Cowboy Invitational Recap: Oklahoma State Wins Nine Titles as No. 2 Seeds Take Seven Finals

Photo: Kaela Belingon

Oklahoma State opened its 2026-27 season at the Cowboy Invitational in Gallagher-Iba Arena on Sunday, and the Cowboys won nine of the 10 titles. The bigger story was inside the OSU room: six of the 10 finals were all-Cowboy matchups, and in the five that pitted the No. 1 seed against the No. 2, the No. 2 seed won four. Across all 10 finals, the No. 2 seed beat the No. 1 seven times. Arkansas-Little Rock's Stephen Little was the only non-Cowboy champion.

The event was not streamed, so here is every final, every semifinal and how the wrestle-off weights shook out.

The Champions

125: #2 Rocklin Zinkin (Oklahoma State) def. #1 Drew Davis (SIUE), MD 21-7
133: #1 Jax Forrest (Oklahoma State) def. #2 T.K. Davis (Gardner-Webb), TF 20-4
141: #2 Jayden Raney (Oklahoma State) def. #1 Tagen Jamison (Oklahoma State), Dec 6-5
149: #1 Sergio Vega (Oklahoma State) def. #2 Jordyn Raney (Oklahoma State), MD 16-4
157: #1 Landon Robideau (Oklahoma State) def. #7 Kolter Burton (Oklahoma State), TF 22-6
165: #2 Casey Swiderski (Oklahoma State) def. #1 Dee Lockett (Oklahoma State), Dec 4-3 (TB2)
174: #2 Alex Facundo (Oklahoma State) def. #1 Lorenzo Norman (Oklahoma State), Dec 7-5
184: #2 Mikey White (Oklahoma State) def. #1 Bennett Berge (Oklahoma State), Dec 10-4
197: #2 Stephen Little (Arkansas-Little Rock) def. #1 Cody Merrill (Oklahoma State), medical forfeit (tied 2-2 in the second tiebreaker)
285: #2 Dreshaun Ross (Oklahoma State) def. #1 Bryson Buhk (SIUE), TF 21-6

The Wrestle-Offs

With multiple Cowboys entered at several weights, the finals doubled as early lineup tests. Six of them were all-OSU:

141: Freshman Jayden Raney edged No. 1 seed Tagen Jamison 6-5. Jamison had to survive a 2-1 tiebreaker win over teammate Ronnie Ramirez in the semifinals, while Raney pinned Gardner-Webb's Dominic DiTullio in 2:41.
149: Sergio Vega handled Jordyn Raney 16-4, after both won by major decision in the semis (Vega 17-4 over Arkansas-Little Rock's Kyrel Leveall, Raney 14-4 over teammate Beau Hickman).
157: Landon Robideau teched his way through, 17-2 over Gardner-Webb's Joey Giordano and 22-6 over Kolter Burton, who upset No. 3 Cutter Sheets 4-2 to reach the final.
165: The tightest one. Casey Swiderski beat Kody Routledge 4-1 in sudden victory in the semis, then beat No. 1 Dee Lockett 4-3 in the second tiebreaker.
174: Alex Facundo beat Lorenzo Norman 7-5. Norman teched Arkansas-Little Rock's Gunnar Holland 17-1 and Facundo majored SIUE's Dominic Lopez 13-3 to set it up.
184: Mikey White beat Bennett Berge 10-4 after topping SIUE's Caleb Neal 13-8. Berge teched Arkansas-Little Rock's Jarrell Miller 21-6 in the semis.

The Other Finals

Jax Forrest was the most dominant champion of the day: a pin of Arkansas-Little Rock's Justyce Zuniga in 3:25, then a 20-4 tech of T.K. Davis in the final. Rocklin Zinkin put up 40 points in two matches, majoring Tyson Roach 19-11 and then No. 1 Drew Davis 21-7. Dreshaun Ross teched Kaden Darwin 19-4 and then SIUE's top seed Bryson Buhk 21-6 in 2:37.

