Oklahoma State University Athletics
OSU Wrestling Goes 10-0 in NCAA Opening Round, Sits Third
March 19, 2026 | Cowboy Wrestling
It’s the first time in 58 years that 10 Cowboys have won in the first round.
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CLEVELAND – For the first time since 1968, 10 Oklahoma State wrestlers advanced to the second round of the championship bracket at NCAA Wrestling Championships.
Oklahoma State, who went 10-0 with three bonus-point wins in the opening session of the 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships Thursday morning, and Penn State are the only two teams with all 10 wrestlers in the championship bracket. The Cowboys' 14.5 team points are tied with Ohio State for third place and trail only Penn State's 22.5 points and Iowa's 15 points.
Although the last time OSU saw 10 wrestlers win in the first round was during the Lyndon B. Johnson administration, that 1968 national championship team went 10-1 in the first round during the period from 1966-69 that included 11 weight classes.
"I thought we had a really good team effort from 125 to heavyweight," coach David Taylor said. "That's what it takes to win this tournament, so now we'll reset and get ready for the next round. We expect our guys to come out and wrestle hard, and that's what they did today."
The three bonus-point wins came from Troy Spratley, who recorded an 11-2 major decision at 125 pounds; Jax Forrest, who recorded a fall in 2:00 at 133 pounds; and Cody Merrill, who recorded an 18-3 technical fall at 197 pounds.
Cowboy 184-pounder Zack Ryder, seeded No. 22, may have provided the biggest OSU win of opening session though, as he upset No. 11 Shane Cartagena-Wals of Rutgers, 4-1, in sudden victory.
OSU's other wins came in comfortable decisions from Sergio Vega (141), Casey Swiderski (149), Landon Robideau (157), LaDarion Lockett (165), Alex Facundo (174) and Konner Doucet (heavyweight).
The 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships continue through March 21 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, with the second session scheduled to begin Thursday evening at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN.
2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships
March 19, 2026 | Rocket Arena | Cleveland, Ohio
Attendance: 16,625
Session 1 (Thursday Morning)
Team Standings After Session 1 (Top 10)
1. Penn State - 22.5
2. Iowa - 15.0
T3. Oklahoma State - 14.5
T3. Ohio State - 14.5
5. Iowa State - 14.0
6. Nebraska - 13.0
T7. Cornell - 10.0
T7. Stanford - 10.0
9. Minnesota - 9.5
10. Arizona State - 9.0
Championship First Round
125: No. 5 Troy Spratley (OSU) MD No. 28 Andrew Binni (NAVY), 11-2
133: No. 1 Jax Forrest (OSU) fall No. 33 Carter Schmidt (OKLA), 2:00
141: No. 2 Sergio Vega (OSU) dec. No. 31 Billy DeKraker (NW), 6-0
149: No. 8 Casey Swiderski (OSU) dec. No. 25 Michael Gioffre (ILL), 7-2
157: No. 5 Landon Robideau (OSU) dec. No. 28 Gavin Drexler (NDSU), 5-1
165: No. 5 LaDarion Lockett (OSU) dec. No. 28 Cody Goebel (WIS), 9-2
174: No. 8 Alex Facundo (OSU) dec. No. 25 Sergio Desiante (VT), 12-6
184: No. 22 Zack Ryder (OSU) dec. No. 11 Shane Cartagena-Wals (RUT), 4-1, SV-1
197: No. 7 Cody Merrill (OSU) TF No. 26 Ben Vanadia (PUR), 18-3, 6:01
HWT: No. 7 Konner Doucet (OSU) dec. No. 26 Luke Luffman (ILL), 2-1
Championship Second Round Bouts (Thursday Night)
125: No. 5 Troy Spratley (OSU) vs. No. 12 Vincent Robinson (NCST)
133: No. 1 Jax Forrest (OSU) vs. No. 17 T.K. Davis (GW)
141: No. 2 Sergio Vega (OSU) vs. No. 15 Elijah Griffin (RID)
149: No. 8 Casey Swiderski (OSU) vs. No. 9 David Evans (UVU)
157: No. 5 Landon Robideau (OSU) vs. No. 21 Charlie Millard (MINN)
165: No. 5 LaDarion Lockett (OSU) vs. No. 12 Cesar Alvan (COL)
174: No. 8 Alex Facundo (OSU) vs. No. 9 Beau Mantanona (MICH)
184: No. 22 Zack Ryder (OSU) vs. No. 6 Eddie Neitenbach (WYO)
197: No. 7 Cody Merrill (OSU) vs. No. 10 Mac Stout (PITT)
HWT: No. 7 Konner Doucet (OSU) vs. No. 10 David Szuba (ASU)
CLEVELAND – For the first time since 1968, 10 Oklahoma State wrestlers advanced to the second round of the championship bracket at NCAA Wrestling Championships.
