University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Oklahoma State
Panther wrestling visits Cowboys and Sooners for weekend dual action
1/28/2026 10:00:00 AM | Wrestling
UNI battles Oklahoma State and Oklahoma on the road Friday and Saturday with live coverage available on ESPN+.
No. 13 UNI wrestling (9-4 / 3-0 Big 12) at No. 5 Oklahoma State (10-1 / 5-0 Big 12)
- Friday, Jan. 30, 2026
- 7 p.m. CT
- Stillwater, Okla. | Gallagher-Iba Arena (13,611)
- WATCH (ESPN+)
- LIVE RESULTS (FloWrestling)
No. 13 UNI wrestling (9-4 / 3-0 Big 12) at Loras Open
- Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026
- 9 a.m. CT
- Dubuque, Iowa | Garber Sports Center
- LIVE RESULTS (FloWrestling)
No. 13 UNI wrestling (9-4 / 3-0 Big 12) at No. 21 Oklahoma (8-3 / 1-2 Big 12)
- Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026
- 7 p.m. CT
- Norman, Okla. | McCasland Fieldhouse (3,325)
- WATCH (ESPN+)
- LIVE RESULTS (FloWrestling)
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- The 13th-ranked UNI wrestling team returns to the road for a pair of key Big 12 Conference duals this weekend as the Panthers take on No. 5 Oklahoma State on Friday in Stillwater, as well as No. 21 Oklahoma in Norman on Saturday.
Both duals are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. CT with live coverage of both events available on ESPN+ and live results on FloWrestling.
Northern Iowa is also expected to send a group of athletes to Dubuque on Saturday for the 2026 Loras Open.
The Panthers will look to snap a three-dual skid to the Cowboys when they enter Gallagher-Iba Arena on Friday night, while also looking to extend its winning streak against the Sooners, carrying an eight-dual winning streak into McCasland Fieldhouse.
Northern Iowa returns to the mat and carries a perfect 3-0 dual record down south after topping Arizona State at home last Thursday by a score of 27-11. The Panthers won seven duals and led from start to finish, which included dominant performances by Julian Farber (133 pounds) and Jared Simma (174 pounds) with bonus point wins.
PANTHERS IN THE RANKINGS (Intermat/FloWrestling rankings listed)
- #32/23 Trever Anderson
- #25/18 Julian Farber
- #32/19 Caleb Rathjen
- #6/6 Ryder Downey
- #12/13 Jared Simma
SCOUTING OKLAHOMA STATE
After edging out Northern Iowa by four points at last year's Big 12 Championships, the reigning Big 12 champs return a loaded roster led by second year head coach David Taylor. The Cowboys have won ten of 11 duals this year, their lone loss coming at the hands of Iowa in the semifinals of the National Duals Invitational in November in Tulsa.
Oklahoma State returns just two of its 2025 NCAA qualifiers, led by reigning NCAA runner-up Troy Spratley at 125 pounds, along with 141 pound contender Taegen Jamison and reigning Big 12 Wrestler of the Week Alex Facundo (174 pounds). Loaded with ranked wrestlers in all ten weight classes, the Cowboys also added 2024 All-American Casey Swiderski at 149 pounds after transferring from Iowa State.
PROJECTED MATCHUPS AT OKLAHOMA STATE (#Intermat/FloWrestling rankings listed)
- 125 | #32/23 Trever Anderson (UNI) vs. #7/7 Troy Spratley (OSU)
- 133 | #25/18 Julian Farber (UNI) vs. #12/11 Jax Forrest (OSU) OR Ronnie Ramirez (OSU)
- 141 | Max Brady (UNI) vs. #2/2 Sergio Vega (OSU)
- 149 | #32/19 Caleb Rathjen (UNI) OR Ethan Basile (UNI) vs. #12/8 Casey Swiderski (OSU)
- 157 | Cael Rahnavardi (UNI) OR RJ Weston (UNI) vs.#6/6 Landon Robideau (OSU)
- 165 | #6/6 Ryder Downey (UNI) OR Jack Thomsen (UNI) vs. #2/2 Dee Lockett (OSU)
- 174 | #12/13 Jared Simma (UNI) vs. #7/7 Alex Facundo (OSU)
- 184 | Nick Fox (UNI) vs. #8/8 Zack Ryder (OSU)
- 197 | John Gunderson (UNI) OR Carson Babcock (UNI) vs. #7/7 Cody Merrill (OSU)
- HWT | Adam Ahrendsen (UNI) OR Grant Stromberg (UNI) vs. #6/7 Konner Doucet (OSU)
SCOUTING OKLAHOMA
In their third season under head coach Roger Kish, the Sooners have jumped out to an 8-3 dual record this year, looking to bounce back after a 19-17 loss at West Virginia on Sunday. Oklahoma will host No. 3 Iowa State on Friday before welcoming the Panthers to Norman on Saturday.
The Sooners return just one NCAA qualifier from 2025 in DJ Parker, a fifth-place finisher at the Big 12 Championships who has since moved up to 197 pounds. Heavyweight Juan Mora also placed sixth at the conference tournament a year ago for Oklahoma. Heading into Saturday's dual, Seven Sooners are ranked by either Intermat or FloWrestling.
PROJECTED MATCHUPS AT OKLAHOMA (#Intermat/FloWrestling rankings listed)
- 125 | #32/23 Trever Anderson (UNI) vs. #26/27 Conrad Henricksen (OU) OR Sebastian Degennaro (OU)
- 133 | #25/18 Julian Farber (UNI) vs. Tyson Charmoli (OU) OR Carter Schmidt (OU)
- 141 | Max Brady (UNI) vs. #26/29 Tyler Wells (OU)
- 149 | #32/19 Caleb Rathjen (UNI) OR Ethan Basile (UNI) vs. Alex Braun (OU) OR Hunter Hollingsworth (OU)
- 157 | Cael Rahnavardi (UNI) OR RJ Weston (UNI) vs. Layton Schneider (OU)
- 165 | #6/6 Ryder Downey (UNI) OR Jack Thomsen (UNI) vs. #32/33 Peyten Kellar (OU) OR Bryce Burkett (OU)
- 174 | #12/13 Jared Simma (UNI) vs. #8/8 Carter Schubert (OU)
- 184 | Nick Fox (UNI) vs. #10/12 Brian Soldano (OU)
- 197 | John Gunderson (UNI) OR Carson Babcock (UNI) vs. #11/12 DJ Parker (OU)
- HWT | Adam Ahrendsen (UNI) OR Grant Stromberg (UNI) vs. #21/21 Juan Mora (OU)
UNI wrestling action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (University of Northern Iowa Wrestling), X (@UNI_wrestling) and on Instagram (@uni_panther_wrestling). Check out the latest Panther news and information online at UNIpanthers.com.
Players Mentioned
