OSU Wrestling: Surber Gets Another Big Win as Cowboys Beat Little Rock 25-13

The Cowboys are undefeated heading into a date with Iowa.

Oklahoma State beat Little Rock 25-13 on Saturday in Arkansas. It was the No. 2 Cowboys penultimate dual of the season before they head to Iowa City in a few weeks to wrestle the No. 3 Hawkeyes. But this Little Rock dual is tougher than it may appear, a credit to former Cowboy and Little Rock coach Neil Erisman for the work he’s done. The Trojans have six ranked wrestlers, including three who came into Saturday’s dual in the Top 15.

The match of the night came at 197 pounds, which featured No. 7 Luke Surber and No. 5 Stephen Little. Coming off an injury-riddled 2023-24 season, Surber entered Saturday night at 18-1 with top 10 wins against Trey Munoz (Oregon State) and Andy Smith (Virginia Tech). He added to his mantle Saturday by beating Little 5-4.

Surber struck first with a takedown in the opening period, but Little answered with a takedown in the second. The match went into the third tied at 4. Little had the perceived advantage because he started the final period on bottom with the opportunity for an escape to take a the lead. But, Surber rode Little for the entire third period, earning a riding-time point and a 5-4 win.

GUTS.#GoPokes l @lukesurber4
pic.twitter.com/T0E1KMIUjP

— OSU Cowboy Wrestling (@CowboyWrestling) February 8, 2025

It was another dual that the Cowboys won with the back half of their lineup. Little Rock had a 13-8 lead at intermission just for the Cowboys’ final five wrestlers to turn the tides.

Troy Spratley started the dual with a tech-fall win for OSU, as he beat Jayden Carson 18-1 in the second period.

Reece Witcraft got the start at 133 — his third straight, as he and Cael Hughes had been going back and forth. But No. 8 Nasir Bailey was a tough test for whichever Cowboy wrestled. Bailey won 13-0, making the team score 5-4 in OSU’s favor.

Tagen Jamison made his return at 141 pounds after missing the Cowboys’ dual against Missouri. He won via an 8-2 decision, bringing up an intriguing match at 149.

No. 12 Jordan Williams was the Cowboys’ starter at the weight last season, making the NCAA Tournament. He has since made his way to Little Rock. He took on No. 17 Carter Young on Saturday. The match went into sudden-victory tied at 1 and ended up needing ride outs. Williams got up in 13 seconds and was able to keep Young down past that, earning the decision and cutting OSU’s lead down to 8-7.

Little Rock took the lead during the 157-pound match when No. 14 Matty Bianchi pinned No. 12 Caleb Fish in the third period. Bianchi led 2-0 going into the third, but Fish at 1:55 in riding time. The pin gave Little Rock a 13-8 lead.

BIANCHI IS A BAD MAN!!!!!!

LITTLE ROCK TAKES THE LEAD!!!

Trojans up 13-8 after five@LittleRockWRES @CFFCmatchday pic.twitter.com/3h6iehbgb0

— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) February 8, 2025

But, the Cowboys upper weights proved too tough a test for the Trojans to overcome.

No. 6 Cameron Amine, an expert in tight matches, beat No. 33 Joseph Bianchi 4-2.

Unranked Tyler Brennan put up as solid a fight as any against No. 3 Dean Hamiti Jr., but Hamiti remained unbeaten with a 6-1 win. It was the first time in four matches Hamiti didn’t win via bonus points, so credit Brennan for hanging in there.

Wyatt Hendrickson is the most recognizable of OSU’s transfers to the general OSU fanbase and for solid reason, but Hamiti is equally as incredible to watch with fluid sequences like these:

That was art@CowboyWrestling @CFFCmatchday pic.twitter.com/TsHwWbn8qn

— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) February 8, 2025

Dustin Plott beat No. 17 Brock DelSignore 7-2 ahead of Surber’s big win, and Wyatt Hendrickson closed the dual by doing Wyatt Hendrickson things. He beat KJ Miley with a 16-1 tech fall in the first period.

Wyatt Hendrickson is an absolute machine@CowboyWrestling @CFFCmatchday pic.twitter.com/WXnGFj5NHg

— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) February 8, 2025

OSU is 13-0 this season and have a little time off between Saturday’s win and their next dual. The Cowboys go see the Hawkeyes in Iowa City on Feb. 23 to close the regular season. Iowa is 11-1, with the loss being to Penn State. The Hawkeyes still have duals against Minnesota and Northwestern before their meeting with the Pokes.

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