The lone title that got away from the Cowboys came at 197, and not the way anyone wanted. Arkansas-Little Rock's Stephen Little beat Austin Johnson 11-4 in the semifinals, then was tied 2-2 with No. 1 Cody Merrill in the second tiebreaker when Merrill had to medically forfeit. It appears Merrill fainted or may have suffered a concussion; there has been no official word on his condition. We wish him a quick recovery.

Third Place

125: Jeff Jacome (Gardner-Webb) def. Tyson Roach (Arkansas-Little Rock), 6-2
133: Marcel Lopez (SIUE) def. Justyce Zuniga (Arkansas-Little Rock), 8-1
141: Ronnie Ramirez (Oklahoma State) def. Dominic DiTullio (Gardner-Webb), 4-1
149: Kyrel Leveall (Arkansas-Little Rock) def. Beau Hickman (Oklahoma State), 7-2
157: Joey Giordano (Gardner-Webb) def. Cutter Sheets (Oklahoma State), 7-2
165: Kody Routledge (Oklahoma State) def. Melton Powe (Arkansas-Little Rock), 3-2 (TB2)
174: Dominic Lopez (SIUE) def. Gunnar Holland (Arkansas-Little Rock), 4-0
184: Caleb Neal (SIUE) pinned Jarrell Miller (Arkansas-Little Rock), 3:52
197: Austin Johnson (Oklahoma State) def. Nick Nosler (SIUE), 7-2
285: Kaden Darwin (Arkansas-Little Rock) def. Kruz Goff (Oklahoma State), 4-1 (SV)

Full Brackets

Every bout from the official FloArena brackets, round by round. Byes are left out.

125

Round of 16

#2 Rocklin Zinkin (Oklahoma State) def. #15 Dominic Brown (SIUE), TF 19-3

Quarterfinals

#1 Drew Davis (SIUE) def. #8 Isaiah Jones (Arkansas-Little Rock), Dec 6-3
#4 Jeff Jacome (Gardner-Webb) def. #5 Tyler Harper (Arkansas-Little Rock), Dec 14-11
#3 Tyson Roach (Arkansas-Little Rock) def. #6 Maximus Hay (SIUE), Fall 0:27
#2 Rocklin Zinkin (Oklahoma State) def. #7 Matt Rowland (Gardner-Webb), TF 21-5

Semifinals

#1 Drew Davis (SIUE) def. #4 Jeff Jacome (Gardner-Webb), Dec 4-1
#2 Rocklin Zinkin (Oklahoma State) def. #3 Tyson Roach (Arkansas-Little Rock), MD 19-11

Finals

#2 Rocklin Zinkin (Oklahoma State) def. #1 Drew Davis (SIUE), MD 21-7

Consolation Round 2

#8 Isaiah Jones (Arkansas-Little Rock) def. #15 Dominic Brown (SIUE), TF 20-2

Consolation Semifinals

#6 Maximus Hay (SIUE) def. #7 Matt Rowland (Gardner-Webb), Dec 4-1
#8 Isaiah Jones (Arkansas-Little Rock) def. #5 Tyler Harper (Arkansas-Little Rock), Dec 4-3

3rd Place

#4 Jeff Jacome (Gardner-Webb) def. #3 Tyson Roach (Arkansas-Little Rock), Dec 6-2

5th Place

#8 Isaiah Jones (Arkansas-Little Rock) def. #6 Maximus Hay (SIUE), Dec 4-3

See the 125 bracket on FloWrestling

133

Round of 16

#8 Izaac Aravalo (SIUE) def. #9 Thadeaus Gerstenacker (Gardner-Webb), Dec 8-1

Quarterfinals

#1 Jax Forrest (Oklahoma State) def. #8 Izaac Aravalo (SIUE), Fall 0:33
#4 Justyce Zuniga (Arkansas-Little Rock) def. #5 Michael Lamb (Gardner-Webb), Dec 10-5
#3 Marcel Lopez (SIUE) def. #6 Sam Smtih (Oklahoma State), Dec 5-1
#2 T.k. Davis (Gardner-Webb) def. #7 Christian Davis (Arkansas-Little Rock), Dec 9-5

