STILLWATER, Okla. – Nick Fox got the Panthers on the scoreboard with a sudden victory win at 184 pounds, but the 13th ranked UNI wrestling team could not find success at other weight classes as the Panther Train fell to No. 5 and reigning Big 12 champion Oklahoma State on Friday night at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
Dropping their first dual in Big 12 competition, Northern Iowa battled in a handful of matches but would defeated in bonus points in four bouts. UNI falls to 9-5 overall on the season with the loss, snapping a season-long six-dual winning streak.
Trever Anderson took on No. 7 Troy Spratley at 125 pounds, but was unable to come back after giving up an early takedown, ultimately dropping the bout 6-1.
At 133 pounds, Julian Farber battled No. 11 Jax Forrest in a high-action first period, but Forrest would come away with the first takedown and Farber fell in a 19-4 major decision. Following at 141 pounds, Max Brady dropped his bout against No. 2 Sergio Vega in a 14-3 major decision.
Caleb Rathjen faced No. 8 Casey Swiderski in a hard fought match at 149 pounds, but came up short in a 9-2 loss. At 157 pounds, Cael Rahnavardi faced No. 6 Landon Robideau, falling by a score of 14-4 in a major decision loss to conclude the first half of the dual.
In a close match at 165 pounds, Ryder Downey faced top-ten challenger in No. 2 Dee Lockett. After Downey led 4-1 heading into the third period, Lockett scored a takedown and added two nearfall points, coming back to defeat Downey by a 6-4 score and snap his six-match winning streak.
After Jared Simma fell to No. 7 Alex Facundo at 174 pounds in a 5-1 decision, Fox stunned No. 8 in a sudden upset victory. Knotted up a 1-1 at the end of regulation and just 11 seconds to go in the first overtime period, Fox scored the winning reversal just ahead of the final horn for a thrilling 4-1 win, extending his winning streak to six matches.
Carson Babcock gave No. 7 Cody Merrill a challenge at 197 pounds but would come up short in a 2-0 loss, while Grant Stromberg, in just his fourth career dual start, was pinned by No. 7 Konner Doucet at heavyweight in the waning seconds of the third period.
UP NEXT
The Panthers return to dual action on Saturday night as they visit No. 21 Oklahoma. Competition is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. CT at McCasland Fieldhouse in Norman with live coverage of the event available on ESPN+.
FINAL RESULTS (#Intermat/Flowrestling rankings listed)
No. 5 OKLAHOMA STATE 34, No. 13 UNI 3
125 | #7/7 Troy Spratley (OSU) dec. #32/23 Trever Anderson (UNI), 6-1
133 | #12/11 Jax Forrest (OSU) tech falls #25/18 Julian Farber (UNI), 19-4 TF
141 | #2/2 Sergio Vega (OSU) maj. dec. Max Brady (UNI), 14-3 MD
149 | #12/8 Casey Swiderski (OSU) dec. #32/19 Caleb Rathjen (UNI), 9-2
157 | #6/6 Landon Robideau (OSU) maj. dec. Cael Rahnavardi (UNI), 14-4 MD
165 | #2/2 Dee Lockett (OSU) dec. #6/6 Ryder Downey (UNI), 6-4
174 | #7/7 Alex Facundo (OSU) dec. #12/13 Jared Simma (UNI), 5-1
184 | Nick Fox (UNI) dec. #8/8 Zack Ryder (OSU), 3-1 SV-1
197 | #7/7 Cody Merrill (OSU) dec. Carson Babcock (UNI), 2-0
HWT | #6/7 Konner Doucet (OSU) pins Grant Stromberg (UNI), Fall 6:35