Completed Event: Wrestling at #5 Oklahoma State on January 11, 2026 , Loss , 0, to, 37
Final
Wrestling
0
at #5 Oklahoma State
37
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Connect Four
February 16, 2017 | Wrestling
Younger teammates agree that the 2017 senior class of Clark Glass, Brad Johnson, Ross Larson and Matt Reed does its job of being constant motivators and encouragers for the entire Oklahoma wrestling squad. But it's the different personas of each individual that make the group stronger.
“I love these guys. I'm so glad that I had a class the way that I did, especially because in past classes there've only been a couple of guys out on senior night,” Johnson explained. “We only have four guys left, but we've been through it all together, so it's been pretty cool.”
With their final dual scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. inside McCasland Field House, each OU senior reflects on his time at Oklahoma and the legacy he hopes he leaves behind for many Sooners wrestlers to come.
Clark Glass
Glass's teammates had one superlative for his leadership style: He's the team dad.
“Clark is probably the most motivated and driven person on the team with school and academics mixed in with his wrestling,” teammate Christian Moody said. “He's more of the dad of the team. When I think of him, I think, 'Oh, Clark does everything right.'”
The Brandon, Fla., native isn't just a motivator on the mat though, he is also a three-time NWCA All-Academic Team member and is currently applying to medical schools so he can one day become an orthopedic surgeon.
With his time at Oklahoma coming to a close, Glass reflected on why he chose to become a Sooner and what his goals are for his final postseason.
“When I was choosing colleges, it came down between OU and Stanford for me, but I just felt like the Lord was leading me here,” Glass recalled. “There were just a bunch of little signs that the Lord wanted me to come here. I just really felt at home with the people more than anything. I really felt comfortable, and I felt like everybody was family right away.
“I don't look back a day ever and regret coming here,” he continued. “I love it here. I met my future wife, which is pretty crazy to think about. I obviously haven't accomplished all of my wrestling goals, but we've got the home stretch coming up and I'm going to rely on God to make it all happen this season.”
Brad Johnson
It takes being passionate about your sport to make it to your senior year as a student-athlete, but Johnson's biggest passion is what he'll be spending his time doing once his wrestling career is over.
Upon graduating this summer, he will apply for medical school after earning a Bachelor of Science with an emphasis in medical sciences.
“I think academic importance is something that kind of developed over time for me,” Johnson explained. “I'm sure all these younger guys will go through it too. They'll start realizing what they really want to do. As soon as I figured out what I wanted to do, that's what I started putting my full effort toward. I was kind of confused about what my path was, but once I found it I was motivated. I was excited about it. It was easy to work for it.”
Aside from hours spent studying before practice and on the road, Johnson's younger teammates remember little quirks of his personality that made them feel welcome as a Sooner.
“Right when we slap hands he'll whisper in my ear, 'I love you,'” redshirt freshman Christian Moody said. “Just I love you really quick. He doesn't tell anyone else that. That's our secret thing.”
Johnson is working to earn his first NCAA Championships appearance this season, but no matter what happens this postseason, he said he will never forget the journey he took during his time as a Sooner.
“What I want to be remembered for is the guy who took a longer and tougher path but never stopped working,” Johnson said. “Wrestling's tough—you're going to take some lumps. You're going to get in those moments of, 'I can't even do this anymore,' but I think I pride myself for keeping fighting and keeping on trying to get better no matter what happened.”
Ross Larson
When Ross Larson was being recruited, it didn't just come down to what college he wanted to attend. He also had to consider what sport he wanted to play.
“I was a three-sport athlete in high school,” Larson explained. “I played football, baseball and wrestling. If I'm being totally honest, I liked baseball the best, football second and wrestling third just because there's a lot that goes into wrestling that other sports don't necessarily have. Baseball and football are a game, but wrestling's not really a game. But out of the three, I knew wrestling was my best sport. Bigger Division I schools were looking at me, and I knew if I did want to play sports in college I wanted to go to a big university. Oklahoma was just the home for me.”
The decision proved to be a great one as Larson has excelled as the Sooners' heavyweight over the past four seasons. With 53 career wins by fall, he needs just six more this season to break the Oklahoma career pin record of 58. But even if he breaks the record, pinning isn't what his teammates will remember about him.
“He's kind of the happiest guy on the team, really,” junior Andrew Dixon explained. “I don't know anyone who has a smile on their face as much as Ross does.”
Throughout his career, one of Larson's biggest goals has been to bring a positive energy to every workout, every practice and every competition.
“I just feel like I want the guys to know me as not just a good wrestler but as a good friend and person, too,” Larson said. “Even those days where you're not feeling good, you've got to try to have a smile on your face and come in with a positive attitude because other kids feed on that. They might be having a down day, and I'm walking in with a big smile on my face, go pat them on the shoulder or wrestle around with them, it kind of gets them going and gets their mind off whatever struggles they might be having.”
Matt Reed
Besides sleeping, Reed's teammates will remember his laugh and his heart more than anything else about him.
“Matt's a really nice, quiet kid with a really big heart, and he's willing to help anybody out,” teammate Yoanse Mejias said. “He's kind of a funny guy. He comes in with a good attitude and you can't tell if he's in a good or bad mood because his face is always the same.”
Reed was in the same position as Larson coming out of high school. He had planned to play football at a smaller college, but his high school teammate Kendric Maple was wrestling at Oklahoma and encouraged him to take a visit to Norman.
With two NCAA appearances under his belt, he's hoping his experience in the national tournament will give him what he needs to make his final run the best one yet.
“Honestly, looking back now I think it was the best thing for me to come wrestle here,” Reed recalled. “This is a great school, and it's close to home. I got to meet a bunch of really nice guys, so it was a really great experience and I'm glad I came here, but my time isn't over yet. I want to be a national champion. That's the goal. It's my last year—go big or go home. My goal is the top of the podium.”
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Thursday, March 19
Saturday, March 07
Friday, March 06
Sunday, February 08
