Oklahoma State University Athletics
Sunday, February 22
Stillwater, Okla.
5 p.m.
Oklahoma State University
32
vs
11
Iowa
Cowboy Wrestling Thrashes No. 7 Iowa to Close Regular Season
February 22, 2026 | Cowboy Wrestling
Photos
STILLWATER – The No. 3 Oklahoma State wrestling team defeated No. 7 Iowa to close its dual season in front of a sold-out Gallagher-Iba Arena, 32-11, on Sunday night.
The Cowboys took seven of 10 bouts, collecting bonus points in four of them. The win improves the Cowboys to 15-1 on the season, while the loss drops the Hawkeyes to 12-6. The win was the largest victory over Iowa since 1961 and avenged the Cowboys' lone loss of the season back in November at the National Duals Invitational. It's the most points the Cowboys have scored against Iowa.
"The very first thing I'd like to do is just thank the fans," head coach David Taylor said. "We've kind of talked about and articulated this vision of what we want this place to be, become, and reignite. I hear stories about what this place has been like in the past, and to see it come to fruition in a short period of time is pretty awesome."
David Taylor's Cowboys sold out Gallagher-Iba Arena with 12,629 fans for the second time this season, with a crowd os 12,629 fans boosting this season's average attendance to 9,259.
"The energy is getting better; the momentum is continuing to grow, and it's just special," Taylor said. "I have been to a lot of wrestling matches, I've been in some great environments, but there is nothing like this place. The love, the excitement, the energy. We talk about making this a show; people are going to remember this and these opportunities, these matches."
In the most anticipated bout of the night, Oklahoma State's 133-pounder Jax Forrest took the mat against reigning two-time NCAA finalist No. 9 Drake Ayala. Forrest dominated the bout from the opening whistle, collecting a 19-3 technical fall victory and marking the first time Ayala has surrendered bonus points this season. The freshman phenom improves to 10-0 in his collegiate career and now has a pair of wins over top-10 opponents.
Unbeaten true freshman Sergio Vega (141) continued his dominant freshman season, pinning Iowa's Kale Petersen in the third period. Vega has now picked up bonus points in his last three contests and in five of his last six. The 141-pounder has yet to surrender a takedown in his collegiate career.
In his final duel inside Gallagher-Iba Arena, No. 8 Konner Doucet (HWT) pinned Iowa's Gage Marty to close the evening. The pin was Doucet's third this season. For reference, in his first four seasons with the program, Doucet had only picked up three pins in total. The senior leads the team in dual points scored with 63.
After falling to No. 6 Dean Peterson in the National Duals Invitational, No. 7 Troy Spratley avenged his loss back in November with a 5-2 win over Peterson. The win is Spratley's second top-10 win this season, and eighth ranked win.
197-pounder No. 7 Cody Merrill avenged his loss last week at Virginia Tech, pinning Brody Sampson in the second period. Merrill has pinned his opponent in each of his last two victories.
No. 5 Landon Robideau (157) picked up his seventh straight win this season, defeating former Cowboy No. 14 Jordan Williams, 5-1. Robideau improved to 14-1 this season and now has seven ranked wins.
No. 9 Zack Ryder (197) made his first start in two weeks against Gabe Arnold. Ryder took the bout to sudden victory, where he was able to collect a 2-1 victory over Arnold, who has three ranked wins this season, including two top-10 wins.
No. 2 Dee Lockett (165) and No. 7 Alex Facundo (174) both dropped their bouts to top-five foes, while Kolter Burton (149) dropped his match to No. 18 Ryder Block via technical fall.
Next up, the Cowboys head to the Big 12 Championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on March 6-7 inside the BOK Center, where the Cowboys aim to defend last season's title.
No. 3 Oklahoma State 32, No. 7 Iowa 11
Feb. 22, 2026 | Gallagher-Iba Arena | Stillwater, Okla.
Attendance: 12,629
125: No. 7 Troy Spratley (OSU) dec. No. 6 Dean Peterson (IOWA), 5-2
133: No. 6 Jax Forrest (OSU) TF No. 9 Drake Ayala (IOWA), 19-3, 6:07
141: No. 2 Sergio Vega (OSU) fall Kale Petersen (IOWA), 6:31
149: No. 18 Ryder Block (IOWA), TF Kolter Burton (OSU), 19-4, 5:37
157: No. 5 Landon Robideau (OSU) dec. No. 14 Jordan Williams (IOWA), 5-1
165: No. 4 Mikey Caliendo (IOWA) dec. No. 2 LaDarion Lockett (OSU), 4-2
174: No. 3 Patrick Kennedy (IOWA) dec. No. 7 Alex Facundo (OSU), 8-3
184: No. 9 Zach Ryder (OSU) dec. Gabe Arnold (IOWA), 2-1 SV
197: No. 7 Cody Merrill (OSU) fall Brody Sampson (IOWA), 4:48
HWT: No. 8 Konner Doucet (OSU) fall Gage Marty (IOWA), 5:53
STILLWATER – The No. 3 Oklahoma State wrestling team defeated No. 7 Iowa to close its dual season in front of a sold-out Gallagher-Iba Arena, 32-11, on Sunday night.
