National Duals Live Blog: Oklahoma State Beats Cornell, Taking on NC State on Saturday Evening

BRACKET

TULSA — The eyes of the wrestling world are in Tulsa this weekend, as 16 of the best teams in the country compete for a purse of more than $1 million.

Oklahoma State opened the National Duals Invitational with a 22-12 win against a scrappy Cornell squad. OSU will battle NC State in the second round starting at 5 p.m. Saturday.

We’ll keep you up to date on the happenings in Tulsa here, live blogging results and throwing in quotes from the Cowboys afterward.

Oklahoma State vs. Cornell

125: No. 2 Troy Spratley vs. No. 25 Marcello Milani

First Period: Spratley was in control for much of the first period and got his takedown with about a minute left. Milani got out, and Spratley leads 3-1 heading into the second with 23 seconds of riding time.

Second Period: Milani starts the second on bottom and got out after Spratley’s riding time advantage got to 57 seconds. Spratley quickly scores on another takedown and releases Milani with about 30 seconds left in the period but he can’t quite score again. Spratley takes a 6-3 lead into the third with 1:05 in riding time.

Third Period: Spratley quickly escapes to start the third and scores on another takedown. Playing catch and release now as Milani is trying to prevent bonus points. Spratley gets another takedown and beats Milani via a 14-5 major decision.

Team Score: Oklahoma State 4, Cornell 0

133: No. 8 Richard Figueroa vs. No. 26 Tyler Ferrera

First Period: Figueroa is all over Ferrera to start, quickly building a 7-3 lead. The two scrambled quite a bit in the first, but that’s how the period ends.

Second Period: Figueroa escapes quickly to start the second, maintaining a 46-second riding-time advantage, but Ferrera answers with a takedown to cut the Cowboys’ lead to 8-6. Figueroa escapes but gets taken down again. It’s tied at 9 before Figueroa picks up his second stall call, giving Ferrera a 10-9 lead. That’s how the period ends.

Third Period: Ferrera escapes to start the second, making his lead 11-9. Each guy looked gassed at the end of the match, and that’s how it ends.

“Richie’s been wrestling for a long time,” said OSU coach David Taylor after the match. “He knows what he needs to do. He’s just gotta make up his mind and go do it. When he wants to go score, he’s scoring at a really high rate. Then when he’s deciding to stop scoring, he’s not scoring anymore. He’s gotta make that decision.”

Team Score: Oklahoma State 4, Cornell 3

141: No. 20 Sergio Vega vs. Josh Saunders

First Period: Scoreless.

Second Period: Vega rides the entire second and got close to back points a few times. So, he’s got two minutes of riding time heading into the third with the score at 0-0.

Third Period: Vega escapes to take a 1-0 lead and nearly lands a takedown off an ankle pick before Saunders scrambled into a stalemate. Vega gets his takedown as time expires and wins 5-0 with riding time.

Team Score: Oklahoma State 7, Cornell 3

149: No. 3 Casey Swiderski vs. No. 7 Jaxon Joy

First Period: Big match here between a pair of highly ranked foes.

Swiderski flies in on a double-leg and finishes late in the period. He leads 3-0 after one.

Seconds Period: Joy rides the entire second period. He’s got 1:50 in riding time, but Swiderski leads 3-0 heading into the third.

Third Period: Joy escapes to start the period, cutting Swiderski’s lead to 3-1. Swiderski gets taken down late and drops the bout 5-3 with riding time.

Team Score: Oklahoma State 7, Cornell 6

157: No. 5 Landon Robideau vs. Benny Rogers

First Period: Robideau scores quickly, Rogers escapes and Robideau takes him down again. After a little bit of a ride, Robideau releases Rogers and scores another takedown and rides out the rest of the period. He leads 9-2.

Second Period: Robideau lets Rogers up to start the second only to take him right back down. It’s catch and release. Robideau picks up a stall point with relentless pressure. Another takedown makes it 16-4 after two.

Third Period: Robideau selects neutral, secures his takedown and wins via a 20-4 technical fall.

