The No. 5 Cowboys continue to roll with clear win over Northern Iowa.
STILLWATER, Okla. — No. 5 Oklahoma State Cowboys wrestling team dismantled the No. 13 Northern Iowa Panthers with a resounding 34-3 win on Friday night, January 30, 2026, at the historic Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
The dual, part of a pivotal Big 12 weekend, saw the Cowboys improve to 9-1 overall and maintain their undefeated streak in conference action at 4-0.
For Northern Iowa, the loss snapped a six-dual winning streak, dropping them to 9-5 on the season and marking their first setback in Big 12 competition.
The electric atmosphere in Gallagher-Iba, often dubbed “The Home of Wrestling,” was palpable as OSU showcased depth, technique, and resilience, outscoring UNI in bonus points across four bouts and dominating takedowns 17-1 early on.
The match kicked off at 125 pounds, setting the tone for OSU’s aggressive start.
No. 7 Troy Spratley, affectionately known as “Sparky” for his high-energy style, faced No. 32 Trever Anderson of UNI.
Spratley secured a takedown in the first period and a reversal in the second, adding a riding time point to clinch a 6-1 decision.
This early victory energized the crowd and gave the Cowboys a quick 3-0 lead.
Following suit at 133 pounds, freshman sensation Jax Forrest, who enrolled just three weeks prior and boasts a perfect 7-0 record, overwhelmed No. 25 Julian Farber.
Forrest racked up consistent takedowns, culminating in a 19-4 technical fall in the final minute of the third period, pushing OSU’s advantage to 8-0.
The momentum continued at 141 pounds, where undefeated freshman Sergio Vega took on Max Brady.
Vega built a 4-1 lead by the third period before tilting Brady for nearfall points, securing a 14-3 major decision and extending the Cowboys’ lead to 12-0.
At 149 pounds, No. 8 Casey Swiderski battled No. 32 Caleb Rathjen in a bout marred by a lengthy injury timeout after Swiderski’s early takedown, stemming from Rathjen’s knee issue.
Swiderski maintained control, winning 9-2 by decision despite no further takedowns, making the score 15-0.
No. 6 Landon Robideau kept the bonus points flowing at 157 pounds against Cael Rahnavardi.
After a brief injury stoppage for Robideau’s lower leg, he notched a late takedown to seal a 14-4 major decision, ballooning OSU’s lead to 19-0.
The 165-pound matchup provided the evening’s most dramatic moment. No. 2 Dee Lockett, a freshman on the verge of his first collegiate loss, trailed No. 6 Ryder Downey 4-1 entering the final seconds.
In a frantic finish, Lockett executed a takedown and two nearfall points just as the clock expired, turning defeat into a 6-4 victory after review.
This heart-pounding win, the first time an OSU wrestler was taken down all night, highlighted Lockett’s clutch ability and pushed the score to 22-0.
At 174 pounds, No. 7 Alex Facundo faced No. 12 Jared Simma in a tightly contested affair.
Facundo earned an escape and takedown in the second period, holding off a late apparent takedown by Simma that was waved off, resulting in a 5-1 decision and a 25-0 OSU lead.
Northern Iowa finally broke through at 184 pounds, where unranked Nick Fox pulled off a stunning upset against No. 8 Zack Ryder.
Tied 1-1 at the end of regulation, the bout went to sudden-victory overtime. Ryder appeared to suffer a shoulder injury with 11 seconds left in the third but returned.
Fox capitalized with a reversal just 11 seconds into overtime, securing a 3-1 SV-1 decision, UNI’s lone victory and points of the night.
This extended Fox’s personal winning streak to six matches, trimming the deficit to 25-3.
The Cowboys quickly regained control at 197 pounds. No. 7 Cody Merrill dominated Carson Babcock, riding him the entire third period after an escape in the second and adding a riding time point for a 2-0 decision, making it 28-3.
The dual concluded emphatically at heavyweight, with No. 7 Konner Doucet pinning Grant Stromberg at 6:35 in the third period after a takedown.
As the pin was called, confetti rained down from the Gallagher-Iba rafters, capping OSU’s dominant 34-3 triumph.
This victory underscores Oklahoma State’s depth under head coach David Taylor, with freshmen like Lockett and Forrest shining brightly.
The Cowboys’ ability to rack up bonus points—two majors, one tech fall, and a pin, demonstrated their superiority in controlling matches from start to finish.
For UNI, led by head coach Doug Schwab, the performance in close bouts like 165 and 174 shows promise, but the Panthers were outmatched in execution against one of the nation’s elite programs.
Looking ahead, Oklahoma State hosts a top-five showdown against No. 4 Iowa State on Sunday, February 1, at 2 p.m. CT in Gallagher-Iba, a matchup that could have major implications for the Big 12 title and NCAA seeding.
Northern Iowa, meanwhile, heads to Norman to face No. 21 Oklahoma on Saturday, January 31, at 7 p.m. CT, aiming to rebound quickly in conference play.
Friday’s dual reaffirmed why Gallagher-Iba remains a fortress for Cowboy wrestling, where history and dominance collide.