James Hackney
#4 Oklahoma State (8-0) vs #5 Iowa State (9-1)
Watch Live: ESPN+, January 27th 6PM CT
A day after wrestling an always gritty Northern Iowa team, the Cowboys will have to take on another top five team in Iowa State. A team with ten ranked wrestlers, this could be a dual that is a preview of the Big 12 championships. Unfortunately for OK State, it sounds like another top ten wrestler in Casey Swiderski may be healthy. There are premier matchups throughout the dual but especially at 165 with David Carr for the Cyclones. Last year Iowa State won this dual 18-11 in Hilton, so the Cowboys will be looking to get some revenge in their home gym and get closer to setting themselves up as Big 12 favorites.
125: #20 Troy Spratley (13-4) vs #25 Kysen Terukina (8-4)
This could be a big swing match, as both wrestlers will be looking to get a vital win for Big 12 seeding. Terukina is a two-time NCAA qualifier who was injured early last season. This year he got a big win over Eric Barnett, but has struggled in his career with consistency. Terukina is best from neutral, but can be savvy from top at times as well. Spratley should be able to find success getting to legs, but will have to be ready to scramble through to score. I’ll take Spratley getting the win, but this match could be big points for either team.
Prediction: Spratley Dec. Terukina (OKST 3 ISU 0)
133: #3 Daton Fix (6-0) vs #7 Evan Frost (11-2)
A breakout redshirt freshman for Iowa State, Frost won the spot early in the season and impressively made the finals of CKLV. He lost to Kai Orine and true freshman Nasir Bailey by one sided bonus points, so Fix should be looking to repeat that here. One position Frost has excelled at this year however is on top, and Fix gave up a full period rideout to Vince Santaniello recently. Fix is likely to have enough of a lead that a rideout doesn’t matter, but if Frost can be stingier than this match could end up being closer than expected….
