The No. 3 Iowa men’s wrestling team made waves on Sunday night, pulling off a stunning upset against the No. 2 Oklahoma State Cowboys with a score of 21-16. The dual took place at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, where the atmosphere was electric, full of anticipation and excitement as two heavyweight college wrestling programs clashed.
Iowa’s head coach, Tom Brands, made the bold decision to send freshman sensation Angelo Ferrari out to compete at 184 pounds against Oklahoma State’s third-ranked Dustin Plott. This choice proved pivotal, as Ferrari not only rose to the occasion but delivered one of the highlight performances of the night with a 6-3 sudden victory over Plott. "It was awesome going against my brother’s old team — biggest rivalry in college wrestling," Ferrari said, referencing his brother A.J. Ferrari, who was previously an Oklahoma State national champion. "And it was the best moment of my wrestling career so far."
Leading up to Ferrari’s match, Iowa initially faced challenges, as Oklahoma State gained early momentum with significant wins. Oklahoma State’s No. 4 Troy Spratley decisively defeated Iowa’s No. 16 Joey Cruz, scoring 17-3 and putting the Cowboys up 4-0. The dual’s dynamic shifted when Iowa’s No. 2 Drake Ayala responded with his own major decision victory against Rin Sakamoto, winning 11-1.
The match continued to alternate wins, including Oklahoma State’s No. 5 Tagen Jamison taking the 141-pound bout against Jace Rhodes with strong control for an 8-0 major decision, reestablishing the Cowboys' lead at 8-4. The Hawkeyes weren’t deterred, quickly following up with three consecutive wins at the 149, 157, and 165-pound classes, bringing the score to 14-8.
At 149 pounds, Iowa’s No. 3 Kyle Parco clinched victory over No. 18 Carter Young, edging out with a 7-1 decision. Jacori Teemer, competing at 157 pounds, also displayed dominance against No. 14 Caleb Fish, winning 10-6. To round off the trio, at 165 pounds, Iowa’s Michael Caliendo took home another significant victory, defeating No. 6 Cameron Amine 10-1.
Then came the turning point of the match. With the teams tied at 14 points, pressure mounted as Angelo Ferrari stepped onto the mat against Dustin Plott. After a nail-biting first period, which ended scoreless, Ferrari and Plott exchanged escapes, with the match tied at 3-3 entering the final moments. Ferrari’s persistence paid off as he executed his strategy well during sudden victory, earning the decisive takedown. Hawkeye fans erupted as the scoreboard changed to 17-11. "Why do I train this hard every single day to the max if I don’t want to go against those top guys?" Ferrari remarked after his historic win.
Building on their momentum, Iowa’s top-ranked 197-pounder Stephen Buchanan continued the assault, defeating Oklahoma State’s No. 6 Luke Surber by major decision, 10-1, to solidify Iowa's lead at 21-11. It was evident throughout the competition how Buchanan’s experience and skill set had evolved, proving results as he dominated his bout.
The heavyweight match brought the competition to its conclusion, with Oklahoma State's No. 3 Wyatt Hendrickson handily defeating Iowa's No. 11 Ben Kueter, securing the final tally at 21-16 for Iowa. Despite the loss, Hendrickson’s performance highlighted the strength of the Cowboy team overall.
While the Hawkeyes triumphed, the dual was more than just about winning; it showcased the depth and talent of Iowa's lineup. Observing this, Brands stated, "Bonus points are important, and it wasn’t easy. It was hard work.” This match marks the fifth consecutive victory for Iowa over Oklahoma State, and with this result, the reportedly once invincible Cowboys faced defeat for the first time this season.
Looking forward, both teams aim their focus on the postseason, as they gear up for the Big Ten Championships set for March 8 and 9. With top-seeded wrestlers likely coming from Iowa, including Ayala and Buchanan, the intensity of the dual marks just the beginning of what promises to be high-stakes competition at the championships.