“Landon, he wrestles with a lot of confidence,” Taylor said. “Just energy. When he steps out there, he’s got a pretty clear purpose of what he’s looking to do. It’s a good example for some of our other guys, even if he is a freshman.”

Team Score: Oklahoma State 12, Cornell 6

165: No. 6 Dee Lockett vs. No. 25 Lou Cerchio

First Period: Scoreless first.

Second Period: Lockett quickly reverses to start the second. Cerchio escapes, giving Lockett a 2-1 lead. Lockett scores the match’s first takedown to make his lead 5-1. Cerchio escapes after Lockett gets his riding-time tally up to 29 seconds, which is where the period ends.

Third Period: Lockett rides most of the third and wins 6-2.

Team Score: Oklahoma State 15, Cornell 6

174: No. 17 Alex Facundo vs. No. 3 Simon Ruiz

First Period: Ruiz had a leg, but Facundo hopped on one foot long enough to get a stalemate. The first period ends scoreless.

Second Period: Ruiz rides the entire second.

Third Period: Facundo lets Ruiz up to start the third and will took for a takedown to win it. He’s unable to get it, as Ruiz wins 2-0 with riding time.

Team Score: Oklahoma State 15, Cornell 9

184: No. 4 Zack Ryder vs. Christian Hansen

Correction: This match was initially labeled Ryder vs. Carson Crace, but Christian Hansen wrestled at 184 for the Big Red.

First Period: Both wrestlers shot at the same time and smashed their faces together. Looks like Hansen came out on the worst end of it. A lot of blood on the mat right now as Hansen gets attended to. After a lengthy blood time, Hansen gets his head wrapped, but now he’s headed to the back going into concussion protocol. Ryder puts his hoodie on and sits on the OSU bench. He returns. Match back on.

Ryder nearly finished a takedown but the official called a stalemate to the groans of the orange-clad fans in attendance. Hansen is bleeding again (I don’t know that he ever stopped), so the match is on hold once more.

The first period finally ends 0-0.

Second Period: Ryder escapes, but Hansen scores ona a takedown, and the period ends with the Big Red wrestler leading 3-1.

Third Period: Hansen escapes, increasing his lead to 4-1. Ryder got in on a leg a few times in the third but was unable to finish. Hansen takes a stall point but wins it 4-2.

“I thought (Ryder) actually did a lot of good stuff,” Taylor said. “But just a lot of restarts, and on those restarts, the momentum is just, you can never really gain it. It’s just kinda like treading in neutral.”

Team Score: Oklahoma State 15, Cornell 12

197: No. 10 Cody Merrill vs. Alden Hanning

First Period: Scoreless after one. Not a ton of action.

Second Period: Hanning escapes 16 seconds into the period to take a 1-0 lead. He gets it with a stall call, though, with Merrill closing in on a takedown on the edge of the mat, tying the bout at 1.

Third Period: Merrill escapes to start the third, taking a 2-1 lead. Riding time not a factor. Merrill scores on a Hanning shot, stuffing the attempt and running behind to take a 5-2 lead after Hanning escapes. Merrill scores one more takedown at the end of the period to win it 8-2.

Team Score: Oklahoma State 18, Cornell 12

HWT: No. 9 Konner Doucet vs. Ashton Davis

First Period: Scoreless after one, but Doucet has been the more aggressive wrestler thus far.

Second Period: Doucet escapes seven seconds into the period to take a lead. Davis got a stall warning, but the period ends with Doucet leading 1-0.

Third Period: Doucet rides long enough to build 1:03 in riding time before cutting Davis loose. Davis is then hit with his second and third stall, giving Doucet a 3-1 lead. Doucet then scores a takedown, lets Davis up and takes him down again. Lead balloons to 9-2. He rides the final 10 seconds and earns a 10-2 major decision.

“I was frustrated with myself a little bit,” Doucet said. “Just kinda got a slow start. Went back to my old ways a little bit, but just kinda gotta make up your mind that it’s unacceptable and just start going to score points. I know I can do it. I just gotta make my mind up.

