Here we are folks, the dual we’ve been literally waiting all season for – third ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys (14-1) host the #7 Iowa Hawkeyes (12-5) in the final dual of the year for both teams. The dual starts at 5:00 p.m., and has been moved to the main ESPN station, so there will be lots of eyeballs on TV.
Gallagher-Iba has been sold out for a couple of weeks, and tickets are being resold for outrageous amounts, so the atmosphere inside will be electric.
Iowa and Oklahoma State have both been a bit of a surprise this year, with OSU having a better year than most expected and Iowa struggling more than most thought they would.
And while this dual will still have plenty of excitement, including five top ten matchups, both teams are a little banged up and we likely won’t see starters at 149 or 184 for the Pokes or 157, 184 or 197 for the Hawkeyes, meaning the results are likely to be much different from the 18-16 Iowa victory when the two teams faced off in November at National Duals.
Of course, the real story for the Cowboys is who will go at 133. Both Jax Forrest and Ronnie Ramirez have used up all their “dates” and if either wrestles another varsity match, they will burn their redshirt, so whoever steps up to the line will be the guy for postseason. I really think it will be Jax, so expect to see him Sunday.
Let’s get to the expected lineups and predictions. Rankings (Flo/Intermat).
125 (7/7) Troy Spratley (11-3) vs. (6/6) Dean Peterson (10-3)
Peterson is a 3-time NCAA qualifier (2-time bloodrounder) who is having an excellent season. His only losses are to (4/2) Nic Bouzakis (Ohio State) and (1/1) Luke Lilledahl (Penn State) and he already has one win over Spratley this year, a 5-4 comeback win at National Duals in November.
Spratley controlled most of that match, so should be motivated by that, as well as coming off a loss last weekend. Spratley is 16-11 against common opponents to Peterson’s 17-14, so this is likely to be a very close match that will come down to the wire. I’m going to go with Peterson, but this is a true tossup.
PREDICTION: Peterson in OT. Iowa 3-0.
133 (6/6) Jax Forrest (8-0) or Ronnie Ramirez (7-3) vs. (9/9) Drake Ayala (9-6)
Drake Ayala has finished 2nd in back-to-back NCAA tournaments, but has “struggled” a bit this year in a loaded weight. He did beat Ramirez in OT at the National Duals, but Forrest is a different kind of challenge.