Semifinals

#1 Jax Forrest (Oklahoma State) def. #4 Justyce Zuniga (Arkansas-Little Rock), Fall 3:25
#2 T.k. Davis (Gardner-Webb) def. #3 Marcel Lopez (SIUE), Dec 6-2

Finals

#1 Jax Forrest (Oklahoma State) def. #2 T.k. Davis (Gardner-Webb), TF 20-4

Consolation Round 2

#7 Christian Davis (Arkansas-Little Rock) def. #9 Thadeaus Gerstenacker (Gardner-Webb), Dec 4-0

Consolation Semifinals

#6 Sam Smtih (Oklahoma State) def. #7 Christian Davis (Arkansas-Little Rock), Dec 8-2
#8 Izaac Aravalo (SIUE) def. #5 Michael Lamb (Gardner-Webb), Dec 11-4

3rd Place

#3 Marcel Lopez (SIUE) def. #4 Justyce Zuniga (Arkansas-Little Rock), Dec 8-1

5th Place

#6 Sam Smtih (Oklahoma State) def. #8 Izaac Aravalo (SIUE), FF

See the 133 bracket on FloWrestling

141

Round of 16

#9 Kiernan Meink (SIUE) def. #8 Charlie Sly (Gardner-Webb), Dec 8-3
#5 Gavyn Whitehead (Arkansas-Little Rock) def. #12 Jake Hamiti (Oklahoma State), Dec 6-2
#11 Dominic DiTullio (Gardner-Webb) def. #6 Carter McCallister (Arkansas-Little Rock), Dec 6-2
#7 Charleston Baglio (Gardner-Webb) def. #10 Donavon Allen (SIUE), Dec 2-1 (TB)

Quarterfinals

#1 Tagen Jamison (Oklahoma State) def. #9 Kiernan Meink (SIUE), Dec 8-2
#4 Ronnie Ramirez (Oklahoma State) def. #5 Gavyn Whitehead (Arkansas-Little Rock), TF 19-4
#11 Dominic DiTullio (Gardner-Webb) def. #3 Cael Hughes (Oklahoma State), Dec 5-4
#2 Jayden Raney (Oklahoma State) def. #7 Charleston Baglio (Gardner-Webb), TF 22-6

Semifinals

#1 Tagen Jamison (Oklahoma State) def. #4 Ronnie Ramirez (Oklahoma State), Dec 2-1 (TB)
#2 Jayden Raney (Oklahoma State) def. #11 Dominic DiTullio (Gardner-Webb), Fall 2:41

Finals

#2 Jayden Raney (Oklahoma State) def. #1 Tagen Jamison (Oklahoma State), Dec 6-5

Consolation Round 2

#8 Charlie Sly (Gardner-Webb) def. #7 Charleston Baglio (Gardner-Webb), Dec 4-1
#3 Cael Hughes (Oklahoma State) def. #12 Jake Hamiti (Oklahoma State), TF 17-2
#6 Carter McCallister (Arkansas-Little Rock) def. #5 Gavyn Whitehead (Arkansas-Little Rock), TF 17-2
#9 Kiernan Meink (SIUE) def. #10 Donavon Allen (SIUE), Dec 2-0

Consolation Semifinals

#3 Cael Hughes (Oklahoma State) def. #8 Charlie Sly (Gardner-Webb), TF 15-0
#6 Carter McCallister (Arkansas-Little Rock) def. #9 Kiernan Meink (SIUE), Dec 9-3

3rd Place

#4 Ronnie Ramirez (Oklahoma State) def. #11 Dominic DiTullio (Gardner-Webb), Dec 4-1

5th Place

#3 Cael Hughes (Oklahoma State) def. #6 Carter McCallister (Arkansas-Little Rock), TF 20-3

