Oklahoma State Dominates Early, Iowa State Rallies Late in Big 12 Wrestling Showdown
When the No. 3 Iowa State Cyclones and No.
5 Oklahoma State Cowboys meet on the mat, it’s appointment viewing. These are two of the most tradition-rich programs in college wrestling, and when they clash, it’s more than just a dual-it’s a measuring stick.
And in this year's marquee Big 12 matchup, it was the Cowboys who flexed their muscle early and often, jumping out to a commanding lead before the Cyclones finally found their footing in the final three bouts.
Let’s break it down, weight by weight.
125: **No. 13 Stevo Poulin (ISU) vs.
No. 7 Troy Spratley (OSU)**
Poulin came in with a more conservative approach, but it backfired. A pair of stall calls and an escape handed Spratley a 3-0 lead heading into the third.
Despite over a minute of riding time in the second period, Poulin couldn’t find the offense he needed late, and Spratley held on for a 3-1 decision.
Score: 3-0 OSU
133: **Osmany Diversent (ISU) vs. No.
12 Jax Forrest (OSU)**
With Evan Frost still sidelined due to illness, redshirt freshman Osmany Diversent stepped in-and was immediately overwhelmed.
Forrest opened the bout with a takedown and then poured it on with 10 nearfall points in the first period alone. A quick takedown in the second sealed a 16-0 tech fall in just 3:30.
Score: 8-0 OSU
141: **No. 3 Anthony Echemendia (ISU) vs.
No. 2 Jordan Williams Vega (OSU)**
This was the one everyone had circled. Two top-three wrestlers, both eyeing a Big 12 title run.
After two scoreless periods, Echemendia gave up an escape to start the third and turned up the aggression. But it was Vega who capitalized on a late counterattack, scoring the deciding takedown with just seconds left to stay undefeated with a 4-2 decision.
Score: 11-0 OSU
149: **No. 6 Paniro Johnson (ISU) vs.
No. 12 Casey Swiderski (OSU)**
This one had storyline written all over it. Swiderski, a former Cyclone and 2024 All-American, now wearing Cowboy orange, squared off against his former team.
The match stayed tight until the final minute when Swiderski struck with a takedown to seal a 4-2 win and keep the Cowboys rolling.
Score: 14-0 OSU
157: **No. 8 Vinny Zerban (ISU) vs.
No. 6 Landon Robideau (OSU)**
Another low-scoring chess match, and once again, it was Oklahoma State who found the breakthrough late. Robideau stayed the aggressor throughout, and a takedown in the final 15 seconds broke a 1-1 tie and delivered a 4-1 decision.
Score: 17-0 OSU
165: **No. 16 Connor Euton (ISU) vs.
No. 2 LaDarion Lockett (OSU)**
Euton held his own in a scoreless first period, but Lockett flipped the switch in the second. A flurry of points gave him a 10-2 lead heading into the third, and he coasted from there.
Lockett’s performance was a statement-he’s one of the most dangerous wrestlers in the country at 165.
Score: 21-0 OSU
174: **No. 13 MJ Gaitan (ISU) vs.
No. 7 Alex Facundo (OSU)**
Same story, different weight. Another tight match for five minutes, and another late takedown from the Cowboys.
Facundo’s 4-2 win officially clinched the dual for Oklahoma State with three bouts still to go.
Score: 24-0 OSU (Dual clinched)
184: **No. 12 Isaac Dean (ISU) vs.
Trevor Dopps (OSU)**
With Zack Ryder out for OSU, Trevor Dopps stepped in for his first dual appearance.
Dean finally gave the Cyclones something to cheer about, scoring Iowa State’s first takedown of the entire dual-yes, you read that right-in the eighth match. He closed it out with a 5-1 decision to get Iowa State on the board.
Score: 24-3 OSU
197: **No. 2 Rocky Elam (ISU) vs.
No. 7 Cody Merrill (OSU)**
This one had all the drama. Tied 1-1 entering the third, Merrill had over two minutes of riding time and the crowd behind him.
Elam, though, showed why he’s one of the nation’s best. He rode out Merrill to erase the riding time and force overtime, then found a takedown at the buzzer in tiebreakers to steal a 3-1 win in what was arguably the match of the day.
Score: 24-6 OSU
285: **No. 1 Yonger Bastida (ISU) vs.
No. 6 Konner Doucet (OSU)**
Bastida didn’t get the bonus points he’s used to, but he didn’t need them. A first-period takedown was all he needed to stay undefeated and cap off the dual with a 3-1 decision.
Doucet made it interesting late, but Bastida held strong despite a stall warning.
Final Score: 24-9 OSU
Takeaways
Oklahoma State came out with a purpose and didn’t let up. They won the first seven matches and clinched the dual before Iowa State could even get on the board. The Cowboys were sharper, more aggressive, and more opportunistic in the key moments-especially late in periods, where they consistently found match-winning takedowns.
For Iowa State, the back end of the lineup showed some grit. Dean, Elam, and Bastida salvaged the day with strong performances, but the early and middle weights were a different story. The Cyclones didn’t record a single takedown in any of the matches they lost-a stat that says everything about how the dual unfolded.
With the Big 12 Championships just a month away, both teams will take away valuable lessons. Oklahoma State looks like a serious contender for the conference crown, while Iowa State has some soul-searching to do, particularly in how they start matches and generate offense.
This one belonged to the Cowboys, but don’t be surprised if we see a rematch in Tulsa-with a lot more on the line.