Even without a dual meet on the schedule, Oklahoma State wrestling stayed plenty busy over the weekend - and head coach David Taylor had plenty to say about it. From a promising freshman’s continued rise, to a veteran’s return from injury, to a familiar face now wearing a different shade of singlet, the Cowboys’ storylines are heating up as they gear up for a big stretch of duals.
Here are three key takeaways from Taylor’s midweek media availability.
Jax Forrest Keeps Rolling - and Growing
After lighting up Gallagher-Iba Arena with a 47-second pin in his home debut, Jax Forrest took a different kind of step forward at the Cyclone Open in Ames. The true freshman went 4-0 on the day, capped by a 4-0 win over two-time U23 world champ Reineri Ortega in the final - a matchup that, unfortunately for fans, wasn’t streamed.
Still, Taylor came away impressed with what he saw from Forrest - both in terms of results and development.
“He looked good,” Taylor said. “He was able to just get a couple more matches. Obviously, you have his electric one here, and not every time you wrestle is going to be like that.”
That’s the reality of college wrestling. Not every match is going to be a highlight-reel finish in front of a packed arena. Sometimes, it’s about grinding through tough positions, staying patient, and finding ways to win against elite opponents - like Ortega, who tested Forrest’s composure and scrambling ability.
“There wasn’t a lot of mat wrestling,” Taylor noted. “But good for him. Showed some patience and figured it out.”
Forrest also racked up bonus points in his earlier matches, tech-falling backups from Northwestern and Illinois and pinning an Iowa State wrestler. The Cyclone Open marked his second competition date - out of a maximum five - that he can use while preserving his redshirt. Whether Forrest ultimately redshirts or not is still to be determined.
“You got five dates, and you just want to give him a well-rounded experience,” Taylor said. “Home matches, away matches, a tournament - we just gotta keep figuring that stuff out. When we have a decision, we’ll let you guys know.”
Tagen Jamison Returns to Action
It’s been a long road back for Tagen Jamison, who missed the start of the season after suffering an injury over the summer. But the two-year starter at 141 pounds made his return at the Cyclone Open - this time up a weight class, wrestling unattached at 149.
Jamison wrestled five matches and finished runner-up in his bracket, falling to Missouri freshman Seth Mendoza in the final. While he’s not back in the lineup just yet, the outing was a major step in the right direction.
“He’s working himself kind of back into wrestling shape,” Taylor said. “That’s a lot when you go from essentially just getting cleared and you go wrestle five matches. That’s a long day of wrestling.”
The Cowboys have depth at 141 with Casey Swiderski currently holding down the starting spot, but Jamison’s return adds another layer of experience and competition to the room.
“Tagen’s a very explosive, strong wrestler,” Taylor said. “I think he looked good this weekend.
And he’s doing a good job in his recovery. Our trainer Nick Goldstein has done a great job progressing him.”
A Familiar Face in a New Singlet
Friday’s dual against Missouri is already circled on the calendar for a number of reasons - including a top-10 showdown at 184 pounds between OSU’s Zack Ryder and Missouri’s Aeoden Sinclair.
But another matchup could carry a little extra intrigue: at 157 pounds, former Cowboy Teague Travis is expected to face OSU freshman Landon Robideau.
Travis, a two-time NCAA qualifier for Oklahoma State, transferred to Missouri in the offseason. Last year, he returned from injury in time to make the Cowboys’ postseason lineup at 149 pounds. Now, he’s likely to square off against a former teammate in Robideau, who earned the spot earlier this season after a wrestle-off between the two.
Taylor acknowledged the history - but made it clear that, once the whistle blows, it’s all business.
“Everyone here had good relationships with Teague,” Taylor said. “But the minute he decided to go and wrestle somewhere else, he’s not on our team anymore - he knows that.”
That said, Taylor still had high praise for his former wrestler.
“He’s a tough - really tough - kid. Landon and him had a wrestle-off earlier this year, and they’ll likely be wrestling probably this weekend. One of those things where you’re excited to see him, but you gotta go wrestle against him.”
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With duals against Missouri and Utah Valley on deck, Oklahoma State is entering a critical stretch of the season. And while the lineup continues to evolve - with young stars like Forrest emerging, veterans like Jamison returning, and former Cowboys now on the other side - one thing is clear: the competition is only getting tougher, and the Cowboys are embracing it.