See the 141 bracket on FloWrestling

149

Round of 16

#7 Hayden Whidden (SIUE) def. #10 Till Helms (Gardner-Webb), Dec 5-0
#2 Jordyn Raney (Oklahoma State) def. #15 Logan Milsaps (Arkansas-Little Rock), Fall 0:38

Quarterfinals

#1 Sergio Vega (Oklahoma State) def. #9 William Christopher (Gardner-Webb), TF 22-5
#4 Kyrel Leveall (Arkansas-Little Rock) def. #5 Alex Turley (Gardner-Webb), Dec 10-3
#6 Beau Hickman (Oklahoma State) def. #3 Brennan Van Hoecke (Arkansas-Little Rock), Dec 4-1 (SV)
#2 Jordyn Raney (Oklahoma State) def. #7 Hayden Whidden (SIUE), TF 20-3

Semifinals

#1 Sergio Vega (Oklahoma State) def. #4 Kyrel Leveall (Arkansas-Little Rock), MD 17-4
#2 Jordyn Raney (Oklahoma State) def. #6 Beau Hickman (Oklahoma State), MD 14-4

Finals

#1 Sergio Vega (Oklahoma State) def. #2 Jordyn Raney (Oklahoma State), MD 16-4

Consolation Round 1

#15 Logan Milsaps (Arkansas-Little Rock) def. #10 Till Helms (Gardner-Webb), Dec 5-2

Consolation Round 2

#9 William Christopher (Gardner-Webb) def. #15 Logan Milsaps (Arkansas-Little Rock), Dec 4-2

Consolation Semifinals

#3 Brennan Van Hoecke (Arkansas-Little Rock) def. #7 Hayden Whidden (SIUE), Dec 5-3
#5 Alex Turley (Gardner-Webb) def. #9 William Christopher (Gardner-Webb), MD 8-0

3rd Place

#4 Kyrel Leveall (Arkansas-Little Rock) def. #6 Beau Hickman (Oklahoma State), Dec 7-2

5th Place

#3 Brennan Van Hoecke (Arkansas-Little Rock) def. #5 Alex Turley (Gardner-Webb), Fall 2:26

See the 149 bracket on FloWrestling

157

Round of 16

#7 Kolter Burton (Oklahoma State) def. #10 Drew Pepin (Gardner-Webb), MD 12-4

Quarterfinals

#1 Landon Robideau (Oklahoma State) def. #8 Pj Murphy (SIUE), TF 23-7
#4 Joey Giordano (Gardner-Webb) def. #5 Marco Dalakishvili (Arkansas-Little Rock), Dec 7-1
#3 Cutter Sheets (Oklahoma State) def. #6 Linkin Carter (SIUE), Dec 13-6
#7 Kolter Burton (Oklahoma State) def. #2 Brock Herman (Arkansas-Little Rock), Dec 9-4

Semifinals

#1 Landon Robideau (Oklahoma State) def. #4 Joey Giordano (Gardner-Webb), TF 17-2
#7 Kolter Burton (Oklahoma State) def. #3 Cutter Sheets (Oklahoma State), Dec 4-2

Finals

#1 Landon Robideau (Oklahoma State) def. #7 Kolter Burton (Oklahoma State), TF 22-6

Consolation Round 2

#10 Drew Pepin (Gardner-Webb) def. #8 Pj Murphy (SIUE), Dec 5-4

Consolation Semifinals

#2 Brock Herman (Arkansas-Little Rock) def. #6 Linkin Carter (SIUE), MD 15-4
#5 Marco Dalakishvili (Arkansas-Little Rock) def. #10 Drew Pepin (Gardner-Webb), Dec 6-1

3rd Place

#4 Joey Giordano (Gardner-Webb) def. #3 Cutter Sheets (Oklahoma State), Dec 7-2

5th Place

#2 Brock Herman (Arkansas-Little Rock) def. #5 Marco Dalakishvili (Arkansas-Little Rock), Fall 4:34

See the 157 bracket on FloWrestling

165

Round of 16

#1 Dee Lockett (Oklahoma State) def. #16 Jadyn Johnson (Arkansas-Little Rock), TF 20-5
#2 Casey Swiderski (Oklahoma State) def. #15 Luke Murray (Gardner-Webb), MD 16-3

