STILLWATER, Okla. — Losses stung Oklahoma State wrestler Chris Perry last season.

The redshirt freshman compiled a 25-7 overall record that included 10 wins over ranked opponents, but losing was foreign to Perry.

Perry was a four-time state champion at Stillwater High School, compiling a 133-1 record that included 101 consecutive wins.

The former Stillwater High standout had his moments as a redshirt freshman, defeating Nebraska’s Josh Innen for a Big 12 individual title, but admits he was disappointed with his wrestling at the National Duals and the NCAA Wrestling Championships.

Hubris may have caused his struggles. Youth also may have played a role. He certainly wrestled older, more experienced foes last season.

“Last year, I think I was a little over-confident coming into the year,” Perry said. “I’d beaten all these guys before in high school and I thought I’d just jump right in and that was how it was going to work. It wasn’t even close to how it works.”

An attitude adjustment and a season later, Perry (18-0) is ranked No. 3 in the 174-pound weight class. He plans to atone for disappointing finishes in the National Duals and the NCAA Wrestling Championships.

It starts today at Gallagher-Iba Arena when the No. 1-ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys play host to a National Duals regional. The first matches start at 1 p.m., but OSU (12-0) doesn’t wrestle until 3 p.m.

“I know what it’s going to take. I just had to re-evaluate and get my thoughts together,” Perry said.

He also had to get his weight together.

Perry started the season as the Pokes’ 184-pound wrestler. A few weeks ago, he dropped to 174 pounds. He said he feels faster and more comfortable wrestling at the lighter weight.

“It’s probably a weight I should have been at last year,” Perry said. “It’s the weight I will probably finish my career at.”

The Cowboys have a first-round bye today and will face the winner of the No. 10 Wyoming (6-2) versus Chattanooga (11-4) match. They wrestle at 1 p.m. on mat 1. No. 6 Ohio State (11-3) and Boise State (3-11) will wrestled at 1 p.m. on mat 2. No. 8 Nebraska is the second seed and will wrestle the Ohio State-Boise State winner at 3 p.m. on mat 2. The regional finals will be held at 7 p.m.

Perry didn’t wrestle in Oklahoma State’s Jan. 1 24-17 victory over Wyoming in Laramie, Wyo., or in the Pokes 43-3 win over Boise State on Dec. 30.

Perry beat Wyoming’s Joe LeBlanc 3-2 to capture the 184-pound title at the Reno Tournament of Champions. He hasn’t faced Wyoming’s 174-pounder Patrick Martinez (28-9).

If the stars align, Perry could face Ohio State’s Nick Heflin in the regional finals. Heflin (20-3) is ranked No. 7 at 174 pounds.

Perry said it doesn’t matter who he wrestles today. His goal is to wrestle better than he did last year in the National Duals.

“If I wouldn’t have had the experience I had last year, I probably wouldn’t be ready this year. ... Taking those losses that I’ve never taken in my life, as many as I took, you find a way — you get desperate,” Perry said. “You do anything you can to be the best.”