Oklahoma State Wrestling Upsets Higher-Ranked Iowa State

Cowboys continue strong season with dominant win over Cyclones

Feb. 1, 2026 at 10:55pm

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The Oklahoma State Cowboys wrestling team continued their impressive season with a decisive 24-9 victory over the higher-ranked Iowa State Cyclones. Head coach David Taylor's squad won 7 of the 10 weight classes, including several close matches, to improve their season record to 12-1. The win over the #3 Cyclones solidifies Oklahoma State's status as a top contender for the NCAA Championships this year.

Why it matters

Oklahoma State's upset victory over Iowa State demonstrates the team's continued growth and competitiveness under coach David Taylor. As a perennial wrestling powerhouse, Oklahoma State's performance against a highly ranked opponent boosts their chances of finishing even higher than their third-place finish at last year's NCAA Championships.

The details

The Cowboys got off to a strong start, winning the first 5 weight classes through victories by Troy Spatley, Jax Forrest, Sergio Vega, Casey Swiderski, and Landon Robideau. LaDarion Lockett and Alex Facundo also won their matches to give Oklahoma State a commanding lead. While Iowa State managed to win 3 individual bouts, including close wins by Isaac Dean, Rocky Elam, and Yonger Bastida, it wasn't enough to overcome the Cowboys' dominant performance.

  • The Oklahoma State Cowboys faced the Iowa State Cyclones on February 2, 2026 at the Gallagher-Iba Arena in front of 10,002 fans.
  • Oklahoma State's next match is scheduled for February 6, 2026 against the Little Rock Trojans in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

The players

David Taylor

The head coach of the Oklahoma State Cowboys wrestling team, who has led the program to continued success.

Troy Spatley

An Oklahoma State wrestler who won his 125 lbs match against Stevo Poulin.

Jax Forrest

An Oklahoma State wrestler who won his 133 lbs match against Osmany Diversent by technical fall.

Sergio Vega

An Oklahoma State wrestler who won his 141 lbs match against Anthony Echemendia.

Isaac Dean

An Iowa State wrestler who won his 184 lbs match against Trevor Dopps.

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What they’re saying

“We must continue to build on this momentum and keep improving as we approach the NCAA Championships.”

— David Taylor, Head Coach, Oklahoma State Cowboys

What’s next

Oklahoma State will look to maintain their strong form when they take on the Little Rock Trojans on February 6, 2026 in Stillwater.

The takeaway

Oklahoma State's decisive victory over a highly ranked Iowa State team demonstrates the Cowboys' status as a top contender for the NCAA Wrestling Championships this season, as they continue to build on their third-place finish from last year.