Photo by: Dave Nishitani/Oregon State Athletics
Pendleton's Path
December 31, 2022 | Wrestling
Ahead of the Oregon State's dual against Oklahoma State - one of the sport's most decorated programs, a look at head coach Chris Pendleton's journey to becoming the Beavers' leader.
For Chris Pendleton, his journey from California's central valley to Corvallis would not have been possible without a city in central Oklahoma, Stillwater.
The Beavers' head coach starred in his time as a Cowboy. More specifically, he was a two-time national champion at 174 lbs, a three-time all-American, a two-time Big 12 champion and part of four national championship-winning squads during his time in Stillwater. The 2005 squad that featured five individual champions – which is a feat has yet to be matched or beaten.
Pendleton has accumulated milestones in guiding all-americans, team conference titles, individual conference champions but has yet to do one thing: face his alma mater inside Gill Coliseum.
In the summer of 1997, Pendleton and his Lemoore High School teammates – packed in a RV – made the 3,000-plus mile roundtrip trek to Stillwater for what was his first experience with the Cowboys at a team camp.
Once finally in that central Oklahoma city, a nervous midweight competitor unsure of his technique, Pendleton reached out to one of the sport's legends, Cowboy head coach John Smith. After gaining the confidence to approach the leader, he started to break out of his shell in the new environment on his way to becoming the wrestler he was leaving Oklahoma State.
Flash forward a few years, Pendleton – among the best on the prep scene - was competing in Reno, Nevada in his senior year and defeating the number two and number four guys in the country. "I was beyond excited because I saw my high school talking to (Coach) Smith," added Pendleton. For good reason, he was quite excited.
"We were in Reno, he (Pendleton) was part of a good team under the direction of a good coach," said Smith. "He was serious about wrestling and when we saw him and knew right away that he could be special just by telling from his demeanor and his attitude. We knew right away – except for what weight – that this guy could bring everything that you look for. He didn't disappoint."
Following his performance in Reno, Pendleton chose to sign with the Cowboys over the likes of fellow bluebloods such as Arizona State, Iowa and Iowa State.
Undersized when he arrived in Stillwater, Pendleton intended to use a redshirt year to develop and get better acclimated to the change in competition. The Californian saw his redshirt after a teammate was sidelined by injury and was among the selections for bouts and in a twist of fate, Pendleton recorded his first varsity win against an opponent from Oregon State.
Though not initially the champion wrestler he left, Smith saw a fighter with a great mindset in Pendleton when he brought him to campus.
"It was rough, not very easy for him … the transition from California to Oklahoma, said Smith. "On top of being a freshman, he was thin and needed to bring up energy in the weight room since he needed to be stronger. Piling muscle on really made a big difference for him. That first year was rough for him, he wasn't used to losing but still had a good attitude and seemed to be angry a lot. The anger was a positive, it was a driving point to do better and want more instead of pouting about it."
By his third season in 2002-03, Pendleton made the jump up to 174 lbs. and was making his name known on the national scene. The sophomore went 30-2 on his way to a third-place finish at the NCAAs, his first Big 12 title and All-America honors.
Securing his first national championship by a technical fall, Pendleton went 33-1 with a 9-0 mark in duals for the 2003-04 season. His run to the title included a pin in the semifinal that only took 2:08 off the clock over Purdue's Ryan Lange.
In the 2004-05 season, Pendleton and the Cowboys put on a performance the wrestling world had never seen before and has not seen since. Oklahoma State had five wrestlers – exactly half of a lineup – win individual national championships, as well as taking their third consecutive team title. Thanks to the performance of those five winners, the Pokes had a 70-point cushion over second-place Michigan at the end of the three-day tournament in St. Louis. The team title capped off a perfect season – 21-0 in duals competition – for Oklahoma State.
"When you look at Chris and what he came from, we didn't initially think 'this is a two-time national champion, we saw him and thought he looked competitive and worth taking a chance on,'" said Smith. "We dug deeper into our process and talked about if (Pendleton) was someone that we really wanted. He really developed here. He and his teammates brought an energy that could take you to the top. Chris was a massive part of that."
The Cowboys' most recent trip to Corvallis was in that season and that squad was led by Pendleton, an All-American and would reach the top spot in his weight class by season's end.
After competing, Pendleton worked his way up as an assistant with Wyoming and Pac-12 rival, Arizona State, before making his way to Corvallis.
"He was a very big part of that (the 2005 team)," said Smith. "When you watched him wrestle and compete, there were teammates that wanted to follow that. He had a level of energy when he was on the mat that you just loved to watch."
Following Pendleton receiving the Pac-12's Coach of the Year award last season, he etched himself in the record books in another black-and-orange OSU, the one in the Willamette Valley. Pendleton is making his mark on the Beavers, leading All-Americans and Pac-12 champions.
"He was part of national championship teams but more importantly, he was a part of making a difference for people," added Smith. "I've been proud of him in his coaching career: going from Wyoming to Arizona and right now the head coach of Oregon State. I'm proud. That means more to me than winning a national championship. The people he touches, the development that can take place in the state of Oregon with a guy like Chris in it. I know what kind of guy he is, what kind of man he is."