The Cowboys took seven of 10 bouts, collecting bonus points in four of them. The win improves the Cowboys to 15-1 on the season, while the loss drops the Hawkeyes to 12-6. The win was the largest victory over Iowa since 1961 and avenged the Cowboys' lone loss of the season back in November at the National Duals Invitational. It's the most points the Cowboys have scored against Iowa.
"The very first thing I'd like to do is just thank the fans," head coach David Taylor said. "We've kind of talked about and articulated this vision of what we want this place to be, become, and reignite. I hear stories about what this place has been like in the past, and to see it come to fruition in a short period of time is pretty awesome."
David Taylor's Cowboys sold out Gallagher-Iba Arena with 12,629 fans for the second time this season, with a crowd os 12,629 fans boosting this season's average attendance to 9,259.
"The energy is getting better; the momentum is continuing to grow, and it's just special," Taylor said. "I have been to a lot of wrestling matches, I've been in some great environments, but there is nothing like this place. The love, the excitement, the energy. We talk about making this a show; people are going to remember this and these opportunities, these matches."
In the most anticipated bout of the night, Oklahoma State's 133-pounder Jax Forrest took the mat against reigning two-time NCAA finalist No. 9 Drake Ayala. Forrest dominated the bout from the opening whistle, collecting a 19-3 technical fall victory and marking the first time Ayala has surrendered bonus points this season. The freshman phenom improves to 10-0 in his collegiate career and now has a pair of wins over top-10 opponents.
Unbeaten true freshman Sergio Vega (141) continued his dominant freshman season, pinning Iowa's Kale Petersen in the third period. Vega has now picked up bonus points in his last three contests and in five of his last six. The 141-pounder has yet to surrender a takedown in his collegiate career.
In his final duel inside Gallagher-Iba Arena, No. 8 Konner Doucet (HWT) pinned Iowa's Gage Marty to close the evening. The pin was Doucet's third this season. For reference, in his first four seasons with the program, Doucet had only picked up three pins in total. The senior leads the team in dual points scored with 63.
After falling to No. 6 Dean Peterson in the National Duals Invitational, No. 7 Troy Spratley avenged his loss back in November with a 5-2 win over Peterson. The win is Spratley's second top-10 win this season, and eighth ranked win.
197-pounder No. 7 Cody Merrill avenged his loss last week at Virginia Tech, pinning Brody Sampson in the second period. Merrill has pinned his opponent in each of his last two victories.
No. 5 Landon Robideau (157) picked up his seventh straight win this season, defeating former Cowboy No. 14 Jordan Williams, 5-1. Robideau improved to 14-1 this season and now has seven ranked wins.
No. 9 Zack Ryder (197) made his first start in two weeks against Gabe Arnold. Ryder took the bout to sudden victory, where he was able to collect a 2-1 victory over Arnold, who has three ranked wins this season, including two top-10 wins.
No. 2 Dee Lockett (165) and No. 7 Alex Facundo (174) both dropped their bouts to top-five foes, while Kolter Burton (149) dropped his match to No. 18 Ryder Block via technical fall.
Next up, the Cowboys head to the Big 12 Championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on March 6-7 inside the BOK Center, where the Cowboys aim to defend last season's title.
No. 3 Oklahoma State 32, No. 7 Iowa 11
Feb. 22, 2026 | Gallagher-Iba Arena | Stillwater, Okla.
Attendance: 12,629
125: No. 7 Troy Spratley (OSU) dec. No. 6 Dean Peterson (IOWA), 5-2
133: No. 6 Jax Forrest (OSU) TF No. 9 Drake Ayala (IOWA), 19-3, 6:07
141: No. 2 Sergio Vega (OSU) fall Kale Petersen (IOWA), 6:31
149: No. 18 Ryder Block (IOWA), TF Kolter Burton (OSU), 19-4, 5:37
157: No. 5 Landon Robideau (OSU) dec. No. 14 Jordan Williams (IOWA), 5-1
165: No. 4 Mikey Caliendo (IOWA) dec. No. 2 LaDarion Lockett (OSU), 4-2
174: No. 3 Patrick Kennedy (IOWA) dec. No. 7 Alex Facundo (OSU), 8-3
184: No. 9 Zach Ryder (OSU) dec. Gabe Arnold (IOWA), 2-1 SV
197: No. 7 Cody Merrill (OSU) fall Brody Sampson (IOWA), 4:48
HWT: No. 8 Konner Doucet (OSU) fall Gage Marty (IOWA), 5:53
Players Mentioned
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