The #5 ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys (6-1) are back on the mat Sunday against the #17 Mountaineers of West Viriginia (5-1) in Morgantown, West Virginia. The match will be broadcast at 1:00 CST on ESPN+.
The Mountaineers started off the season well, but surprisingly dropped their last dual, 27-7 to #22 North Carolina. West Virginia has never beat OSU, going 0-18 in their series and it doesn’t look like they have much of a chance Sunday, either, however there could be as many as three top 15 matchups, so there should be some decent individual matchups to watch. Let’s get to the lineup and predictions. Rankings (Flo/Intermat).
125 (8/8) Troy Spratley (4-2) v. (9/7) Jett Strickenbarger (9-2)
The first of three highlight matches will be a doozy. Spratley and Strickenbarger are well acquainted, wrestling each other 3 times in a little over a year. Sprat picked up an 8-4 win in the first match, in March 2024, but Strickenbarger had Sprat’s number last year with a pin in last year’s dual followed by a sudden victory win at Big 12’s. Strick’s only loss this year was an injury forfeit against (6/9) Jore Volk at the Southeast Open, and has followed that up with good wins over (12/13) Stevo Poulin (Iowa State) and (10/11) Maximo Renteria (Oregon St.) and a 1st place trophy at Cliff Keen last weekend. Spratley started the season with designs on the championship, but he’s got his work cut out for him. He’s dropped a couple of close decisions against guys like (7/6) Dean Peterson (Iowa) and (1/1) Vincent Robinson (NC State) he is likely going to have to beat late in the year to reach his goals. As much as I’d like to see a Spratley win, based on what they have done so far, going to predict a Strickenbarger win, but could go either way. PREDICTION: Strickenbarger by decision. WVU 3-0
133 (11/UR) Ronnie Ramirez (6-1) or (UR/28) Richard Figueroa (1-5) vs. (25/19) Gunner Andrick (10-4)
Figueroa is still listed as an option at 133, but it’s hard to see how he is the guy going forward after an inexplicable loss to the very average Garret Rinken (Northern Iowa), who is probably a backup at UNI. The good news for the Cowboys is they have a very good option in stud freshman Ronnie Ramirez who picked up a championship at the Cougar Clash last weekend, including a win over the aforementioned Rinken. Andrick is also a true freshman, going 10-4 so far this year, however, is on a three-match losing streak, all to guys in Ramirez’ talent range. PREDICTION: Ramirez by decision. Tied 3-3.
141 (2/2) Sergio Vega (6-0) vs. (33/UR) Jordan Titus (7-6)
The second of the Pokes super freshmen, Vega got last weekend off and didn’t wrestle the Clash, but with early wins against (3/3) Brock Hardy (Nebraska) and (10/9) Nasir Bailey (Iowa), he may not have needed the work. Titus is a three-time NCAA qualifier, so has some ability, including a win over (14/18) Julian Tagg (S. Dakota St.) last weekend. I think the youngster will be too much for the old dog. PREDICTION: Vega by decision. OSU 6-3.
149 (13/17) Casey Swiderski (4-5) vs. Willie McDougald (5-5)
Swiderski picked up some much-needed wins on the way to the finals at the Clash last weekend, but had a disappointing finals match, losing 8-1 to (10/12) Caleb Tyus (SIUE) in what could have been a statement win. He’s got his work cut out for him against a familiar (to OSU fans) McDougald. McDougald spent five years at OU, qualifying for NCAA’s three times, but never placing. Like Swiderski, he’s had a tough early season, losing to guys you wouldn’t expect, like Nate Askew (North Carolina) on Friday. They have faced each other twice before, both Swiderski wins including a 19-5 tech fall, however, this has felt like a different Swiderski and McDougald so far this year. I think Swiderski pulls this one out, but McDougald could easily take the win. PREDICTION: Swiderski decision. OSU 9-3.
