Doucet's pin paps dominant OSU effort — Cowboys rout No. 7 Iowa 32-11 in historic dual
Doucet's final match at Gallagher-Iba Arena ends in a pin as OSU records its most points in the 60-dual series history
Konner Doucet exerted force against his opponent, reaching for the leg.
In bonus-point territory, Doucet, Oklahoma State’s sixth-year senior and seventh-ranked heavyweight, had Iowa’s Gage Marty in a navy ride. Doucet said he was merely aiming for a tech fall. Instead, he attained something greater.
As he reached for Marty’s right leg, he realized the precarious position he had his opponent in. So, as soon as Marty eased up, Doucet went for the jugular.
As the match clock wound down, Doucet tilted Marty back further, until his back was firmly against the mat. Moments later, the nearside mat official slammed his hand on the surface, signifying the final outcome — a pin.
“Swag Surfin’” by Fast Life Yungstaz echoed through the Gallagher-Iba Arena sound system as golden confetti — referred to as “pinfetti” by OSU wrestlers — fell from the ceiling. The euphoric roar of the crowd greeted Doucet as he rose from the mat.
His pin of Marty finalized No. 3 OSU’s 32-11 pummeling of No. 7 Iowa, but he said it took longer than usual to ascertain the magnitude of the moment. And when he did, he said, an immense feeling of excitement rushed through his body.
Sunday marked Doucet’s final match as an OSU wrestler in GIA. Doucet said he took every opportunity to relish it afterward.
“We’re striving to be the best we can be every day,” Doucet said. “We’re not surprised by much.”
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Three pins and four total bonus-point victories headlined the evening, as the Cowboys clinched seven of 10 bouts, en route to their first win against the Hawkeyes since 2019. Concurrently, OSU scored its most points in the series in its 60-dual history, winning Sunday’s meeting by its largest margin since 1961.
The Cowboys (15-1) started the day with a 5-2 decision from No. 7 Troy Spratley against No. 6 Dean Peterson of Iowa at 125. Shortly after, sixth-ranked freshman Jax Forrest gave OSU further separation, cruising to a 19-3 tech fall against two-time national finalist and ninth-ranked Drake Ayala.
Pins from No. 2 Sergio Vega against Kale Peterson at 141 and No. 7 Cody Merrill against Brock Sampson at 197 purely highlighted OSU’s dominance. And it all came with seven freshman wrestlers inserted into the lineup. Post-dual, OSU coach David Taylor noted how the win holistically highlighted the progression of the team since November.
Clockwise from top left: Cody Merrill works to secure a pin at 197 pounds; Sergio Vega tilts his opponent en route to a fall at 141; Jax Forrest controls his bout on the way to a 19-3 tech fall at 133; and Troy Spratley battles on the mat at 125 during No. 3 Oklahoma State's 32-11 victory over No. 7 Iowa on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater. – Photos by Bruce Waterfield/OSU Athletics
“This is not a surprise to anybody in our group. This is what we’re striving to do. We’re striving to be the best program in the country,” Taylor said. “This is a moment in time, and tomorrow it will be over and we’re on to the next thing. It will be another newsline. But today, it’s a pretty cool thing.”
Then there’s Doucet, who capped off the day with his pin. The veteran heavyweight has mentored and nurtured a young lineup throughout the season, cultivating it toward its current form.
“Konner is like the old man around here,” Forrest said. “He’s our only senior. We’re bringing everyone back from last year. Troy is the next oldest, so Konner, he takes that role really well.
But it hasn’t always been smooth sailing for Doucet.
He spent two years as the Cowboys’ heavyweight starter from 2022-24. Then Wyatt Hendrickson abruptly transferred in from Air Force and swiftly took the reins ahead of the 2024-25 season. Doucet said he was initially distraught. But instead of blaming himself, he relished the opportunity to wrestle behind Hendrickson.
There, Doucet observed Hendrickson, applied learned lessons and further developed himself. Fast-forward, he finished his final regular season as a Cowboy 14-2, ranked eighth in his weight class and poised to don the No. 2 seed at heavyweight once the Big 12 Wrestling Championships take place in Tulsa in two weeks.
“Sitting out a year was hard,” Doucet said. “...Just getting back in the lineup this year was everything I strived for and everything I wanted to do. So yeah — it just made me really hungry. And I just worked really hard last year and made the best of not wrestling. It’s never great when you don’t get to wrestle, but there was a lot to learn from.”
In the modern era of college athletics, loyalty is fickle and roster stability comes at a minimum. Doucet could have transferred out of OSU and found a new home. A fresh start where he could showcase his talents elsewhere.
Instead, he maintained loyalty to the school that took a chance on him as an undersized in-state prospect out of Comanche High School. He embraced the opportunity to serve as a backup to Hendrickson — an eventual Big 12 and NCAA champion — and has displayed an enhanced skillset since returning to the lineup as a starter.
And it ended with OSU fans echoing his name through GIA and golden confetti falling upon him. A fitting conclusion to a rigorous six-year career.
“I love wrestling, and I love Oklahoma State,” Doucet said. “That’s a big thing, like, this is where I wanted to be. So, I couldn’t see myself wrestling anywhere else, and I wanted to wrestle here.”
No. 3 Oklahoma State 32, No. 7 Iowa 11
Feb. 22, 2026 | Gallagher-Iba Arena | Stillwater, Oklahoma
125: No. 7 Troy Spratley (OSU) dec. No. 6 Dean Peterson (IOWA), 5-2
133: No. 6 Jax Forrest (OSU) TF No. 9 Drake Ayala (IOWA), 19-3, 6:07
141: No. 2 Sergio Vega (OSU) fall Kale Petersen (IOWA), 6:31
149: No. 18 Ryder Block (IOWA), TF Kolter Burton (OSU), 19-4, 5:37
157: No. 5 Landon Robideau (OSU) dec. No. 14 Jordan Williams (IOWA), 5-1
165: No. 4 Mikey Caliendo (IOWA) dec. No. 2 LaDarion Lockett (OSU), 4-2
174: No. 3 Patrick Kennedy (IOWA) dec. No. 7 Alex Facundo (OSU), 8-3
184: No. 9 Zach Ryder (OSU) dec. Gabe Arnold (IOWA), 2-1 SV
197: No. 7 Cody Merrill (OSU) fall Brody Sampson (IOWA), 4:48
HWT: No. 8 Konner Doucet (OSU) fall Gage Marty (IOWA), 5:53
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