Oklahoma State, who went 10-0 with three bonus-point wins in the opening session of the 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships Thursday morning, and Penn State are the only two teams with all 10 wrestlers in the championship bracket. The Cowboys' 14.5 team points are tied with Ohio State for third place and trail only Penn State's 22.5 points and Iowa's 15 points.
Although the last time OSU saw 10 wrestlers win in the first round was during the Lyndon B. Johnson administration, that 1968 national championship team went 10-1 in the first round during the period from 1966-69 that included 11 weight classes.
"I thought we had a really good team effort from 125 to heavyweight," coach David Taylor said. "That's what it takes to win this tournament, so now we'll reset and get ready for the next round. We expect our guys to come out and wrestle hard, and that's what they did today."
The three bonus-point wins came from Troy Spratley, who recorded an 11-2 major decision at 125 pounds; Jax Forrest, who recorded a fall in 2:00 at 133 pounds; and Cody Merrill, who recorded an 18-3 technical fall at 197 pounds.
Cowboy 184-pounder Zack Ryder, seeded No. 22, may have provided the biggest OSU win of opening session though, as he upset No. 11 Shane Cartagena-Wals of Rutgers, 4-1, in sudden victory.
OSU's other wins came in comfortable decisions from Sergio Vega (141), Casey Swiderski (149), Landon Robideau (157), LaDarion Lockett (165), Alex Facundo (174) and Konner Doucet (heavyweight).
The 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships continue through March 21 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, with the second session scheduled to begin Thursday evening at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN.
2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships
March 19, 2026 | Rocket Arena | Cleveland, Ohio
Attendance: 16,625
Session 1 (Thursday Morning)
Team Standings After Session 1 (Top 10)
1. Penn State - 22.5
2. Iowa - 15.0
T3. Oklahoma State - 14.5
T3. Ohio State - 14.5
5. Iowa State - 14.0
6. Nebraska - 13.0
T7. Cornell - 10.0
T7. Stanford - 10.0
9. Minnesota - 9.5
10. Arizona State - 9.0
Championship First Round
125: No. 5 Troy Spratley (OSU) MD No. 28 Andrew Binni (NAVY), 11-2
133: No. 1 Jax Forrest (OSU) fall No. 33 Carter Schmidt (OKLA), 2:00
141: No. 2 Sergio Vega (OSU) dec. No. 31 Billy DeKraker (NW), 6-0
149: No. 8 Casey Swiderski (OSU) dec. No. 25 Michael Gioffre (ILL), 7-2
157: No. 5 Landon Robideau (OSU) dec. No. 28 Gavin Drexler (NDSU), 5-1
165: No. 5 LaDarion Lockett (OSU) dec. No. 28 Cody Goebel (WIS), 9-2
174: No. 8 Alex Facundo (OSU) dec. No. 25 Sergio Desiante (VT), 12-6
184: No. 22 Zack Ryder (OSU) dec. No. 11 Shane Cartagena-Wals (RUT), 4-1, SV-1
197: No. 7 Cody Merrill (OSU) TF No. 26 Ben Vanadia (PUR), 18-3, 6:01
HWT: No. 7 Konner Doucet (OSU) dec. No. 26 Luke Luffman (ILL), 2-1
Championship Second Round Bouts (Thursday Night)
125: No. 5 Troy Spratley (OSU) vs. No. 12 Vincent Robinson (NCST)
133: No. 1 Jax Forrest (OSU) vs. No. 17 T.K. Davis (GW)
141: No. 2 Sergio Vega (OSU) vs. No. 15 Elijah Griffin (RID)
149: No. 8 Casey Swiderski (OSU) vs. No. 9 David Evans (UVU)
157: No. 5 Landon Robideau (OSU) vs. No. 21 Charlie Millard (MINN)
165: No. 5 LaDarion Lockett (OSU) vs. No. 12 Cesar Alvan (COL)
174: No. 8 Alex Facundo (OSU) vs. No. 9 Beau Mantanona (MICH)
184: No. 22 Zack Ryder (OSU) vs. No. 6 Eddie Neitenbach (WYO)
197: No. 7 Cody Merrill (OSU) vs. No. 10 Mac Stout (PITT)
HWT: No. 7 Konner Doucet (OSU) vs. No. 10 David Szuba (ASU)
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