By Brock Milam
Fall 2023
When people think of Oklahoma State University, they think of cowboys, bad football, and absolute fucking dominance from the wrestling team for years on end. OSU wrestling is not a sport that people look over, it’s a long-lasting dynasty that is here to stay. In a conversation with Luke Surber, an OSU Junior wrestler, he said that it is not all about winning championships, but the coaches focus on turning us into good men of society.
It all started in the year 1915 with the legendary head coach Ed Gallager. In 1915 Ed led the team to Oklahoma States’ first NCAA wrestling championship and the first ever NCAA wrestling championship. Mr. Gallager led eleven different teams of OSU wrestling to win a national championship (Scovel). He was the start of a dynasty that never let up. Ed coached from 1915 – 1940. He led his teams to nineteen undefeated seasons and recording only 2 losses during his last 9 years as a coach (Scovel). Ever since Ed became coach OSU has never looked back. Having so many winning seasons and a shit ton of championships makes this sport an institution of Oklahoma state wrestling.
BOOM. The sound of people hitting the mat during the matches at Gallager-Iba arena here in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Since the beginning of the program people have always been watching the program start to its dynasty now. It’s February 5th, 2022. Then fans anticipate getting into the stands because they know what’s at stake. On this day OSU has 499 wrestling dual wins in Gallagher Iba arena and on this day, they are on the hunt for the 500th win in just over 100 years of being a program. OSU was wrestling South Dakota State and was not overlooking this team. Coming out of the gates OSU was on fire, the roars of the crowd rocked the stadium into what seemed to be the loudest point on earth at that time. OSU beat South Dakota State 29-6 and during the win this was Luke Surber’s first win over a ranked opponent (Scovel).
I had a meeting with Senior OSU wrestler, Luke Surber, and he loves it here. Luke is a dominant force here at OSU. In his 3 years at OSU, he has had: a 45-10 record from starting as a true freshman to where he is now. In his last season Luke went 4-1 at the NCAA Big XII championship where he placed 3rd there. This past season he had a 34 second fall which helped OSU win the latest bedlam game, without that fall, OSU would have lost the dual. Luke was not always the big beefy man you see wrestling on the mat today. Back in the glory days of high school he was a 106-pound wrestler in Tuttle, Oklahoma. Luke has always been a good wrestler, winning 155 games in high school and only recording 12 losses. He continued this dominance all the way to his senior year of college at OSU.
Our OSU cowboys have the record for the most individual NCAA championships. These championships are derived from the hard work that this program pushes these wrestlers too. The wrestlers from the start of the program have been worked hard to succeed and man have they done just that. These guys work not just in season but year around. Lifting every morning and wrestling and sparring on the mats almost every day. They are reminded of the previous greats who attended the institution. Reminders come from the endless banners that are hanging in the room, and the pictures of wrestlers with one handheld up by the ref indicating a national championship win. The facilities that these guys tango in is top-notch. When you have a program so dominant as this wrestling program, I understand why they are treated like kings. The access they have is food anytime they want, if they are not overweight. The team has their own weightlifting room and has 24/7 access to this room. I personally have been to one wrestling match, and it was the bedlam match in 2021. I happened to get tickets from Luke Surber’s uncle who works with my father. We made the drive up here and I was not disappointed by the atmosphere of the arena. I figured it would be a good energy, but I did not think it would be as crazy as it was. This match was a one-sided victory for OSU, but the crowds made it seem like it was close the whole time. The yelling from the stands was surreal. It was like I was drowning in the chants and yells of each fan; no matter if they’re 90 years old to children that were merely four years of age. The crowd sounded louder in the wrestling arena than they do in Boone Pickens Stadium. Wrestling now is such a big sport here in Stillwater Oklahoma. People from all over the Country try and get into this program so they can further themselves not only as better wrestlers and people but to further this program into what is now. The OSU wrestling program will forever be etched into history as an institution of OSU.
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