The moment ride-outs came around, Troy Spratley calculated his every move.
In ride-outs of the 125-pound semifinal match against Virginia Tech’s third-seeded Eddie Ventresca, the seventh-seeded Oklahoma State wrestler Spratley had his mental blueprint to victory. Spratley said he knew Ventresca, widely regarded as one of college wrestling’s best on top, wasn’t an opponent he wanted to attempt to ride-out.
“When he got to that escape (position), I was kind of was just like, ‘You know what, I’m just gonna go for it and get this done,’” Spratley said.
So, he allowed Ventresca an early escape point, only to swiftly prance on his opportunity for a takedown, securing a takedown and providing enough of a cushion to clinch a 6-4 decision.