Six Sooners punch tickets to nationals, marking a program milestone, as Oklahoma wrestling achieves its highest NCAA qualifier count in years
TULSA, Okla. - The University of Oklahoma wrestling team delivered a strong performance during Session III of the 2026 Big 12 Championship on Saturday afternoon at the BOK Center.
Seven Sooners secured spots on the podium, showcasing resilience and determination in the consolation rounds, while the program added two crucial automatic NCAA qualifying bids to bring their season total to six—the highest under third-year head coach Roger Kish and the most since the Sooners sent eight wrestlers to the nationals in 2023.
As a team, Oklahoma finished seventh in the final standings with 73 points. This placement reflects a competitive showing in one of the nation's toughest conferences, where Oklahoma State dominated with multiple individual titles and the team crown, but the Sooners held their own with consistent performances across multiple weight classes.
At 125 pounds, Conrad Hendriksen battled through the consolation bracket to earn his first career NCAA bid. After dropping a tough 8-2 decision in the consolation semifinals to No. 3 seed and 11th-ranked Jett Strickenberger of West Virginia, Hendriksen faced a familiar opponent in the fifth-place match: fourth-seeded Brady Roark of South Dakota State.
Hendriksen had previously defeated Roark in the opening round, and he replicated that success with a gritty 3-1 decision. The redshirt sophomore's ability to grind out close matches highlighted his growth and tenacity throughout the tournament.
The momentum continued at 133 pounds, where Carter Schmidt faced a high-stakes, win-and-in scenario against South Dakota State's eighth-seeded Cale Seaton in the seventh-place bout. This match carried extra significance as it represented one of the final automatic qualifying positions based on pre-determined NCAA allocations.
After a scoreless first period, Schmidt turned up the intensity in the second frame. He secured an escape point, followed it with a takedown, and then executed a precise single-leg trip that landed Seaton on his back for a pin. The dramatic finish not only sealed Schmidt's first career NCAA qualification but also joined Hendriksen, Carter Schubert, and Juan Mora as Sooners earning their initial bids this weekend.Several other Sooners fought valiantly in the consolation semifinals before finishing fourth overall.
Tyler Wells (141 pounds), Carter Schubert (174), DJ Parker (197), and Juan Mora (285) each picked up key wins to advance to their placement matches but ultimately fell short in those bouts. Their fourth-place finishes still underscored the depth and competitiveness within the Oklahoma lineup.
Rounding out the Sooner contingent, Peyten Kellar at 165 pounds placed eighth after a 14-9 loss in the seventh-place match to Cal Baptist's No. 6 seed Gabriel Schumm.
These results mark a milestone for the program under Coach Kish, who has steadily built the Sooners since taking over. Sending six wrestlers to the NCAA Championships represents significant progress, especially with four earning their first career bids—a testament to the development of younger talent and the team's overall improvement.
Full details and brackets from Saturday's third session are available on FloWrestling for fans seeking comprehensive match-by-match breakdowns.
Looking ahead, the six qualifying Sooners—Hendriksen, Schmidt, Wells, Schubert, Parker, and Mora—will travel to Cleveland, Ohio, for the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Arena from March 19-21.
With all conference tournaments now complete, the NCAA Division I Wrestling Committee will convene in person to select the remaining 42 at-large qualifiers, with those announcements set for March 10.
Brackets and seeding will follow on NCAA.com at 8 p.m. on March 11. Each weight class will feature a full field of 33 wrestlers, setting the stage for an intense national tournament where the Sooners aim to build on their conference success and make noise on the biggest stage.