Collegiate wrestling has become somewhat of a three-horse race this season. Penn State has long been the clear-cut favorite, and that has remained the same this season. Yet, No. 2 Oklahoma State and No. 3 Iowa have slowly been making up ground in an effort to level the playing field.
When the No. 2 Cowboys hit the road to Iowa to battle the No. 3 Hawkeyes, the world of college wrestling will be tuned in. The winner will be that much closer to bringing down Penn State while the loser remains the third-best team in the land. Two matches against Iowa may hold the key to victory for Oklahoma State.
All other matches in the dual are locked in except this one. Regardless of who takes the mat for Iowa, O-State needed Dean Hamiti to continue being flawless.
18-0 #GoPokes l @HamitiDean pic.twitter.com/KgVdg4Szwn
— OSU Cowboy Wrestling (@CowboyWrestling) February 17, 2025
Brands and Kennedy are both fairly comparable options for the Hawks, and both will be significant underdogs against Oklahoma State's dynamic All-American Dean Hamiti. After wrestling the last three seasons down at 165 pounds for Wisconsin, Hamiti transferred to Oklahoma State, bumped up to 174 pounds and has been on a tear. He's 18-0 on the year with 77% bonus and a tech fall over All-American Lenny Wolak of Virginia Tech.
The Hawkeyes are anticipating a dominating performance from Stephen Buchanan at 197 and for good reason. Buchanan is currently ranked No. 1 in the nation. They need Buchanan to pad the numbers heading into heavyweight. Oklahoma State’s Luke Surber may have something to say about that.
Knock off an All-American and win the Outstanding Wrestler belt?
— OSU Cowboy Wrestling (@CowboyWrestling) February 9, 2025
All in a day’s work for @lukesurber4 #GoPokes l @cffcmatchday pic.twitter.com/qq79hrLQOZ
Luke Surber, though, is a tough out. The veteran Cowboy has only improved under the direction of head coach David Taylor and currently sits at No. 6 in the country with an 18-1 record. His only loss came by way of a 4-3 decision to Virginia Tech's Andy Smith.
One positive for the Pokes is knowing that Wyatt Hendrickson is waiting at the end of the rainbow to close out the night.
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