Quarterfinals

#1 Dee Lockett (Oklahoma State) def. #8 Gage Murphy (SIUE), TF 18-3
#6 Melton Powe (Arkansas-Little Rock) def. #5 Ishmael Guerrero (Oklahoma State), MD 9-1
#3 Kody Routledge (Oklahoma State) def. #14 Tucker Cell (Gardner-Webb), MD 18-8
#2 Casey Swiderski (Oklahoma State) def. #10 Nico Lozano (Arkansas-Little Rock), TF 20-5

Semifinals

#1 Dee Lockett (Oklahoma State) def. #6 Melton Powe (Arkansas-Little Rock), Dec 9-2
#2 Casey Swiderski (Oklahoma State) def. #3 Kody Routledge (Oklahoma State), Dec 4-1 (SV)

Finals

#2 Casey Swiderski (Oklahoma State) def. #1 Dee Lockett (Oklahoma State), Dec 4-3 (TB)

Consolation Round 2

#16 Jadyn Johnson (Arkansas-Little Rock) def. #10 Nico Lozano (Arkansas-Little Rock), MD 20-6
#15 Luke Murray (Gardner-Webb) def. #8 Gage Murphy (SIUE), Dec 4-3

Consolation Semifinals

#16 Jadyn Johnson (Arkansas-Little Rock) def. #14 Tucker Cell (Gardner-Webb), TF 20-5
#5 Ishmael Guerrero (Oklahoma State) def. #15 Luke Murray (Gardner-Webb), Dec 9-6

3rd Place

#3 Kody Routledge (Oklahoma State) def. #6 Melton Powe (Arkansas-Little Rock), Dec 3-2 (TB)

5th Place

#5 Ishmael Guerrero (Oklahoma State) def. #16 Jadyn Johnson (Arkansas-Little Rock), MD 11-1

See the 165 bracket on FloWrestling

174

Round of 16

#9 Isael Perez (Arkansas-Little Rock) def. #8 Isaiah Guerrero (Gardner-Webb), MD 11-2

Quarterfinals

#1 Lorenzo Norman (Oklahoma State) def. #9 Isael Perez (Arkansas-Little Rock), Fall 1:09
#4 Gunnar Holland (Arkansas-Little Rock) def. #5 Johnson Landen (SIUE), MD 8-0
#3 Dominic Lopez (SIUE) def. #6 Ethan Teague (Oklahoma State), Dec 5-0
#2 Alex Facundo (Oklahoma State) def. #7 Taye Wilson (Arkansas-Little Rock), TF 25-9

Semifinals

#1 Lorenzo Norman (Oklahoma State) def. #4 Gunnar Holland (Arkansas-Little Rock), TF 17-1
#2 Alex Facundo (Oklahoma State) def. #3 Dominic Lopez (SIUE), MD 13-3

Finals

#2 Alex Facundo (Oklahoma State) def. #1 Lorenzo Norman (Oklahoma State), Dec 7-5

Consolation Round 2

#7 Taye Wilson (Arkansas-Little Rock) def. #8 Isaiah Guerrero (Gardner-Webb), Dec 9-3

Consolation Semifinals

#6 Ethan Teague (Oklahoma State) def. #7 Taye Wilson (Arkansas-Little Rock), Fall 2:02
#9 Isael Perez (Arkansas-Little Rock) def. #5 Johnson Landen (SIUE), Medical FF

3rd Place

#3 Dominic Lopez (SIUE) def. #4 Gunnar Holland (Arkansas-Little Rock), Dec 4-0

5th Place

#6 Ethan Teague (Oklahoma State) def. #9 Isael Perez (Arkansas-Little Rock), MD 11-2

