A date highlighted every year, the No. 3 Cyclones take on the No. 5 Oklahoma State Cowboys in the premier Big 12 dual. While two key wrestlers are missing from today’s lineup, Evan Frost for Iowa State and Zack Ryder for Oklahoma State, there are many matchups up and down the rosters that could swing in any direction.
125: No. 13 Poulin ISU Vs. No. 7 Spratley OSU
While Stevo Poulin has been displaying a slower, more defensive strategy in recent bouts, it did get him into trouble during the second period
as he allowed two points by stalling along with an escape to find himself in a 3-0 deficit. While he did accumulate over a minute of riding time in the second, the lack of a takedown in the third resulted in a 3-1 decision for Troy Spratley and the cowboys.
3-0 Cowboys after 1
133: Diversent ISU Vs. No. (12) Forrest OSU
Evan Frost is still out with an illness, as Dresser looks to keep him 100% for March. Redshirt freshman Osmany Diversent gets the nod, but got absolutely worked in the first period, allowing 10 nearfall points following an early takedown. A final takedown in the early stage of the second ends the match in just 3:30 with a 16-0 tech fall for Jax Forrest and establishes a commanding early lead for the cowboys.
8-0 Cowboys after 2
141: No. 3 Echemendia ISU Vs. No. 2 Vega
Going off the rankings alone, this was the headlining match of the day. Just over a month away from the Big 12 tournament, both wrestlers knew that this was the biggest piece of their résumé before the tournament season begins in March. After two slow periods that ended in a 0-0 stalemate, Echemendia put on the gas in the third after voluntarily allowing the escape. With fifteen seconds left, Echemendia allows a counterattack to prove the difference maker as Vega wins in a 4-2 decision and remains undefeated.
11-0 Cowboys after 3
149: No. 6 Frost ISU Vs. No. 12 Swiderski OSU
If you like drama, then this may have been your headliner of the day. Wrestling now with the Cowboys, Casey Swiderski finished as an All-American as a Cyclone in 2024, finishing seventh. This bout continued the theme of the day of being very low scoring through the early stages of the bout. Swiderski netted a takedown in the final minute to light up the crowd and finish with another 4-2 decision for the Cowboys.
14-0 Cowboys after 4
157: No. 8 Zerban ISU Vs. No. 6 Robideau OSU
In a spell of déjà vu, this bout was still a slow burn, but Robideau did establish himself as the aggressor. While Vinny Zerban did demonstrate some great defense and flexibility that would send me to the hospital, a late takedown with fifteen seconds left was the difference maker as Landon Robideau extends his Big 12 dominance with a 4-1 decision.
17-0 Cowboys after 5
165: No. 16 Euton ISU Vs. No. 2 Lockett OSU
This was an uphill battle from the jump for Connor Euton, and while the first period ended without any points, LaDarion Lockett took control in the second. 10-2 after two periods, Lockett’s second period was the key as the Cowboys continued their stranglehold on the usually aggressive Cyclone squad.
21-0 Cowboys after 6
174: No. 13 Gaitan ISU Vs. No. 7 Facundo OSU
A reoccurring nightmare, the Cyclones again fall to the cowboys in a slow match in the first five minutes, and then allow a late takedown in the third for a 4-2 final. With this round’s victim being MJ Gaitan, the Cowboys secured the dual win after just seven matches.
24-0 Cowboys after 7 (Dual win secured)
184: No. 12 Dean ISU Vs. Dopps OSU
Zack Ryder is injured for Oklahoma State after his sudden victory loss to Nick Fox of UNI, so Trevor Dopps gets the nod for the Cowboys for his first dual appearance. In a close bout, Issac Dean recorded the first takedown of the day for the Cyclones in the eighth match of the dual (gross) as Iowa State got on the board with a 5-1 decision.
24-3 Cowboys after 8
197: No. 2 Elam ISU Vs. No. 7 Merrill OSU
Even if the score may not reflect it, this match contained some of the highest intensity moments of the day. Cody Merrill is clearly a fan favorite, and the crowd was all in on the upset potential. Entering the third period tied 1-1 and Merill controlling well over two minutes of riding time, Rocky Elam went for the ride out. While holding on to a stall call, Elam found the ride out to send the match to sudden victory, to the dismay of the stillwater faithful. In tie-breakers, Elam was tasked with finding a takedown in 30 seconds which he found at the buzzer in the match of the day, continuing his undefeated campaign. .
24-6 Cowboys after 9
285: No. 1 Bastida ISU Vs. No. 6 Doucet OSU
Snapping a streak of six straight matches with bonus points, Bastida still establishes himself as a surefire bet for the Cyclones. A first period takedown marking the difference, Bastida continues his undefeated season by thwarting off Doucet’s late attacks while carrying a stall warning.
24-9 Cowboys after 10
While the final three weights proved successful for the Cyclones, the lower to mid weights lacked a spark as the cyclones failed to record a takedown in every match they lost in. Oklahoma State is still a very formidable squad, but many Cyclone wrestlers had potential issues exposed a month ahead of the Big 12 Tournament in Tulsa.
Up Next: Home vs. West Virginia, Feb 13 (Beauty and the Beast)
