Oklahoma State’s Kolter Burton, bottom, wrestles Iowa’s Ryder Block at 149 pounds during a college wrestling dual between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) and the Iowa Hawkeyes at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla., Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (Photo/BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN)

NCAA

STILLWATER, Okla. — In front of a pack house full of Cowboy faithful, No. 3 Oklahoma State put on a show, topping the No. 7 Iowa Hawkeyes 32-11 behind electric performances from their underclassmen. 

True freshman Jax Forrest put up the statement result of the night when he teched two-time NCAA finalist Drake Ayala and then confidently declared in his post-match interview that he’s coming for the title.

The spring semester has been all about Forrest, and he showed he’s not slowing down one bit. 

Teammate and fellow true freshman Sergio Vega followed Forrest’s performance with a fall over Kale Peterson to give the Cowboys a 14-0 lead, thanks to his six team points, Forrest’s five team points and a three-point decision win from No. 7 Troy Spratley over Iowa’s No. 6 Dean Peterson. 

The Hawks and the Cowboys split 149 and 157 pounds with Iowa’s Ryder Block winning the lighter of the two weights by tech and Oklahoma State’s Landon Robideau winning by decision over No. 14 Jordan Williams, 5-1.

Iowa looked to come roaring back after gutsy wins from All-Americans Mikey Caliendo and Patrick Kennedy in the second half of the dual at 165 and 174 pounds, but the effort wasn’t enough.

This rivalry dual belonged to the Cowboys. 

TEAM HISTORY: Oklahoma State | Iowa 

Oklahoma State ran away with the win after No. 9 Alex Facundo topped Gabe Arnold in overtime at 184 pounds, freshman Cody Merrill pinned Iowa’s Brody Sampson and Konner Doucet pinned Iowa. 

The confetti fell all night long in Gallagher-Iba, and the Cowboys will now head into the postseason with confidence and poise as they look to improve upon their third-place team finish last season.