See the 174 bracket on FloWrestling

184

Quarterfinals

#1 Bennett Berge (Oklahoma State) def. #8 Asadbek Fayzullaev (SIUE), TF 17-2
#4 Jarrell Miller (Arkansas-Little Rock) def. #5 Owen Burling (Gardner-Webb), TF 17-2
#6 Caleb Neal (SIUE) def. #3 Kodiak Cannedy (Arkansas-Little Rock), Dec 7-0
#2 Mikey White (Oklahoma State) def. #7 Leonardo Tovar (Gardner-Webb), Fall 0:40

Semifinals

#1 Bennett Berge (Oklahoma State) def. #4 Jarrell Miller (Arkansas-Little Rock), TF 21-6
#2 Mikey White (Oklahoma State) def. #6 Caleb Neal (SIUE), Dec 13-8

Finals

#2 Mikey White (Oklahoma State) def. #1 Bennett Berge (Oklahoma State), Dec 10-4

Consolation Semifinals

#8 Asadbek Fayzullaev (SIUE) def. #5 Owen Burling (Gardner-Webb), Dec 8-2
#3 Kodiak Cannedy (Arkansas-Little Rock) def. #7 Leonardo Tovar (Gardner-Webb), Medical FF

3rd Place

#6 Caleb Neal (SIUE) def. #4 Jarrell Miller (Arkansas-Little Rock), Fall 3:52

5th Place

#8 Asadbek Fayzullaev (SIUE) def. #3 Kodiak Cannedy (Arkansas-Little Rock), Dec 6-4

See the 184 bracket on FloWrestling

197

Quarterfinals

#1 Cody Merrill (Oklahoma State) def. #8 Rylan Breen (SIUE), Fall 3:23
#3 Austin Johnson (Oklahoma State) def. #6 Josh McCutchen (Gardner-Webb), Dec 4-2
#2 Stephen Little (Arkansas-Little Rock) def. #7 Nico Ronchetti (SIUE), TF 20-5

Semifinals

#1 Cody Merrill (Oklahoma State) def. #4 Nick Nosler (SIUE), MD 12-3
#2 Stephen Little (Arkansas-Little Rock) def. #3 Austin Johnson (Oklahoma State), Dec 11-4

Finals

#2 Stephen Little (Arkansas-Little Rock) def. #1 Cody Merrill (Oklahoma State), Medical FF (tied 2-2 in TB2)

Consolation Semifinals

#6 Josh McCutchen (Gardner-Webb) def. #7 Nico Ronchetti (SIUE), MD 11-2

3rd Place

#3 Austin Johnson (Oklahoma State) def. #4 Nick Nosler (SIUE), Dec 7-2

5th Place

#6 Josh McCutchen (Gardner-Webb) def. #8 Rylan Breen (SIUE), TF 16-1

See the 197 bracket on FloWrestling

285

Quarterfinals

#1 Bryson Buhk (SIUE) def. #8 Makhi Rodgers (Gardner-Webb), Dec 7-2
#5 Kruz Goff (Oklahoma State) def. #4 Ryder Smith (Arkansas-Little Rock), Dec 5-2
#2 Dreshaun Ross (Oklahoma State) def. #7 Jake Fernandez (SIUE), TF 19-4

Semifinals

#1 Bryson Buhk (SIUE) def. #5 Kruz Goff (Oklahoma State), Dec 4-3
#2 Dreshaun Ross (Oklahoma State) def. #3 Kaden Darwin (Arkansas-Little Rock), TF 19-4

Finals

#2 Dreshaun Ross (Oklahoma State) def. #1 Bryson Buhk (SIUE), TF 21-6

Consolation Semifinals

#4 Ryder Smith (Arkansas-Little Rock) def. #8 Makhi Rodgers (Gardner-Webb), Dec 8-1

3rd Place

#3 Kaden Darwin (Arkansas-Little Rock) def. #5 Kruz Goff (Oklahoma State), Dec 4-1 (SV)

5th Place

#7 Jake Fernandez (SIUE) def. #4 Ryder Smith (Arkansas-Little Rock), Dec 8-1

See the 285 bracket on FloWrestling

Results are from the official FloArena brackets for the event.