No. 3 Oklahoma State hands No. 7 Iowa, 32-11, loss in men’s wrestling regular-season finale

University of Iowa Coach Tom Brands compared the atmosphere to a beehive during a television interview.

Oklahoma State fans were abuzz and the Hawkeyes were stung.

Seventh-ranked Iowa won just three matches, giving up a technical fall at 133 pounds and pins at 141, 197 and heavyweight, and fell to the No. 3 Cowboys, 32-11, in the college wrestling regular-season finale Sunday at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla.

The 21-point loss is Iowa’s worst loss in this series since a 25-2 defeat during the 1960-61 season.

Ryder Block (149), Michael Caliendo at 165 and 174-pounder Patrick Kennedy won for the Hawkeyes.

“165 was an important match for the postseason and seeds,” Brands said. “They are all important for the postseason and seeds. We’ve got the Big Ten Championships coming up. If you go match-to-match and look at a general tip, get the first takedown and ride. Take it out of them and then build your lead. Get that first takedown and wrestle a tough match, wrestle your match. Finish the seven minutes strong and hard. Pretty good overall formula, right there, to win tough matches in an environment like that.”

Oklahoma State reversed an 18-16 loss to the short-handed Hawkeyes at the National Duals Invitational in November and snapped a six-dual losing streak in the series. The Hawkeyes fell to 11-6, the most dual losses in a season of Brands’ 20-year tenure.

The Cowboys (15-1) jumped to a 14-0 lead thanks to the two bonus-point victories and Troy Spratley’s revenge. Spratley opened with a 5-2 decision, avenging a one-point loss previously. Fireworks followed. Freshman phenom Jax Forrest scored a 19-3 technical fall over Iowa two-time NCAA runner-up Drake Ayala and Sergio Vega cinched up a cradle to pin Kale Petersen in 6:31.

Oklahoma State closed with three straight wins, including pins from 197-pounder Cody Merrill and Konner Doucet to seal the third win in the last 13 meetings against the Hawkeyes.

Iowa did were missing starters at 141, 184 and heavyweight and fielding a different 197-pounder than the first dual.

Ryder Block put the Hawkeyes on the board with a 19-4 technical fall over backup Kolter Burton at 149. No. 4 Michael Caliendo and Patrick Kennedy posted back-to-back decisions.

Caliendo (165) scored the only takedown and No. 2 LaDarion Lockett, 4-2. He turned around a previous loss to Lockett in November.

Third-ranked Kennedy tallied two takedowns and defeated No. 6 Alex Facundo, 8-3, at 174.

Iowa is off until the Big ten Championships on March 7-8 at Penn State in State College, Pa.

AT STILLWATER, OKLA.

Oklahoma State 32, Iowa 11

125 – Troy Spratley (O) dec. Dean Peterson, 5-2

133 – Jax Forrest (O) tech. fall Drake Ayala, 19-3

141 – Sergio Vega (O) pinned Kale Petersen, 6:31

149 – Ryder Block (I) tech. fall Kolter Burton, 19-4

157 – Landon Robideau (O) dec. Jordan Williams, 5-1

165 – Michael Caliendo (I) dec. Dee Lockett, 4-2

174 – Patrick Kennedy (I) dec. Alex Facundo, 8-3

184 – Zach Ryder (O) dec. Gabe Arnold, 2-1 SV1

197 – Cody Merrill (O) pinned Brody Sampson, 4:47

285 – Konnor Doucet (O) pinned Gage Marty, 5:54

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com