“Proud of the way I finished it, but I need to have a full seven minutes like that.”

Team Score: Oklahoma State 22, Cornell 12.

David Taylor’s Post-Dual Thoughts

Oklahoma State vs. NC State

125: No. 2 Troy Spratley vs. No. 1 Vincent Robinson

The Cowboys’ second dual starts with a national final rematch.

First Period: Robinson needed blood time shortly after the start. Didn’t appear to be anything major.

Robinson was in on a leg at the end of the period, but no takedown was awarded. The officials are headed to the monitor to take a look.

After a review, a takedown is awarded. Robinson leads 3-0 after one.

Second Period: Spratley rides the entire second. He trails 3-0 after two but has a full two minutes of riding time.

Third Period: Quick escape from Spratley to start the third, cutting Robinson’s lead to 3-1.

Robinson gets in on a leg late in the period and is able to hold position until the time runs out, winning 3-2.

Team Score: NC State 3, Oklahoma State 0

133: Ronnie Ramirez vs. No. 18 Zach Redding

True freshman Ronnie Ramirez gets the call at 133 in place of Figueroa.

First Period: Ramirez gets in on a takedown attempt late in the period, but the time runs out. Scoreless after one.

Second Period: Redding rides the entire second. Still scoreless but give two minutes of riding time to the Wolf Pack.

Third Period: Ramirez lets Redding up to start the third, as he’s in search of a takedown.

And he gets it! Ramirez scores a takedown in the final 10 seconds of the bout to beat Redding 3-2.

Team Score: Oklahoma State 3, NC State 3

141: No. 20 Sergio Vega vs. No. 7 Ryan Jack

First Period: Not a whole lot going on. It’s scoreless after one.

Second Period: Vega rides the entire period. Still 0-0, but Vega has two minutes of riding time.

Third Period: Jack lets Vega up to start the third, giving the freshman Cowboy a 1-0 lead to go with his riding time point that is now locked. Vega fends off the 2024 All-American and wins it 2-0.

Team Score: Oklahoma State 6, NC State 3

149: No. 3 Casey Swiderski vs. No. 10 Koy Buesgens

First Period: Swiderski sends a blast double. The official blew the whistle as the two clashed heads, but it didn’t look like Swiderski heard it. Buesgens is awarded a point. The NC State corner is ticked, pointing over at the OSU corner.

After Buesgens is tended to, the match resumes. Swiderski was all over Buesgens, earning a stall call, but the period ends with Buesgens leading 1-0.

Second Period: Swiderski escapes nine seconds into the second period to tie the match at 1. Swiderski was again the aggressor but couldn’t finish on a takedown. It’s 1-1 after two.

Third Period: Buesgens escapes to start the third, taking a 2-1 lead. A wild scramble ensues, where Swiderski came inches from a takedown on a few occasions. He wanted his corner to throw the challenge brick, and the OSU coach do. After review, no takedown. Swiderski has a little over a minute to get one.

He gets oh, so close to securing it, but he doesn’t. The difference was that point at the beginning. Swiderski looked much the better guy all match but just couldn’t finish one of those scores.

Team Score: Oklahoma State 6, NC State 6

157: No. 5 Landon Robideau vs. No. 4 Jackson Arrington

First Period: Robideau strikes first, taking Arrington down with about a minute left in the opening period. He goes into the second with a 3-0 lead.

Second Period: Arrington makes it 3-1 with an escape, but Robideau has 1:13 in riding time. That’s how the period ends.

Third Period: Arrington gets Robideau’s riding time down to 55 seconds before the Cowboy escapes. But then Robideau scores another takedown to make it 7-1 and push the riding time back up. Arrington escapes, making it 7-2. Robideau wins it 8-2 with riding time. Another great win for the freshman.

Team Score: Oklahoma State 9, NC State 6

165: No. 6 Dee Lockett vs. Will Denny

First Period: Not a whole lot doing in the period until Lockett scores a takedown with about 10 seconds to go. He’ll take a 3-0 lead into the second.

