Big 12 Weekly Recap (1/8/2024)

The first weekend of 2024 saw plenty of action in the Big 12. Oklahoma State took out top-five NC State on the road, firmly establishing themselves as a trophy contender this season. South Dakota State beat a shorthanded Michigan team. Iowa State went 2-0 on the weekend, while Northern Iowa and Wyoming had a tri with Nebraska. 

Air Force (Overall: 2-2; Conference: 0-2): F&M Open Brackets

Air Force sent a number of wrestlers to the Franklin and Marshall Open and came back with one champ and one on the podium. True freshman Josh Cordio made the semis while unseeded and finished fourth. Wyatt Hendrickson dominated his way to a title with five pins and a 9-3 decision over Taye Ghadiali. The only other typical starters were Joe Fernau (149) and Calvin Sund (174), who missed out on placing on the day. 

Next Up: Air Force wrestles Big 12 opponent Wyoming on January 12th on the road. 

California Baptist (Overall: 3-5; Conference: 0-2): Dual Results

The Lancers competed against the Cyclones in a Big 12 dual. California Baptist won one match at 133 where Hunter Leake beat Ethan Perryman. Eli Griffin dropped a close one-takedown match to Kysen Terukina at 125. Justin Phillips had a close match against MJ Gaitan, but a late score by Gaitan won him the match. 

Next Up: California Baptist competes against Northern Colorado on January 13th at home. 

Iowa State (Overall: 8-1; Conference: 1-0): Dual Results (ASU)|Dual Results (CBU)

Iowa State had a dominant weekend, beating Arizona State 28-10 and following it up with their first Big 12 win of the season over California Baptist 39-3. The Cyclones won 17 of 20 matches on the weekend. All eight typical starters went 2-0 on the weekend, including Echmendia and Carr scoring bonus points in each. Ethan Perryman started at 133 but went 0-2 while Zach Redding was quickly pinned by Kaleb Larkin. Chittum scored one of the biggest wins, taking out Jacori Teemer 9-5. Yonger Bastida took out Cohlton Schultz with an early takedown; Bastida now has an absurd 60:1 takedown ratio this season. Against California Baptist the team dominated with bonus point wins from Cody Chittum, David Carr, Will Feldkamp, Yonger Bastida, and Anthony Echemendia. 

Next Up: Iowa State duals against Utah Valley on January 12 and a rematch against Pittsburgh on January 14, both at home. 

Missouri (Overall: 6-0; Conference: 3-0): No Competition.

Next Up: The team hits the road for a long trip to wrestle Stanford on January 10th.

North Dakota State (Overall: 1-6; Conference: 0-1): No Competition.

Next Up: The team had a dual against Oregon State canceled, so the team doesn’t compete again until January 20th against California Baptist. 

Northern Colorado (Overall: 7-1; Conference: 0-1): No Competition.

Next Up: The Bears compete on the road against Cal Poly and California Baptist on January 12th and 13th. 

Northern Iowa (Overall: 2-4; Conference: 1-0): Dual Results

Northern Iowa had a road tri-dual, taking on Nebraska and Wyoming. Starting against Wyoming the Panthers won eight matches. Trever Anderson dropped a close 4-0 decision to Jore Volk while Adam Allard lost 7-2 to Gabe Willochell. Wyatt Voelker returned to the lineup and notched a 5-3 decision win over tough true freshman Joey Novak. The team also got bonus point wins from Cael Happel, Ryder Downey, RJ Weston, Jared Simma, Parker Keckeisen, and Tyrell Gordon. 

Against Nebraska, the team ended up dropping a criteria match, 18-17. Trever Anderson again dropped a close match to a top-eight opponent, losing in overtime to Caleb Smith. Happel scored his second win over Brock Hardy this season, with an overtime takedown for an 11-8 win. The Panthers got a big upset at 157 lbs, with Ryder Downey beating Peyton Robb 6-5. Wyatt Voelker was pinned by Silas Allred in a neutral danger position. Tyrell Gordon scored a major decision to tie up the dual, but Nebraska won on criteria. 

Next Up: Northern Iowa hosts Utah Valley on January 13th. 

Oklahoma State (Overall: 5-0; Conference: 2-0): Dual Results

The Cowboys scored their biggest win of the season, taking out top-five NC State on the road 22-12. Troy Spratley and Teague Travis lead the way with upsets over Jakob Camacho and Ed Scott respectively. Since making the move to 157, Travis is undefeated and now has a top-five win on the resume. Tagen Jamison lost a heartbreaker late in the match to Ryan Jack, while Jordan Williams lost a one-sided major decision to Jackson Arrington. Daton Fix moved to 3-0 on the year in impressive fashion, majoring All-American Kai Orine. Dustin Plott and Dylan Fishback had an entertaining back-and-forth, with Plott taking the match with a 13-8 win. Rumors are that Daton Fix could be making a descent to 125, something to keep an eye on as the season progresses. 

Next Up: Oklahoma State has two more road duals starting January 12th against Pitt then West Virginia on January 14th. 

Oklahoma (Overall: 4-2; Conference: 2-2): No Competition.

Next Up: The Sooners compete in the Virginia Duals, wrestling Navy on January 12th followed by Wisconsin and Virginia on the 13th. 

South Dakota State (Overall: 4-2; Conference: 0-0): Dual Results

South Dakota State scored their biggest dual win of the season with a 22-17 dual win over Michigan. While it wasn’t the Wolverines typical squad, SDSU still scored solid wins. Tanner Jordan won a regular decision, while Derrick Cardinal, Cael Swensen, Bennett Berge, and Tanner Sloan scored bonus points. Berge scored a ranked win over Jaden Bullock, his first of the season. Cade DeVos went to overtime with Shane Griffith, dropping a 4-1 decision. Clay Carlson made his dual debut, but lost a 6-4 decision to true freshman Sergio Lemley. 

Next Up: South Dakota State competes at the Virginia duals, taking on Kent State on January 12th followed by Navy and Virginia on January 13th. 

Utah Valley (Overall: 1-0; Conference: 0-0): No Competition.

Next Up: The Wolverines wrestle Iowa State for their first Big 12 dual on January 12th followed by Northern Iowa on January 13th. 

West Virginia (Overall: 8-1; Conference: 2-1): Dual Results

Competing on UFC Fight Pass, the Mountaineers needed some late heroics to take out Columbia 22-21. Down by four with one match left, Michael Wolfgram scored a 15-0 tech fall to secure the tech and the dual win. Earlier in the dual were wins from Jett Strickenberger, Ty Watters, Alex Hornfeck, and Peyton Hall. Strickenberger competed at 133, while Jace Schafer was pinned at 125. Alex Hornfeck and Caleb Dowling went back and forth for the starting spot last year and could be doing the same now. The team was missing Jordan Titus and Brody Conley in this dual as well. Now 8-1 on the year, it is the first time the team has won eight of its nine duals since 1990. 

Next Up: West Virginia wrestles Columbia on the road on January 7th. 

Wyoming (Overall: 3-5; Conference: 1-2): Dual Results

Competing in a tri against Northern Iowa and Nebraska the Cowboys went 0-2. They lost to UNI 36-6 and Nebraska 43-3. Jore Volk had an impressive day, beating Trever Anderson and Caleb Smith. Gabe Willochell was the only other Wyoming wrestler to win, beating Adam Allard. 

Next Up: Wyoming hosts Air Force on January 12th for another Big 12 dual.