The Top 3 Potential Matchups in Oklahoma State’s Dual against No. 3 Iowa State

There are no bad matches. This dual should rock.

No. 5 Oklahoma State hosts No. 3 Iowa State at 2 p.m. Sunday in Gallagher-Iba Arena. The lowest ranking in either team’s starting lineup is No. 16, so no matter which Cowboy and Cyclone are on the mat, it ought to be a scrap. But for the sake of the exercise, here are what I consider the Top 3 potential bouts of the dual.

3. 149: No. 12 Casey Swiderski (OSU) vs. No. 6 Jacob Frost (ISU)

Casey Swiderski spent the first three seasons of his college career as a Cyclone, earning All-American status in 2024. But on Saturday, he’ll be on the opposite side of the mat from his former team.

After Friday night’s dual against Northern Iowa, Swiderski was asked about his thoughts going into a bout against Iowa State.

“They better be ready,” he said. “That’s pretty much it. We’re gonna be ready. We’ll rise to the occasion. This is Cowboy country, and we’re gonna defend it.”

Need I say more as to why this match is on this list?

After his win Friday night, Swiderski is up to 9-5 on the year. He started 0-4. Some of those losses seemed a little head-scratching at the time, but all five of Swiderski’s losses are to guys currently in the Top 16 of the 149-pound weight class, with three of those guys being in the Top 5.

An All-American at 141 pounds last season, Frost is 11-3 this season and has won his past three via bonus points.

Their most notable common opponent this season is Stanford’s Aden Valencia (No. 11 nationally). Swiderski lost to Valencia 13-3 to open the season. Frost then beat Valencia 4-3 at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, but Valencia got that win back, beating Frost 4-3 at the start of the month.

2. 133: No. 12 Jax Forrest (OSU) vs. No. 3 Evan Frost (ISU)

Jax Forrest’s toughest test as a college wrestler to date will happen Sunday.

Evan Frost, the younger brother of Jacob Frost, was an All-American in 2024 as a redshirt freshman. He made it to the NCAA quarterfinals that year before Daton Fix beat him in tiebreakers.

Frost is 12-1 this season with his lone loss being a 4-2 decision to stud Ohio State freshman Ben Davino. Frost has a nice win against Iowa’s Drake Ayala on his mantle, as the Cyclone beat the two-time national finalist 11-5 in the Cy-Hawk Dual.

Forrest is up to 7-0 after beating Julian Farber via a 19-4 tech fall on Friday night. Six of Forrest’s wins have ended early, as he has four tech falls and two pins to his name.

Forrest’s only close bout to this point came in Ames of all places against a guy who is trying find eligibility to become a Cyclone. Forrest beat two-time U23 world champ Reineri Ortega 4-0 in the Cyclone Open final.

As far as rankings go Frost is by far Forrest’s toughest test to date, as the Cowboy’s highest ranked win is Farber, who is No. 25.

1. 141: No. 2 Sergio Vega (OSU) vs. No. 3 Anthony Echemendia (ISU)

Sergio Vega and Anthony Echemendia each attended Sunnyside High in Arizona, but Echemendia is in his fifth year of college wrestling while Vega is in his first.

Echemendia has dealt with myriad injuries throughout his career, but when he has been healthy, he’s been good. He was an All-American in 2024, taking fifth at NCAAs. He also won a Big 12 title that season.

Echemendia is 13-1 this season with the lone blemish coming to two-time defending champ Jesse Mendez, 5-1. Echemendia has won his past five bouts with bonus points — one major and four techs. His best win of the year was a 15-2 major decision against Iowa’s Nasir Bailey. That’s a common opponent for the two, as Vega beat Bailey 3-0 at National Duals in what was Vega’s fourth college match.

Vega is up to 11-0 in his freshman season after beating Max Brady 14-3 on Friday. Vega’s best wins are against Nebraska’s Brock Hardy, earning a 13-2 major against Hardy at National Duals before pinning him at the dual in Lincoln.

No. 5 Oklahoma State vs. No. 3 Iowa State

When: 2 p.m. Sunday
Where: Gallagher-Iba Arena
Watch: ESPN+