TULSA — Oklahoma State entered the Big 12 wrestling championships with eight automatic qualifiers for the NCAA championships, which will begin March 19 in Minneapolis.
OSU 174-pound senior Joe Smith was nationally ranked at No. 15, but hadn’t wrestled enough matches to earn an automatic bid.
Smith went 2-1 on Saturday, losing in the semifinal round, and added two more victories Sunday to take third place and clinch a berth in the NCAA championships, improving his record to 12-6.
“He did a nice job,” said his father and coach, John Smith. “I think he was kind of trying to find himself through the tournament.