The NCAA sponsored its first national tournament in 1928. Head coach Ed Gallagher's Oklahoma A&M Aggies, after capturing seven AAU titles, took aim at the NCAA crown. The Aggies brought that first NCAA Championship back to Stillwater along with the beginnings of a dynasty. Coach Gallagher lead the Cowboys to 10 more national championships in 1929, 1930, 1931, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1937, 1939 and 1940.  

Following the program’s 11th national wrestling championship Coach Gallagher died of pneumonia, after years of fighting Parkinson's Disease.