A fourth-place finish at Big 12s and 14th at NCAAs might have left Oklahoma State fans shaking their heads after this season, but the future is bright in Stillwater. The Cowboys get a national champion back next year and will incorporate some new blue-chip recruits to a lineup that needs a spark. Not even factoring in the freshmen, OK State currently sits at #4 in the way too early 2023 NCAA rankings.

Other way too early lineup looks: Penn State, Iowa, Arizona State, Ohio State

2022-23 Oklahoma State Projected Starting Lineup

125: Trevor Mastrogiovanni

133: Daton Fix

141: Carter Young

149: Victor Voinovich

157: Jalin Harper / Anthony Ferrari

165: Travis Wittlake

174: Dustin Plott

184: Kyle Haas

197: AJ Ferrari

285: Luke Surber

125: Trevor Mastrogiovanni, JR

Trevor Mastrogiovanni will be in his third year of kicking off duals for the Cowboys. Twice a national qualifier, he has yet to reach the podium. Mastrogiovanni got off to a good start this season, only losing twice during the regular season. However, the New Jersey native got a tough draw in Detroit and fell to All-Americans Michael DeAgustino and Patrick McKee. This was after avenging one of his regular-season losses, Iowa State’s Kysen Terukina, in the first round.

Watch Trevor Mastrogiovanni’s 3rd-period comeback over Iowa’s Jesse Ybarra below.

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Other options: Reece Witcraft, Cooper Birdwell

133: Daton Fix, SR

Nobody on this lineup is more Oklahoma State than Daton Fix. The Sand Springs native has bled orange and black for the past five years. In those five years, Daton has taken two redshirts and reached the NCAA finals three times. If you’re not a Penn State or Roman Bravo-Young fan, it was heartbreaking to watch Daton fall once again in the finals this year. RBY is still deciding whether or not he will return to college wrestling. If he does, Daton gets the opportunity to defeat the man who has denied him a national title the past two seasons. If RBY moves on, Daton is the clear favorite. In the meantime, we all get to enjoy watching Daton Fix try to win his second-straight World medal on the freestyle scene.

Other options: Reece Witcraft, Zach Blankenship

141: Carter Young, SO

Carter Young had extremely high expectations coming into this season after taking third place at the 2021 World Team Trials. Going 12-9 and 0-2 at NCAAs, Young didn’t quite meet those expectations. I think Young is a little better suited for freestyle and a little undersized at 141 lbs. Another year in Stillwater should help both of those things immensely. Could we see Young go on another run at the 2022 World Team Trials?

Watch Carter Young defeat Seth Gross below.

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Other options: Teague Travis, Andrew Bloemhof 

149: Victor Voinovich, FR

Kaden Gfeller still has one year of eligibility left but has publicly stated that the 2022 season would be his last, so it’s time for a new face at 149 lbs. I think it’s going to be a young but ready Victor Voinovich. Coming out of high school, Voinovich was a 2X Who’s #1 winner and the #12 overall recruit in the class of 2021. As a redshirt this year, he went 16-1 and, in my opinion, had the best redshirt season of any wrestler at 149 lbs.

Other options: Travis Mastrogiovanni, Cutter Sheets, Joey Sanchez

157: Jalin Harper / Anthony Ferrari

John Smith is going to have a hole to fill and a decision to make with the departure of four-year starter Wyatt Sheets. 2022-2023 will be the fifth year Jalin Harper has been on the roster for the Cowboys. Since getting injured his first year, Harper has gone 26 - 13 while wrestling in open tournaments and select duals. 

The more exciting option for fans would be to start true freshman Anthony Ferrari. The younger brother of AJ, Anthony didn’t wrestle his senior season at Stillwater High School, so there is a bit of mystery surrounding what weight he will be and how good he will be. There is a good chance that Ferrari is too big for 157 lbs. Prior to 2022, Anthony was a Super 32 finalist and Oklahoma state champion. If he’s anything like his older brother, he’ll be ready as a true freshman.

Stillwater punctuated a 6-for-7 round in the Oklahoma state finals with No. 6 Anthony Ferrari's fall against No. 7 John Wiley in a clash of two of the nation's top 160-pounders. pic.twitter.com/mQOtgr47OS

— Trackwrestling (@trackwrestling) February 28, 2021

Other options: Jordan Williams, Chance McLane, Luke Mechler

165: Travis Wittlake, SR

It was clear Travis Wittlake wasn’t healthy this season. After finishing in fourth place at the 2021 NCAA Championships, Wittlake went just 9-7 this year and failed to even qualify for nationals. An off season filled with rest and recovery will do the Oregon native well and hopefully get him back to his freshman and sophomore form. With the lack of depth at this weight, the Cowboys need Wittlake to stay healthy next season as well.

Watch Travis Wittlake take out Ethan Smith at the 2021 NCAA Championships below.

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Other options: Anthony Ferrari, Jordan Williams 

174: Dustin Plott, JR

After an injury-ridden true freshman season, Dustin Plott came into form this year with two healthy shoulders and took 6th at NCAAs. His comeback win over Ohio State’s Ethan Smith in the blodround was one of the best matches of the tournament. With a couple of big names leaving the weight, Plott currently sits at #4 in the way too early rankings.

Watch Dustin Plott’s bloodround match with Ethan Smith below.

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Other options: Blake Skidgel, Trevor Dopps

184: Kyle Haas, FR

Anthony Montalvo was expected to once again take over the 184 lbs starting spot where he was a national qualifier in 2020. However, on April 7th the California native entered the transfer portal and is expected to leave OSU. This would have one thinking that he wasn’t going to start over redshirt freshman Kyle Haas. the younger brother of Tyler Caldwell, Haas was #18 on the 2021 big board. Although he didn’t wrestle anyone of note, Haas did go 11-0 as a redshirt this season. As he wrestled 220 in high school and split time between 184 and 197 this year, there is a chance that Haas is too big for the weight, leaving the Pokes with a significant downgrade.

Other options: Austin Long, Evan Shetley

197: AJ Ferrari, JR

Return of the champ. AJ Ferrari was a heavy favorite to repeat as NCAA champion before suffering season-ending injuries as a result of a car accident on January 24th. Assuming Ferrari is healthy again next year, he will once again be the on-paper favorite over Penn State’s Max Dean to win the 197 lbs title. It should be noted that AJ appears to still be in a sling as of the beginning of April.

Other options: Kyle Haas, Gavin Stika

285: Luke Surber, SO

As a redshirt freshman last season, Luke Surber moved up from 197 lbs and was a national qualifier. With wins over guys like Zach Elam, AJ Nevills, and Josh Heindselman, Surber showed signs of All-American potential. With a good portion of the heavyweight class returning, Surber still has a ways to go to reach the podium, but it’s far from out of the question. The Tuttle native is currently ranked #14 in the way too early rankings.

Other options: AJ Ferrari, Konner Doucet