Oklahoma State Dominates as Missouri Struggles in Return to Hearnes Center
Friday night was supposed to be a showcase-a marquee Big 12 wrestling clash between two proud programs. Instead, it turned into a humbling homecoming for Missouri, who returned to the Hearnes Center after a two-month road stretch only to be overwhelmed by a deep, disciplined Oklahoma State squad.
The final score told the story: Cowboys 33, Tigers 3. But the details inside that box score painted an even clearer picture of where these two teams are right now-and how far Missouri still has to go if it wants to be in the national conversation come March.
Teague Travis vs. Landon Robideau: A Marquee Matchup That Set the Tone
At 157 pounds, the spotlight was squarely on Teague Travis, a Columbia native and midseason addition for Missouri. Ranked No. 15 nationally and a two-time NCAA qualifier, Travis was making his home debut in black and gold. Across from him stood Oklahoma State’s Landon Robideau, a freshman phenom already ranked No. 6 in the country.
This was the kind of match that could have swung momentum. Instead, Robideau took control early with a takedown in the final seconds of the first period, rode Travis out for the entire second, and added an escape in the third to seal a commanding 5-0 win.
It wasn’t flashy, but it was clinical. And it set the tone for what would become a long night for the Tigers.
A Rough Night All Around for Missouri
Missouri managed just one win in ten bouts. One takedown.
One moment for the 2,440 fans in attendance to rise to their feet. That moment came courtesy of redshirt freshman Aeoden Sinclair, who continues to look every bit the future star.
Ranked No. 3 at 184 pounds, Sinclair scored a late takedown to knock off No. 8 Zack Ryder, 4-1.
It was a bright spot, but also a lone one.
“That's a really good team,” head coach Brian Smith said post-match. “But we scored one takedown the whole match. That’s not going to win you many matches.”
He’s not wrong. The Cowboys racked up 13 takedowns-eight of them in the first period alone-compared to Missouri’s one. They dominated the riding-time battle in four matches and outscored the Tigers 66-17 in total match points.
But what really stung were the close ones.
Close, But Not Close Enough
Missouri didn’t get blown out in every bout. In fact, five matches were decided by three points or fewer.
Another two came down to four and five-point margins. These were winnable bouts-matches where Missouri had chances, got in on legs, but couldn’t finish.
“We lost a lot of tight matches where we were in on legs,” Smith said. “At 197 and 165, I thought we had takedowns.
You have to find ways to beat good people. When you get to a leg, you have to finish.
That was the difference. When they got to a leg, they finished.”
That theme played out again and again. At 149, true freshman Seth Mendoza forced three stall calls against All-American Casey Swiderski but gave up a late takedown in the first period and lost 4-3.
At 174, Cam Steed dropped a 2-1 decision to Alex Facundo on a stalling point. At 285, Jarrett Stoner hung tough but couldn’t crack Konner Doucet’s defense in a 4-1 loss.
These weren’t blowouts. But they weren’t wins either.
“All of those one-takedown or one- or two-point matches, we fell on the short side on all of them but one,” Smith said. “That’s the difference between where they are and where we are, why they’re ranked fifth and we’re 17th. We have to figure that out.”
Cowboys Bring Bonus Points and Depth
While Missouri was left ruing missed opportunities, Oklahoma State showed why it’s a legitimate Big 12 title contender and a threat on the national stage.
At 125, Troy Spratley-last year’s NCAA finalist-opened the dual with a 19-5 major decision. At 133, Jax Forrest needed just 3:11 to tech fall Gage Walker, 16-1. At 141, Sergio Vega, the No. 2 wrestler in the country, pinned Easton Hilton in just 92 seconds.
Three matches in, and it was already 15-0. That’s what elite teams do: stack bonus points early and make the rest of the night an uphill climb for the opponent.
The rest of the Cowboys’ lineup didn’t let up. They didn’t just win-they won with poise, pace, and precision. Whether it was finishing shots late in periods, riding tough on top, or capitalizing on small mistakes, Oklahoma State showed the kind of attention to detail that separates top-five teams from the rest.
Where Missouri Goes From Here
Missouri now sits at 8-7 overall and 2-2 in Big 12 action. The Tigers have talent, no doubt.
Sinclair is a hammer at 184. Mendoza is a freshman with real upside.
Travis, Conway, Steed-these are guys who can win big matches. But right now, they’re not closing the gap against the elite.
Flipping a few of those close matches wouldn’t have erased the 30-point deficit, but it would’ve made the scoreboard look more competitive-and, more importantly, built momentum heading into the heart of the season.
“I hate to lose,” Smith said. “I hate losing like that.
That’s humbling. But I also know that’s a really good team, and we have to match the intensity better.”
He’s right again. Missouri doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel.
But it does need to sharpen the edges. Finish the shots.
Win the scrambles. Control the little moments that decide close matches.
Because in March, those little moments decide whether you’re wrestling for a trophy-or watching someone else hold it.
Final Score: #5 Oklahoma State 33, #17 Missouri 3
- 125 lbs: #7 Troy Spratley (OSU) maj. dec. #24 Mack Mauger (MIZ), 19-5
- 133 lbs: #14 Jax Forrest (OSU) tech. fall #26 Gage Walker (MIZ), 16-1 (3:11)
- 141 lbs: #2 Sergio Vega (OSU) pinned Easton Hilton (MIZ), 1:32
- 149 lbs: #12 Casey Swiderski (OSU) dec. Seth Mendoza (MIZ), 4-3
- 157 lbs: #6 Landon Robideau (OSU) dec. #15 Teague Travis (MIZ), 5-0
- 165 lbs: #2 Ladarion Lockett (OSU) dec. J Conway (MIZ), 4-2
- 174 lbs: #7 Alex Facundo (OSU) dec. #10 Cam Steed (MIZ), 2-1
- 184 lbs: #3 Aeoden Sinclair (MIZ) dec. #8 Zack Ryder (OSU), 4-1
- 197 lbs: #7 Cody Merrill (OSU) dec. #12 Evan Bates (MIZ), 4-0
- 285 lbs: #6 Konner Doucet (OSU) dec. #26 Jarrett Stoner (MIZ), 4-1
Missouri gets another shot to regroup soon. But if Friday night was any indication, the Tigers have some soul-searching-and plenty of film study-ahead.