Cowboys Grind Out Statement Win Over Cyclones Behind Vega’s Heroics, Swiderski’s Fire, and Forrest’s Flash
STILLWATER, Okla. - In a dual loaded with ranked matchups, emotional reunions, and gritty finishes, Oklahoma State flexed its depth and resilience with a 24-9 win over Iowa State at Gallagher-Iba Arena. And while the scoreboard told one story, the individual bouts told another - one of toughness, redemption, and a few flashes of brilliance.
Let’s start with the highlight: Sergio Vega vs. Anthony Echemendia at 141 pounds.
A No. 2 vs. No. 3 showdown that lived up to the billing and then some.
Vega, the true freshman phenom, looked like he was in serious trouble midway through the third period. Echemendia - an All-American and fellow Sunnyside High School alum - had a leg in deep and nearly turned Vega to his back.
But Vega, as he’s done all season, scrambled like his season depended on it. He somehow escaped danger, reset, and when Echemendia went back in for another shot, Vega capitalized.
He caught the Cyclone’s ankle just long enough to flip the momentum and score the match-winning takedown.
The Iowa State corner challenged the call, but the review confirmed what the crowd already knew: Vega had delivered in the clutch.
After the review, with just three seconds left, the two wrestlers shared a moment - a brief embrace between old teammates turned top-tier rivals. Echemendia even lifted Vega off the mat in a show of mutual respect.
“Just getting tough,” Vega said after the match. “The last couple months, going against guys like Casey (Swiderski) and Landon (Robideau), it’s been tough. But when it got gritty in the third, I was ready.”
Vega is now 12-0 in his debut season, and that’s not just an undefeated record - it includes three wins over Top 5 opponents. The kid’s not just staying afloat in deep waters - he’s swimming laps around the best.
Swiderski’s Revenge Tour Hits High Gear
If Vega’s win was about grit, Casey Swiderski’s at 149 pounds was about fire.
Facing his former team and matched up against No. 6 Jacob Frost, Swiderski - ranked No. 12 - delivered a 4-2 win that came with plenty of emotion. His takedown in the final minute brought the crowd to its feet, and on his way back to center, he appeared to let the Iowa State bench know exactly how he felt.
“Emotions were high,” Swiderski admitted. “It was a big moment for me.
A lot of people said things about me. It was fun.
Really fun.”
Swiderski’s season has been a tale of resilience. After starting 0-4, he’s now 10-5, and all five losses have come against Top 16 opponents - three of them to Top 5 guys. Sunday’s win wasn’t just personal, it was another step in a midseason turnaround that’s gaining serious momentum.
Merrill Pushes a National Title Contender to the Brink
The most tightly contested match of the day came at 197 pounds, where redshirt freshman Cody Merrill went toe-to-toe with No. 2 Rocky Elam - a four-time All-American and a legitimate national title threat.
Merrill struck first with a penalty point after Elam used a straight-arm choke to fend off a takedown attempt. But despite multiple deep shots, Merrill couldn’t quite finish. In sudden victory, he had both of Elam’s ankles at the edge of the mat, but a review ruled Elam had stayed just out of bounds long enough to avoid giving up the takedown.
In the tiebreaker, Elam’s experience showed. After riding Merrill out, he scored the match-sealing takedown to win 4-1.
Still, Merrill proved he belongs in the conversation with the nation's best.
“Now you know, ‘OK, this is where I stand against the best guys in the country,’” head coach David Taylor said. “He’s going to get more chances. It’s about making adjustments and continuing to grow.”
Facundo, Robideau Keep Rolling
At 174 pounds, Alex Facundo delivered another strong performance, beating No. 13 MJ Gaitan 4-2 for his fifth straight win over a Top 15 opponent.
It was vintage Facundo - patient, technical, and explosive when it mattered. In the third period, he transitioned from a defensive position to a powerful double leg, lifting and dropping Gaitan for the decisive takedown.
Facundo is now 12-4 after a 1-3 start. He’s not just finding his rhythm - he’s becoming a problem in the middle of the lineup.
At 157, Landon Robideau added another Top 10 win to his résumé, beating No. 8 Vinny Zerban 4-1. Like many of OSU’s wins on Sunday, Robideau’s takedown came in the third - a sign of conditioning, composure, and confidence.
Forrest Flashes Star Power
The dual’s most lopsided match came at 133 pounds, where Jax Forrest lit up the scoreboard with a 16-0 tech fall over Osmany Diversent. The match was over just seconds into the second period.
Forrest was supposed to face No. 3 Evan Frost, but the Cyclone starter was sidelined with the flu. Still, Forrest made the most of the opportunity, racing out to a 13-0 lead in the first period alone - a pace that stood in stark contrast to the rest of the dual, where seven of the first eight matches ended the first period scoreless.
Lockett Opens It Up
At 165, Dee Lockett followed up his Friday-night heroics with a dominant 12-3 major decision over No. 16 Conner Euton. Lockett exploded in the second period with two takedowns and four nearfall points, including a slick move where he faked at one ankle before sweeping the other.
Injuries and Fill-Ins
Oklahoma State was without starter Zack Ryder at 184 pounds after he suffered a shoulder injury Friday night. Trevor Dopps, a redshirt senior, stepped in and dropped a 5-1 decision to No.
12 Isaac Dean. Dopps was still in it early in the third but gave up a late takedown.
Taylor described Ryder as “week to week.”
Final Tally and What’s Next
Here’s how the dual shook out:
| Weight | Result |
|---|
| 125 | Spratley (OSU) dec. Poulin (ISU), 3-1 |
| 133 | Forrest (OSU) TF Diversent (ISU), 16-0 | | 141 | Vega (OSU) dec.
Echemendia (ISU), 4-2 | | 149 | Swiderski (OSU) dec.
Frost (ISU), 4-2 | | 157 | Robideau (OSU) dec.
Zerban (ISU), 4-1 | | 165 | Lockett (OSU) MD Euton (ISU), 12-3 |
| 174 | Facundo (OSU) dec. Gaitan (ISU), 4-2 |
| 184 | Dean (ISU) dec. Dopps (OSU), 5-1 |
| 197 | Elam (ISU) dec. Merrill (OSU), 4-1 TB-1 |
| HWT | Bastida (ISU) dec. Doucet (OSU), 5-2 |
The Cowboys are back in Gallagher-Iba on Friday night for their fourth home dual in two weeks, hosting Little Rock at 7 p.m. With momentum building and the postseason in sight, this young Oklahoma State squad is starting to look like a serious threat on the national stage.