Cowboy Wrestling: Ranked 5th for 2025-26 Season

Oklahoma State Wrestling Ranked No. 5, Faces Challenging 2025-26 Schedule

The Oklahoma State wrestling team enters the 2025-26 season holding the No. 5 position in the NWCA Coaches poll, as announced Wednesday by the association. The Cowboys are poised for a demanding season, set too compete against a field of highly-ranked opponents and boasting a roster filled with individual talent.

A Gauntlet of Top Competition

Oklahoma State’s schedule is stacked with formidable challenges, featuring matchups against ten teams currently ranked within the top 25 nationally. These include clashes with No. 2 Nebraska, No. 3 iowa, No. 6 Iowa State, No. 10 Virginia Tech, No. 13 Northern Iowa, no. 14 Stanford, No. 18 Missouri,No. 19 Oklahoma, No. 20 West Virginia, and No. 22 Little Rock.

The Cowboys will also begin their postseason journey at the National Duals Invitational, where they’ll face No. 12 Cornell in the opening round. A potential second-round matchup against No. 7 NC State looms, alongside the possibility of encountering several other ranked programs throughout the tournament.

Did you know? – Oklahoma State has won 134 NCAA team championships across all sports, the most of any university. Wrestling accounts for 125 of those titles, showcasing the program’s historic dominance.

Individual Stars Headline Cowboy Roster

Beyond the team ranking, Oklahoma State boasts significant individual talent, with nine wrestlers appearing in Intermat’s latest preseason rankings. Notably, six Cowboys secured positions within the top 10 of their respective weight classes, signaling a strong individual championship potential.

Troy Spratley leads the charge for Oklahoma State, earning the No. 2 ranking at 125 pounds. Several key transfers are also making an immediate impact. Casey Swiderski, a transfer from Iowa State, is ranked No. 5 at 149 pounds, while Zack Ryder, formerly of Penn State, holds the No. 7 spot at 184 pounds. Richard Figueroa II, arriving from Arizona state, is ranked 10th at 133 pounds. Rounding out the top-10 individual rankings are cody merrill (197 pounds) and Konner Doucet (Heavyweight), both at No. 10.

Further bolstering the team’s depth, Teague Travis (157 pounds) is ranked No. 16, Alex Facundo (174 pounds) sits at No. 18, and Have Hughes (141 pounds) is ranked No. 21.

Pro tip: – Wrestling matches are scored based on takedowns, escapes, reversals, near falls, and penalty points. A match ends when a wrestler accumulates enough points to win, or by pin, technical fall, or disqualification.

Season Opener Set for November 7th

Oklahoma State will officially kick off its 2025-26 season on November 7th at 7 p.m. CT,hosting No.14 Stanford at Gallagher-Iba Arena. This early-season test will provide a crucial gauge of the Cowboys’ readiness for the challenges ahead.

Why is this vital? The Oklahoma State Cowboys wrestling team is entering the 2025-26 season with high expectations, ranked No. 5 nationally. Who is involved? The team features a mix of returning talent and key transfers, led by troy Spratley. Opponents include several top-25 programs. What is happening? The Cowboys are preparing for a challenging schedule and the start of their season on November 7th against Stanford. How did it end? The article doesn’t detail an ending, as it’s a season preview. The season’s outcome remains to be seen, but the team is positioned for success with a strong roster and competitive schedule