Stillwater NewsPress

OSU Sports

Related Photos

  • Oklahoma State University wrestling coach John Smith, left, talks to 184-pound wrestler Chris Perry during Friday night's historic dual against Northern Colorado. The Cowboys wrestling program picked up dual win No. 1,000 with a 44-0 shut out of Northern Colorado.

    129_1000_Coachsmith.JPG
January 28, 2011

Oklahoma State University wrestling program makes history with dual victory No. 1,000

By Chris Day Stillwater NewsPress

STILLWATER, Okla. — STILLWATER – More history was made Friday night in Gallagher-Iba Arena.

Oklahoma State’s wrestling team manhandled Northern Colorado University to  claim victory No. 1,000 for the Cowboys' wrestling program.

Oklahoma State is just the second Division 1 wrestling program to equal the 1,000 dual victory milestone. Iowa State crossed the 1,000 win plateau in 2010. The Cyclones have 1,008 dual victories.

Oklahoma State has won nearly 90 percent of its duals, while Iowa State's winning percentage is 78.4.

“I got lucky,” OSU wrestling coach John Smith said. “I was lucky to be around on the thousandth.”

Earlier this year, Smith picked up his 300th dual victory as OSU’s coach. His record is 305-46 after OSU’s 44-0 dual win over Northern Colorado. He has more wins that any other OSU wrestling coach.

Win No. 1,000 reflects more on Oklahoma State’s wrestling tradition than it does on any one coach, Smith said.

OSU’s wrestling history starts in 1916 with legendary coach Ed Gallagher. Gallagher laid the foundation for Cowboy wrestling and intercollegiate wrestling.

“Oklahoma State has been a leader in skill, technique and development,” Smith said. “Coach Gallagher was so instrumental in spreading wrestling across the country. Without coach Gallagher wrestling might not have hit the East Coast or the West Coast. ... Wrestling grew because of him.”

Oklahoma State’s wrestlers knew the significance of the Friday night’s dual, and wanted to win No. 1,000 in a dominating manner, OSU junior Jamal Parks said.

The dual was total domination as the Pokes shut out Northern Colorado.

“It’s every little kids dream to be a part of history,” Parks said.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
OSU Sports
Stilly Studio
  • Savory_Stilly_Studio_05_01_13.jpg Savory crosses off goals with fifth album

    “I love the high energy stuff,” he said. “Even though it’s country, being able to rock it up, distorted guitars and just seeing the crowd, feeding off of that.”

    May 2, 2013 1 Photo