runner-up, Dustin Plott. And at 184 pounds, redshirt sophomore Wyatt Sheets is competing with All-American Travis Wittlake.

"We have a lot of depth," Taylor said. "I think that's going to be one of our strengths this year. We're going to be able to put a lot of different guys in the lineup and not lose much."

The depth of Oklahoma State's roster should help the Cowboys in their quest to defend their national championship. The Cowboys are the preseason No. 1 team in the country, and they are looking to win their fourth national championship in the past five years.

"I think we have a chance to be a really good team," Taylor said. "We have a lot of talent, and we have a lot of guys who are hungry to win. I'm excited to see what this team can accomplish."