OSU’s victory against Northern Iowa

Rowdy Baribeau Staff Reporter

Northern Iowa’s Austin Yant rarely misses opportunities to capitalize on single-leg takedowns.

OSU’s Wyatt Sheets defended a single-leg shot attempt by Yant with more than 40 seconds remaining.

With Sheets’ leg in his grasp, Yant drove him into the mat but Sheets flipped over with Yant’s head in a cradle and seconds later, the referee slapped the mat. Sheets three-bonuspoint victory would be the difference in the grudge match for the Cowboys as Oklahoma State downed Northern Iowa 19-17 in Cedar Falls.

After five matches, UNI held a 10-7 lead over OSU thanks to a major decision by Kyle Golhoffer over Zach Blankenship at 125 pounds and an upset by No. 26 Derek Holschlag over No. 11 Kaden Gfeller in the 157-pound bout. At 133 pounds, No. 2 Daton Fix continued his undefeated season with a 8-1 decision over No. 11 Kyle Biscoglia. Fix was gunning for a major decision but fell short.

OSU had a major victory at 141 pounds as Carter Young defeated No. 8 Cael Happel with a 15-7 major decision. If not for Sheets’ pin, Young’s bonus-point victory would have been the biggest for OSU not just from a scoring standpoint, but a moral standpoint as the victory is a major one for Young who’s been inconsistent for the entirety of the season. However, much of the same can be said for Sheets who ended his six-dual losing streak and got his fourth bonus-point victory of the season. The Cowboy light-heavyweights didn’t get the bonus-point victories they’ve become known for getting. While OSU got big wins at 165 and 141 pounds, the two biggest takeaways going forward are the health of 197-pounder No. 18 Luke Surber and the absence of No. 11 Travis Wittlake in the 184-pound bout. sports.ed@ocolly.com

Surber was able to pull away from Wyatt Voelker with a 2-1 decision after injuring his head in the first period. Wittlake was replaced by Gavin Stika and dropped his match with a 20-6 major decision to No. 2 Parker Keckeisen.

Whether the two wrestle Sunday against No. 4 Iowa State, will likely be a lastminute decision.

No. 6 Dustin Plott handled his rematch with No. 13 Lance Runyon to the tune of a 7-3 decision. Runyon pinned Plott in last year’s matchup between the Cowboys and Panthers. At heavyweight, No. 24 Konner Doucet suffered a 3-2 decision loss to No. 13 Tyrell Gordon, ending his seven-match winning streak. While UNI got two bonus points thanks to two major decisions, the four bonus points were the difference-maker for the Cowboys as they took the first of two duals slated for the weekend in Iowa.