Panthers pin 8th-ranked Cowboys

PATRICK HANSEN

The Panther Train continues to roll through competition, with this weekend being no exception. The McLeod Center was packed with 4,000 fans for an exciting night of wrestling as the 20th-ranked Panthers hosted the eighth-ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys.

Jay Schwarm (125 lbs) started out the night for the Panther Train, falling 9-6 to give the Cowboys an early 3-0 lead. The Cowboys were looking to take two in a row as Jack Skudlarczyk (133) fell behind early in the match, but came back to take the match 10-5, tying the duel at 3-3.

Michael Blockus (141) used a late reversal to edge the 4-3 win over Dusty Hone, giving the Panthers their first lead of the day, 6-3. Max Thomsen (149) fell to the third-ranked Boo Lewallen in a top 20 matchup, tying the duel back up at 6-6.

Keaton Geerts (157) grabbed the lead and ran with it into the third period before Wyatt Sheets tied the match up, 6-6, but a late escape gave Geerts the separation he needed to take the 8-6 decision, the Panther Train a 9-6 lead.

Austin Yant (165) fell in a major decision to the Cowboys as Oklahoma State reclaimed the lead with a one-point lead, 10-9, before Bryce Steiert (174) picked up a major decision over the 12th-ranked Joe Smith to give the Panther Train the three-point edge, 13-10.

Taylor Lujan (184) was able to shut out his opponents to grab the 4-0 decision, giving the Panthers a 16-10 lead. Noah Glaser (197) continued to fight despite a knee injury in an early period. Glas would suffer a technical fall, bringing all the marbles down to the 285-bout.

Carter Isley grabbed the 5-2 decision to close out the match, giving the Panther Train the 19-15 win over the Cowboys. This was the first time the Panthers have beaten Oklahoma State since 1991.

The Panther Train continues to roll through duels and conference play and will make a trip south to take on the Oklahoma Sooners on February 1.