Merrill Bounces Back — OSU's 197-Pounder Wins Twice Saturday to Claim Third at Big 12
First-period takedowns prove decisive in both Saturday victories for the Cowboys' 197-pounder
TULSA — Cody Merrill rose from the mat as battle cries of his name echoed through the venue.
“Cody Merrill” chants bellowed around him as the nearside official raised his hand. The moment not only cemented a 6-4 decision for the fourth-seeded Merrill against Oklahoma’s 5-seed DJ Parker. It climaxed a stellar bounce-back for Merrill, who reclaimed success after a treacherous ending Friday.
"It's a really important thing," Merrill said. "I think no matter how long it takes, first, second, third period, my goal is always to get the first takedown."
Which he did.
The third-seeded Merrill began the day with a marquee matchup in the consolation semifinals. South Dakota State’s 4-seed Bennett Berge awaited him, but Merrill didn’t waver.
He shot first and quickly, securing a takedown in less than 30 seconds to take a 3-1 lead at the end of the first period. He started the second in the bottom position and escaped — enough for a 4-1 decision to advance to the 197-pound consolation finals.
Then came his clash with Parker.
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Parker struck first 25 seconds in with a shifty single-leg takedown. But Merrill responded quickly with an escape. He took the lead with another first-period takedown for a 4-3 advantage heading into the second period. Merrill’s defense did the rest, as he added the riding time point to clinch third place with a 6-4 decision.
First-period takedowns were vital for Merrill in both matches Saturday. The result? A 2-0 finish to the weekend.
"Yesterday, I fell short (with some) bad calls," Merrill said. "Just going to wrestle through all of it. Win or lose, I'm just trying to wrestle my best and give the next best thing."
Now, with Merrill's weekend at the Big 12 Championships finalized, his focus has shifted ahead to nationals, which take place in two weeks at Rocket Mortgage Field House in Cleveland. Unbeknownst to his seeding, Merrill said he finds solace in his body of work over the season's course. That in turn, has provided him with a sense of confidence within himself leading in.
"The mindset and expectations are always to come out on top of the podium," Merrill said. "I think obviously it's a long road to the end. Right now, I'm just worried about match by match."
Through three sessions, OSU maintained a first-place standing in the 2026 Big 12 Wrestling Championships at the BOK Center. Merrill’s two wins added 4.5 team points to the Cowboys’ total, elevating it to 159.
OSU leads second-place Iowa State by 23. Third-place Arizona State sits well behind the threshold at 136 team points, so the Cowboys control their own destiny moving forward. And with eight wrestlers awaiting their matches in the finals round, which begins at 7 p.m., the likelihood of a second-consecutive Big 12 title appears all the more realistic.
But Cowboys’ coach David Taylor made it clear he isn’t enamored with euphoria at that possibility.
Why? Because, in Taylor’s words, it’s the expectation.
“We have a chance to do something special here (Saturday),” Taylor said after Friday’s second session. “Winning back-to-back conference titles isn’t easy — in any sport, but especially this one. But it’s the expectation we’ve created for ourselves — this program and this team.”
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