The return of Division I teams to the National Wrestling Coaches Association’s National Duals last weekend ignited another round of discussion about staging a dual meet championship at the D1 level.

And Oklahoma State coach David Taylor fueled the fire this week with his perspective. 

For the first time since 2011, the NWCA National Duals featured a Division I bracket. This year’s field consisted of 14 schools with athletic departments that operate outside the Power 4 conference footprint. 

But Taylor would like to see college wrestling figure out a path to getting all of the top programs together in a dual format. Timing has been one of the big obstacles, but the first-year Oklahoma State coach sees a spot on the calendar that could solve that issue — November.  

“I think when you have a conference schedule, it’s hard to start balancing non-conference events,” Taylor said. “So, I think you just pick a time at the beginning of the year and now you have two events. Dual meets are awesome, they’re easy to follow for the casual fan. You (put) it at the beginning of the year before the conference events start, and you get the best teams to come compete. You’re incentivized to wrestle your best lineup. You pick the projected best eight or 16 teams, you pick a date in November and people can prepare for it. Then you can alter your schedule and prepare for it as needed.”

Taylor has been about as vocal as any first-year head coach can be about filling seats in the home arena. In doing so, he’s revealed an astute perspective on marketability and ways to advance the sport. Taylor said to keep the sport growing, bringing back events like National Duals is the way to do it.

“As we move forward, we have to figure out ways we can continue to market our teams, our programs and the guys that are on the mat — that’s the future,” Taylor said. “I think having both sets a good schedule. I think it’s something the kids will look forward to, the programs will look forward to. But I don’t want to move away from the national championship being decided as it is. But I do think National Duals would be great for wrestling.”

Taylor's Take On NCAA Sanctioning Women's Wrestling

This week, the NCAA made a landmark decision to sanction women’s wrestling, making it the NCAA’s 91st sport. The NCAA’s first women’s wrestling championship will be held in 2026. 

Women’s wrestling has grown immensely over the last decade, but especially in the past five years. Stillwater is no exception. Two years ago, Oklahoma State founded the Cowgirl Wrestling Club, headed by head coach and Cowboy All-American Izzak Olejnik, joined by Cowboy Wrestling Club athlete Gary Traub.

Taylor, who has three daughters, was elated to hear the decision.

“I have three girls, we’re practicing wrestling every morning we wake up,” Taylor said. “We’re working our penetration steps and I think women’s wrestling is growing very fast, one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. It’ll be a good opportunity to showcase the girls this weekend. Izzak Olejnik and his team have been doing a really good job with them. I think it’s a great thing that women’s wrestling is continuing to grow and however we can support that is important.”

Amine Looking Forward To CKLV Rematch 

Oklahoma State 165-pounder and three-time All-American Cameron Amine is seeking to avenge one of his losses on Sunday against West Virginia two-time All-American and #3 Peyton Hall. 

Hall has wrestled an impressive senior season, posting a 17-0 record with a 60-percent bonus rate. He was also the champion of the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, where he beat Amine in sudden victory in the championship.

Amine, ranked sixth at 165 pounds, has losses to two wrestlers ranked above him — Hall and Utah Valley’s Terrell Barraclough. But a win against Hall would likely propel him into the top five in the weight class. 

Amine said he’s reviewed the match time and time again and he’s looking forward to a “fun” bout with Hall, who he could face two more times before the season is over.

“I went back and probably watched the match four or five times,” Amine said. “Just going back and seeing little things I can do better instead of negatives, looking at the positives and fixing those things. It’s fun, he’s a good competitor. Those matches are fun when people want to wrestle you and you want to wrestle back. In those matches, it seems like it’s hard, which it is, but it’s a lot of fun.”