Surrender the outcome. Just go out and wrestle. 

It’s a philosophy Oklahoma State coach David Taylor brought with him to Stillwater as a coach after adapting it during his time as a high-level athlete. It appears it has also trickled down to OSU senior Dustin Plott. 

The three-time All-American is heading into his final tournament as a college wrestler as the #4-seed at 184 pounds. Instead of overly anticipating the first match of his last NCAA tournament, he’s channeling the knowledge that Oklahoma State’s new coaching staff instilled. 

“I feel like years past I had more anxiety or maybe a little bit more excitement and build up,” Plott said. “This year, I’m kind of just at peace. I’ve trained, I’ve done everything I could. I’m confident I’m going to get the result I want.”

Plott also enters his last college tournament with one of his best friends and longtime teammates, 197-pounder Luke Surber. Plott and Surber have been training partners since their days at Tuttle High School in Oklahoma. 

Plott has followed an NCAA finals run last year by going 18-4 with 13 bonus-point victories. 

Surber is 21-3 — a career-best winning percentage — with a 46-percent bonus-point rate. Plott said off-the-mat factors are contributing to on-mat performance. 

“Our team has been really close over the past couple of years,” he said. “The last two years have been the closest group of guys that I’ve had here at my time at Oklahoma State, as far as we’re buddies outside the room. We’re going fishing, bowling, hanging out, doing things outside. I think that really helps the overall culture. When your friends are going the extra mile with their diet and their work and you’re around them all the time and see that, I think it brings everyone’s level up.”

Back To Philly 

Taylor returns to The Keystone State, where he called home for more than a decade. But he will also return to Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia, where in 2011, as a freshman 157-pounder for Penn State, he wrestled in his first NCAA Tournament. Fourteen years later, he will be in the NCAA Championships for the first time as a coach. Taylor said his perspective has changed, just as his role in wrestling.

“I think timing in life — there’s no coincidences,” Taylor said. “But at the same time, it rotates, and it’s where it’s hosted this year… The national tournament is the pinnacle in our sport. Your lenses change. I remember as a little kid going and watching and watching guys that I looked up to, and watched them competing, then I was competing in the tournament. Then, I was part of the broadcast for a period of time, so your lens changes on how you’re watching it. Now, I get a chance to go and be there as a coach. Looking forward to being there”

Taylor remembered his first NCAA tournament and the style employed.

“I remember just being excited to compete,” Taylor said. “What was unique about my freshman year is I was wrestling with my hair on fire.”

Taylor outscored opponents 46-9 before losing to Arizona State’s Bubba Jenkins by fall in the finals. Taylor said he sees the same fire in his team going into the tournament. 

“I was trying to score the entire time,” he said. “I think in the tournament, I was going out with the same mentality. It cost me in the finals, but that’s just what it is. I was excited to compete. I think that’s what our guys are — they’re excited to go out and compete.