Wrestling prepares for Big 12 Championships

Landon Dierks, Sports Editor

The Summit League Basketball Tournament isn’t the only postseason event South Dakota State will participate in during spring break.

SDSU’s wrestling team heads to Tulsa, Oklahoma, for the Big 12 Wrestling Championships March 7-8. Here’s a quick look at the weight classes and how the Jackrabbits look ahead of the competition.

 

125

Top-ranked Big 12 wrestler: No. 4 Nick Piccininni, Oklahoma State (23-2)

SDSU’s top contender: Danny Vega (20-8)

Previous results versus top contender: 0-1 | Lost by tech fall, 17-1 (Jan. 31, 2020)

All-time record versus common opponents (SDSU, opponent): 6-8, 22-4

 

133

Top-ranked Big 12 wrestler: No. 10 Taylor LaMont, Utah Valley (14-5)

SDSU’s top contender: Zach Price (14-13)

Previous results versus top contender: 0-1 | Lost 7-4 dec. (Nov. 22, 2019)

All-time record versus common opponents (SDSU, opponent): 3-6, 6-3

 

141

Top-ranked Big 12 wrestler: No. 4 Dom Demas, Oklahoma (23-3)

SDSU’s top contender: Clay Carlson (19-13)

Previous results versus top contender: 0-1 | Lost 8-2 dec. (Jan. 26, 2020)

All-time record versus common opponents (SDSU, opponent): 8-11, 19-4

 

149

Top-ranked Big 12 wrestler: No. 6 Boo Lewallen, Oklahoma State (18-2)

SDSU’s top contender: No. 12 Henry Pohlmeyer (19-4)

Previous results versus top contender: 1-1 | Lost 10-0 major dec. (Jan. 31, 2020); won by injury default (Nov. 17, 2018)

All-time record versus common opponents (SDSU, opponent): 7-9, 17-3

 

157

Top-ranked Big 12 wrestler: No. 3 David Carr, Iowa State (15-1)

SDSU’s top contender: Unknown, no consistent starter

 

165

Top-ranked Big 12 wrestler: No. 6 Travis Wittlake, Oklahoma State (25-2)

SDSU’s top contender: Tanner Cook (18-3)

Previous results versus top contender: 0-1 | Lost 14-6 major dec. (Jan. 31, 2020)

All-time record versus common opponents (SDSU, opponent): 4-2, 7-0

 

174

Top-ranked Big 12 wrestler: No. 5 Bryce Steiert, Northern Iowa (23-3)

SDSU’s top contender: Unknown, no consistent starter

 

184

Top-ranked Big 12 wrestler: No. 3 Taylor Lujan, Northern Iowa (24-2)

SDSU’s top contender: No. 12 Zach Carlson (23-5)

Previous results versus top contender: 0-1 | Lost 10-3 dec. (Jan. 10, 2020)

All-time record versus common opponents (SDSU, opponent): 9-7, 19-3

 

197

Top-ranked Big 12 wrestler: No. 2 Noah Adams, West Virginia (29-0)

SDSU’s top contender: No. 10 Tanner Sloan (18-5)

Previous results versus top contender: N/A

All-time record versus common opponents (SDSU, opponent): 10-3, 14-6

 

Heavyweight

Top-ranked Big 12 wrestler: No. 7 Tate Orndorff, Utah Valley (16-2)

SDSU’s top contender: Blake Wolters (14-17)

Previous results versus top contender: 0-2 | Lost 9-2 dec. (Jan. 31, 2019); lost by sudden victory, 6-4 (Nov. 22, 2019)

All-time record versus common opponents (SDSU, opponent): 2-26, 23-7

 

*Note: All rankings from InterMat Wrestling

**Note: All SDSU records from GoJacks.com

***Note: All head-to-head records from WrestleStat