Smith, Cowboys face tough schedule to achieve program’s 34th NCAA National Championship
Ben Elder
Sports Editor
Victory reigned from the East Coast to the West Coast and was completed under the shadows of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Mo.
Oklahoma State head wrestling coach John Smith had no problem taking his team to the most hostile wrestling territories in the United States this past year.
The result was an unblemished record that propelled his squad to its 33rd NCAA National Championship.
Now, the Cowboys have begun practice for their 34th.
“What we did last year and the past several years is in the books and on the walls of our wrestling room,” Smith said. “This is a new year and we are going to have to earn everything we do and it starts now and doesn’t end until the third weekend in March.”
A new year it is.
The Cowboys still boast one of the nation’s toughest schedules, hosting nationally-ranked opponents such as Lehigh, Hofstra, Iowa State and Nebraska.
“This year we have probably one of the toughest schedules we have had,” Smith said. “It’s every bit as tough as it has been in the past. I like the fact that we are at home a lot more, that makes it nice.
“I really feel that our schedule will allow for us to be tested on a weekly basis.”
The perk of the schedule seems to pay its dues to the Cowboy faithful when Oklahoma City hosts the NCAA Championships March 16-18 in the Ford Center.
“The only way it is really advantageous is if you do your work early on in the season and prepare properly and then you are battle-ready at the end.
“Then Oklahoma City could be a lot of fun for us,” Smith said.
With four individual national champions and two All-Americans returning, the Cowboys still have their work cut out for them, Smith said.
“I want to see the hunger and the drive that it is going to take to build the chemistry among our team to attack the championship like you need to attack it,” Smith said.
Attacking ” or better yet dominating ” are terms that the Cowboys have become adjusted to.
With just two days into practice, Cowboy wrestlers are already setting their goals high.
“I have an ultimate goal of winning a national title this year and that’s what I am going to do,” said two-time national champion Jake Rosholt.
Doing that closer to home, Rosholt believes, is the true perk for the 197-pound senior.
“We traveled a lot last year. It was tough to be gone all the time because of school and just practicing all the time,” he said. “It’s nice to be at home and have a little bit of down time after a match.”
For others, a new year means a new slate. A time where you can work on the mistakes that you encountered.
“It’s a new year, new status. It’s like you haven’t done anything. That’s the way you have to look at it,” said junior national champion Johny Hendricks.
While some OSU wrestlers will be looking to repeat their national championship, others will be looking to achieve the status for the first time.
All-American sophomore Daniel Frishkorn has already compiled his hit list on his virtual route to the 2006 NCAA national championships.
His hopes are no less than his peers.
“My goal is to be ranked No. 1 by the fourth week of the season,” Frishkorn said. “I’ll hit Michigan State, which is the No. 5 ranked guy. The second week, I will hit Cooperman who is the third-ranked guy, then I will hit OU ” Teyon Ware ” who is the No. 1 ranked guy. By the end of those, I hope to be the No. 1 guy in the country.”
While ambitions are set high, Smith remains cautious.
“We have nice core to start the season with, and that’s very important,” Smith said. “But as we have seen in wrestling, the last several years, you have seen many people reach the top and never reach it again.”
The Cowboys will continue practice in preparation for their debut in the Omaha Open on Nov. 19.
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