“Walter had a goal to knock off someone in the top 20…but then he started knocking those guys off every time,” Weiss said. “Placing in the [NCAA] tournament is 75 percent confidence, and now he’s thinking he can do this.”

The win was another bright spot for the Crimson, but fourth-ranked Tyler Caldwell (165) ensured that Oklahoma maintained control. The grappler posted a technical fall of his own against rookie Erik Gobbo, who was filling in for ailing sophomore Adam Hogue. But Gobbo’s classmate bounced right back, as Ian Roy (174) earned his second win of the day with a 4-2 decision over Sooner Jeff James.

“Ian Roy wrestled really well,” Peppelman said. “The young guys have really stepped up, but we still have a lot to work on.”

Croy followed up with another close loss at 184 lbs., as Oklahoma swept the final three bouts to seal the win.

APPALACHIAN STATE 22, HARVARD 17

The Crimson kicked off the Lone Star duals with its closest match of the day, falling by five to the Mountaineers (6-7). Keith and sophomore Shay Warren (133) began the contest with a pair of decisions—staking Harvard to a 6-0 lead—but Appalachian State answered right back, as rookies Joe Marino (141) and Joe Alie (149) suffered a 6-3 decision and a fall, respectively. Peppelman’s 16-0 blanking of Mountaineer John Blakely put the Crimson back in the lead, but the junior would be the last Harvard grappler to earn crucial bonus points. Roy and Knapp both earned gritty victories, but a fall at 165 lbs., a major decision at 184, and a loss at 197 gave Appalachian State the final edge.

Yet despite the Crimson’s team struggles in dual competition, the emergence of another legitimate star has the program in the spotlight just a year after JP O’Connor took home a national title.

“[Peppelman] is understanding that he can beat anybody,” Weiss said. “Confidence is the thing that’s going to carry him. He’s always had the talent, and now he has that confidence.”

—Staff writer Max N. Brondfield can be reached at mbrondf@fas.harvard.edu.