Stanford Vs Oklahoma State (11-13-2021)

 This Saturday the Cardinal of Stanford host the Oklahoma State Cowboys in dual action.  The #4 Cowboys are definitely favored over the #15 Cardinal, but it should prove to be an exciting matchup full of great action.  I think what will be most revealing is how a team made up of mostly the same individuals, is going to react under the leadership of a completely different coaching staff. A different mindset, a different style of training, a different approach and a different philosophy.  Being positive and optimistic, the hope is that the results all favor change.  A lot of these athletes thrived under Jason Borrelli and it'll be interesting to see if they can do the same under Rob Koll. 

125 lbs - Jackson DiSario Vs Trevor Mastrogiovanni 

On paper I think this match favors Mastrogiovanni but not heavily.  There's no reason to think that the two time PAC-12 runner-up couldn't pull off an upset in front of his home town crowd.  It was only a few short months ago that Bernard Muir tried to make it so we'd never see mats rolled out on campus again, so no doubt that head Coach Rob Koll has his team fired up and ready to prove something. Gonna call the upset here. 

STAN: 3
OKST: 0 

133 lbs - Jason Miranda Vs Daton Fix 

This one's already in the bag for the Cowboys.  A two-time NCAA runner-up against a guy who hasn't even made it to the NCAA's yet? It'll be hard to avoid bonus in this one. In fact, bonus I would say is inevitable. By fall or tech fall, this match will end early.  

STAN: 3 
OKST: 6 

141 lbs - Real Woods Vs Dusty Hone 

The last time these two met, Woods won a 6-2 decision.  Hone an NCAA qualifier in his own right is no push over, but Woods, looks to break out as a contender for the NCAA title this season. It'd be a statement for him to widen the gap and earn the major decision. 

STAN: 7 
OKST: 6 

149 lbs - Jaden Abas Vs Kaden Gfeller 

Very anxious and excited for this match as it will answer a question that has been on my mind for a long time.  Are we going to see the Gfeller that wrestled like crap at last year's BIG 12 tournament?  Or, are we going to see the Gfeller that won a BIG 12 title in 2019?  If it is the latter, All American Abas is going to more than have his hands full.  This is a match that if both participants are at 100%, could go either way.  Going with Abas at this point for two reasons.  Could be the prior Gfeller in the question I posed and it's taking place at Stanford. 

STAN: 10
OKST: 6

157 lbs - Charlie Darracott Vs Wyatt Sheets 

Here is where Oklahoma State has the opportunity to once again garner bonus points.  The only common opponent between the two is Colten Carlson of South Dakota State whom majored Darracott while losing to Sheets in sudden victory.  I know with the parity in wrestling, that these comparisons don't always mean anything, but I would still say that the All American Sheets is favored by more than a decision.  

STAN: 10
OKST: 10 

165 lbs - Shane Griffith Vs Travis Wittlake 

This match will be worth the price of admission alone.  You have a returning NCAA champion, looking to repeat, taking on last year's 4th place finisher every bit as hungry to call himself a national champion.  The last time these two met was at the Southern Scuffle in 2020, where Griffith used his patience and solid technique to hand Wittlake his first of what would only be two losses that season.  I would not be the least bit surprised if this match didn't come down to sudden victory or even the tiebreakers. Going to go with Griffith on this one, but we could see an upset this weekend. 

STAN: 13
OKST: 10 

174 - Tyler Eischens Vs Dustin Plott 

Asking for too much to think Eischens can pull off the upset over Plott, but I do think he is more than capable of keeping this match to a decision.   He's got assistant coaches Enock Francois and Vincenzo Joseph in the room with him everyday, so who knows how much he may have improved?  Maybe I should give the upset a chance. At this point though, going with Plott by dec. 

STAN: 13
OKST: 13 

184 - Judah Duhm Vs Dakota Geer 

And here is where I think it starts to get ugly for the Cardinal.  A two time All American, I think Geer has his way with Duhm.  Major decision points for the Cowboys. 

STAN: 13
OKST: 17 

197 - Nick Stemmett Vs A.J. Ferrari 

You have a wrestler that is not only a returning NCAA champion, but in the minds of some the best wrestler in Division I wrestling today.  I'm not even sure if this one makes it out of the first period.  Ferrari is on a whole other level. 

STAN: 13 
OKST: 23 

HWT - Austin Harris Vs Peter Ming 

Again an NCAA qualifier who was one match shy of All American last season taking on a guy that has yet to make the NCAA tournament.  HWT is the weight class where a lot of points are not always scored and Harris himself is not known for racking up the score.  Think this one can end in a decision. 

STAN: 13 
OKST: 26 


==== 

So really when looking over the dual top to bottom, Stanford is in this match with Oklahoma State right up through 174.  It's not until we get to 184 on up where the Cowboys begin to show their dominance.  As much as Stanford went through last season and considering that the Cowboys are a contender for a top 4 trophy by season's end, I'd say this is a pretty remarkable performance.