The signatures are inked and the groundwork is set. 

David Taylor’s foundational first recruiting cycle netted one of the best classes in the country. 

Oklahoma State announced the signings of 10 high school seniors, including eight who are listed in the latest Flowrestling 2025 Big Board. The group includes three of the top six recruits in the country, headlined by coveted hometown prize #3 LaDarion Lockett, a multi-time age-group World medalist. Lockett is one of six in-state prospects in the class. 

The Cowboys also pulled off two massive flips in recent months as they locked down #5 Landon Robideau, who had been committed to Minnesota and #6 Sergio Vega, a former Cornell commit. 

As a whole, the group is currently ranked second in the Flowrestling Class of 2025 recruiting rankings. 

Taylor said he has a “fun” class coming in. 

“We were able to be pretty productive in a relatively short period of time,” Taylor said. “Those guys are setting the foundation for the future of Oklahoma State wrestling. It’s a fun class, a lot of really exciting guys that want to score.” 

Cowboys Saddling Up For Return To CKLV 

Last season marked the first time Oklahoma State wrestled in the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational in more than two decades, and it had its highs and lows. OSU had three placers with one champion and finished ninth in the team race, scoring 78.5 points.

This year, there’s plenty of reason to believe the Cowboys are capable of not only surpassing their previous team score, but winning the tournament, too. Taylor said the Cliff Keen Invitational is as tough of an in-season tournament as it gets. 

“It’s a tough tournament, it’s a national [championship] tournament in December,” Taylor said. “I think it will be a good test for our team… for guys to go out and wrestle the way they want to. If you can separate yourselves, do that, because these matches are valuable in the long term.”

Oklahoma State is seeded at all 10 weights, and it appears Teague Travis will be the 157-pounder this weekend after Cutter Sheets wrestled in the Wyoming and Arizona State duals in late November. 

Reece Witcraft will get his second shot at the CKLV at 133 pounds. 

Taylor said it’s a good opportunity to wrestle high-level opponents early in the season, especially in a tournament setting.

“To go weigh in and wrestle one person, that’s not what wins the national tournament,” Taylor said. “To be able to string five matches together and be resilient, (does). Things aren’t always gonna go your way, I think that’s what this tournament is gonna be able to provide to our team. It just means more, the element that’s more than just yourself in a tournament, and that will play a factor this week.”

Hamiti Dialing In On Details

When Dean Hamiti got on campus, Taylor said he was already a wrestler who made the sport look effortless, and he certainly did for the Badgers. Hamiti’s talent at 165 pounds was undeniable in his first three years with Wisconsin. 

But he fell short of All-American honors last season after reaching the NCAA podium in his first two years with the Badgers. Now at 174, Hamiti said Taylor has helped him learn from past mistakes and be more detail-focused.

“I would go out there last year and try to get whatever I want, kinda rush everything,” Hamiti said. “So, (Taylor has helped) kinda slowing it down and being really detailed with everything I do. (There’s) a lot of thinking.”

Each of Oklahoma State’s All-American transfers have competed in the Cliff Keen Invitational except for Hamiti. He has notable tournaments under his belt such as the Michigan State Open and the Midlands Championships, but nothing is like the Cliff Keen. Taylor said Hamiti will get a good taste of competition after starting the season with four bonus-point victories in his first four matches. 

“He’s pretty well-rounded,” Taylor said. “ This weekend will be a good test for him. He’s had a relatively easy first handful of matches and this weekend he’ll get some good competitors”