157 (2/2) Landon Robideau (6-0) vs. (1/1) Ty Watters (9-0)
If fans got their way, they would put this match last as it will be one of the best matches in the country this weekend. Robideau has set the world on fire as another true freshman Poke, already picking up wins against (4/5) Daniel Cardenas (Stanford) and (9/11) Jackson Arrington (NC State). Watters is a step above those guys though, so this match will really show if Landon is a real championship contender this year. Watters finished 4th at NCAA’s as a true freshman but sat out last year with an injury. This year he has looked strong, taking the title at Cliff Keen last weekend, however, in what would have been his best matchup so far, (3/3) Vince Zerban (Iowa St.) forfeited the finals for some reason, which really stunk. This will be a barnburner, for sure, but I’m going to lean towards the guy with a little more experience. PREDICTION: Watters by decision. OSU 9-6.
165 (2/2) Ladarion Lockett (6-0) vs. Shawn Taylor (5-5)
Yet another true freshman stud, Lockett has had a couple of impressive wins, such as a 7-3 win against (3/3) Michael Caliendo (Iowa) but has not scored as much he would like. My guess is that changes Sunday against the overmatched Taylor. Taylor is a RS Freshman with an overall record of 13-9, but just doesn’t have any statement wins. He’s lost three straight, including being pinned and teched, and if I was a betting man, Lockett will be pushing for one or the other. I’m not quite sure he gets the tech, but it’ll likely be close. PREDICTION: Lockett with the major decision. OSU 14-6.
174 (7/14) Alex Facundo (7-3) vs. (20/15) Brody Conley (12-2) or Leo Contino (5-0) or Michael Baldwin (2-2)
A matchup against Conley would be a good one, but he was injured at Cliff Keen, and didn’t wrestle Friday against North Carolina, so his availability is questionable. Even if he doesn’t go, Contino is a good backup, however, usually wrestles 165 where he took 1st at the Southeast Open at the beginning of the season. Being undersized against Facundo is probably a bad idea. Facundo “won” the Cougar Clash last weekend, but unfortunately his finals opponent (19/10) Jared Simma (Northern Iowa) forfeited the finals, which appeared to most like a duck. Facundo probably wins against whoever they throw out, but if anyone by Conley goes, it will be tough for them not to give up bonus points. PREDICTION: Facundo with a major decision. OSU 18-6.
184 (10/10) Zach Ryder (7-3) vs. (19/21) Ian Bush (10-3)
RS Freshman Ryder picked up three wins and the 1st place trophy at the clash but really did not face anyone of note. Bush will be a step up from that competition, for sure. Bush is a RS Junior and qualified (and got a win) at NCAA’s last year and has a good record, on paper, this year, however, hasn’t really faced anyone of Ryder’s talent. Ryder has not been a big scorer this year, and I don’t expect that to change against Bush, who, when he does lose, does not generally lose big, but I do think Ryder picks up a close one. PREDICTION: Ryder by decision. OSU 21-6.
197 (7/7) Cody Merrill (6-1) vs. (21/22) Rune Lawrence (10-4)
The last of the impressive true freshmen, Merrill also got the weekend off last weekend, so will be fresh and ready for Lawrence. Lawrence went 14-7 last year as a redshirting freshman and has had a good early season this year as well, however, is on a four-match losing streak, including to guys that are close to Merrill’s level such as (20/19) Angelo Posada (Stanford) and (11/9) Deanthony Parker (Oklahoma). Merrill wins this one, not quite by bonus. PREDICTION: Merrill by Decision. OSU 24-6.
285 (8/7) Konner Doucet (6-1) vs. Brock Kehler (6-5)
Kehler is a true freshman who hasn’t really faced anyone very good year, and is running into a buzz saw with Doucet, who has wrestled like a different guy so far this year. It’s wild to say, but if Doucet doesn’t pick up a tech fall (or at least close to it), it might be a little disappointing. PREDICTION: Doucet by major decision. OSU 28-6.