Second Period: Lockett escapes to push his lead to 4-0. Denny is warned for stalling. Lockett leads 4-0 after two.

Third Period: Denny escapes early in the second to make it 4-1. Riding time not a factor. Lockett is warned for stalling. Lockett gets another takedown on the edge of the mat to take a 7-1 lead with less than 15 seconds to wrestle. Lockett let’s Denny up. The two have words for each other, but the match ends 7-2.

Team Score: Oklahoma state 12, NC State 6

174: No. 17 Alex Facundo vs. No. 5 Matty Singleton

First Period: Singleton scores a takedown in the final minute of the period. Facundo escapes late in the period. Singleton leads 3-1 with 39 seconds of riding time.

Second Period: Singleton escapes, but Facundo erased Singleton’s riding time and has 16 seconds of his own riding time on the board now. The period ends with Singleton up 4-1.

Third Period: Facundo gets caught on his back and is pinned. The Wolf Pack are right back in it.

Team Score: Oklahoma State 12, NC State 11

184: No. 4 Zack Ryder vs. Don Cates

First Period: Cates gets in on a leg. Ryder fights it off by is warned for stalling in doing so. The first period ends scoreless.

Second Period: Ryder gets out from bottom nine seconds into the second period to take a 1-0 lead. Cates is warned for stalling. Ryder gets shaken up on a shot attempt but appears to be fine. Little bit of a break before they’re back at it.

Third Period: Cates escapes with the riding-time clock at zero. It’s 1-1, and both guys are on a stall warning. Cates picks up a second stall, giving Ryder a 2-1 lead. Ryder holds on and that’s how it ends.

Team Score: Oklahoma State 15, NC State 11

197: No. 4 Cody Merrill vs. Cason Howle

First Period: Scoreless after one.

Second Period: Merrill escapes quickly, taking a 1-0 lead. That’s how the period ends.

Third Period: Merrill builds 1:07 in riding time and lets Howle up. It’s 1-1. Merrill gets a takedown with about 10 seconds left and holds on to win it 5-1.

Team Score: 18, NC State 11

HWT: No. 9 Konner Doucet vs. Everest Ouellette

First Period: Doucet takes a 3-0 lead with an early takedown and lets Ouellette up just to take him down again. Doucet out to an early 6-1 lead. Ouellette gets out and is again taken down. And again. Doucet leads 12-3 going into the second with 1:23 in riding time.

Second Period: Takedown and four back points ends it in a technical fall for Doucet.

Team Score: Oklahoma State 23, NC State 11

David Taylor’s Post-Dual Thoughts

Elsewhere at the National Duals Invitational

Winner’s Bracket

Final: NC State 27, Northern Iowa 8

Oklahoma State will wrestle NC State at 5 p.m. Saturday after the Wolf Pack throttled Northern Iowa 27-8 in the first round. This means we’ll likely get a rematch of the 125-pound national title bout between Spratley and NC State’s Vincent Robinson to kick the dual off.

Final: Iowa 34, Missouri 3

Final: Illinois 22, Little Rock 13

Iowa and Illinois will meet in the second round. Should OSU beat NC State, the Cowboys would get the winner of that dual in Sunday’s semifinal.

Final: Ohio State 33, Wyoming 6

Final: Michigan 30, Arizona State 10

Final: Nebraska 35, Lehigh 7

Final: Minnesota 19, Virginia Tech 17

Final: Iowa 24, Illinois 13

This means perhaps the greatest dual in all of wrestling will take place in Tulsa tomorrow morning. The Cowboys and Hawkeyes will start at 10 a.m.

Final: Ohio State 29, Minnesota 6

Final: Nebraska 24, Michigan 14

Consolation Bracket

Final: Missouri 34, Little Rock 6

Final: Lehigh 24, Arizona State 18

Final: Virginia Tech 25, Wyoming 12

Final: Northern Iowa 26, Cornell 8