TULSA — Oklahoma State wrestling coach John Smith stood just inside a tunnel beneath the BOK Center seating, surrounded by a small group of reporters who listened to the coach talk about the importance of consolation matches at the Big 12 championships.
Seven hours later, Smith’s team finally was handed the championship trophy for the eighth straight year, tying a school record.
The biggest reason?
Consolation matches.
When Smith stood in that tunnel just after 1 p.m. Sunday, the Cowboys had already clinched the title thanks to a 10-0 performance in the consolation round. The four championship matches the Pokes wrestled in on Sunday evening brought fireworks to celebrate what OSU had already accomplished.