For Chris Pendleton, his journey from California's central valley to Corvallis would not have been possible without a city in central Oklahoma, Stillwater.
The Beavers' head coach starred in his time as a Cowboy. More specifically, he was a two-time national champion at 174 lbs, a three-time all-American, a two-time Big 12 champion and part of four national championship-winning squads during his time in Stillwater. The 2005 squad that featured five individual champions – which is a feat has yet to be matched or beaten.
Pendleton has accumulated milestones in guiding all-americans, team conference titles, individual conference champions but has yet to do one thing: face his alma mater inside Gill Coliseum.
In the summer of 1997, Pendleton and his Lemoore High School teammates – packed in a RV – made the 3,000-plus mile roundtrip trek to Stillwater for what was his first experience with the Cowboys at a team camp.
Once finally in that central Oklahoma city, a nervous midweight competitor unsure of his technique, Pendleton reached out to one of the sport's legends, Cowboy head coach John Smith. After gaining the confidence to approach the leader, he started to break out of his shell in the new environment on his way to becoming the wrestler he was leaving Oklahoma State.
Flash forward a few years, Pendleton – among the best on the prep scene - was competing in Reno, Nevada in his senior year and defeating the number two and number four guys in the country. "I was beyond excited because I saw my high school talking to (Coach) Smith," added Pendleton. For good reason, he was quite excited.
"We were in Reno, he (Pendleton) was part of a good team under the direction of a good coach," said Smith. "He was serious about wrestling and when we saw him and knew right away that he could be special just by telling from his demeanor and his attitude. We knew right away – except for what weight – that this guy could bring everything that you look for. He didn't disappoint."
Following his performance in Reno, Pendleton chose to sign with the Cowboys over the likes of fellow bluebloods such as Arizona State, Iowa and Iowa State.
Undersized when he arrived in Stillwater, Pendleton intended to use a redshirt year to develop and get better acclimated to the change in competition. The Californian saw his redshirt after a teammate was sidelined by injury and was among the selections for bouts and in a twist of fate, Pendleton recorded his first varsity win against an opponent from Oregon State.
Though not initially the champion wrestler he left, Smith saw a fighter with a great mindset in Pendleton when he brought him to campus.
"It was rough, not very easy for him … the transition from California to Oklahoma, said Smith. "On top of being a freshman, he was thin and needed to bring up energy in the weight room since he needed to be stronger. Piling muscle on really made a big difference for him. That first year was rough for him, he wasn't used to losing but still had a good attitude and seemed to be angry a lot. The anger was a positive, it was a driving point to do better and want more instead of pouting about it."
By his third season in 2002-03, Pendleton made the jump up to 174 lbs. and was making his name known on the national scene. The sophomore went 30-2 on his way to a third-place finish at the NCAAs, his first Big 12 title and All-America honors.
Securing his first national championship by a technical fall, Pendleton went 33-1 with a 9-0 mark in duals for the 2003-04 season. His run to the title included a pin in the semifinal that only took 2:08 off the clock over Purdue's Ryan Lange.
In the 2004-05 season, Pendleton and the Cowboys put on a performance the wrestling world had never seen before and has not seen since. Oklahoma State had five wrestlers – exactly half of a lineup – win individual national championships, as well as taking their third consecutive team title. Thanks to the performance of those five winners, the Pokes had a 70-point cushion over second-place Michigan at the end of the three-day tournament in St. Louis. The team title capped off a perfect season – 21-0 in duals competition – for Oklahoma State.
"When you look at Chris and what he came from, we didn't initially think 'this is a two-time national champion, we saw him and thought he looked competitive and worth taking a chance on,'" said Smith. "We dug deeper into our process and talked about if (Pendleton) was someone that we really wanted. He really developed here. He and his teammates brought an energy that could take you to the top. Chris was a massive part of that."
The Cowboys' most recent trip to Corvallis was in that season and that squad was led by Pendleton, an All-American and would reach the top spot in his weight class by season's end.
After competing, Pendleton worked his way up as an assistant with Wyoming and Pac-12 rival, Arizona State, before making his way to Corvallis.
"He was a very big part of that (the 2005 team)," said Smith. "When you watched him wrestle and compete, there were teammates that wanted to follow that. He had a level of energy when he was on the mat that you just loved to watch."
Following Pendleton receiving the Pac-12's Coach of the Year award last season, he etched himself in the record books in another black-and-orange OSU, the one in the Willamette Valley. Pendleton is making his mark on the Beavers, leading All-Americans and Pac-12 champions.
"He was part of national championship teams but more importantly, he was a part of making a difference for people," added Smith. "I've been proud of him in his coaching career: going from Wyoming to Arizona and right now the head coach of Oregon State. I'm proud. That means more to me than winning a national championship. The people he touches, the development that can take place in the state of Oregon with a guy like Chris in it. I know what kind of guy he is, what kind of man he is."
