OSU holds big lead after first day of Big 12s, sends eight wrestlers to finals round

TULSA — Dee Lockett froze.

The sound of the BOK Center public address speaker announcing a pause to action due to a tornado warning in the area came abruptly. Uncertainty flooded the minds of all present for the spectacle. Fans were instructed to depart the seating area while wrestlers were instructed to leave the mats.

Lockett, who led fifth-seeded Connor Euton midway in the second period of his 165-pound semifinals match, was left in awe.

“It was crazy,” Lockett said. “We had a concussion protocol in the first period, and then a long break (with the severe weather stoppage). But my coaches just told me to stay focused.”

Which he did. Despite an hour-long delay, he never lost his rhythm.

Oklahoma State coach David Taylor provides instructions to a wrestler on Friday, March 6, 2026 at the Big 12 Wrestling Championships in Tulsa — Photo by Luke Tolbert

Lockett resumed his dominance the moment he returned to the mat. Two shifty single-leg takedowns and back points propelled the top-seeded freshman 165-pounder to a 11-2 major decision against Euton. And Lockett became one of eight Cowboy wrestlers to clinch a pot in Saturday’s championship round at the 2026 Big 12 Wrestling Championships.

“I stayed focused,” Lockett said. “I came out there, I got two more takedowns and I earned a major decision after having worn them in the first two periods. I think (the biggest thing was) me staying focused.”

Through one day of the 2026 Big 12 Wrestling Championships, Oklahoma State is in prime position to take home another conference title. The Cowboys’ 154.5 team points — which eclipsed their championship-winning final point total from a season ago (153.5) — lead second-place Iowa State by 32 points. Bonus-point wins, a common emphasis from Cowboys’ coach David Taylor since his inaugural campaign a season ago, have come in abundance. OSU wrestlers logged 18 of those through the first two sessions.

Overall, Taylor said, a “good start” to the event. Which he acknowledged his team would be battle tested in over the days leading in.

“You always try and talk to guys about just staying present and wrestling through some adversity,” Taylor said. “You just never really know what’s gonna happen here.

“I’m proud of the start and I’m happy with the way our guys have embraced this opportunity so far.”

And while a second-straight team conference title is within reach, that hasn’t been the sole focus for the Cowboys — staying present and embracing the moment has.

"We haven't talked about winning the Big 12's as a team once," Cowboys’ 133-pounder Jax Forrest said. "It's something that's just ingrained in us. That's what we're going to do. We're going to try to get everybody through to the NCAA's and then obviously win the team title and get as many chances as we can."

Oklahoma State freshman Jax Forrest takes down Northern Iowa's Julian Farber in the 133-pound semifinals on Friday, March 6, 2026 at the Big 12 Wrestling Championships in Tulsa — Photo by Luke Tolbert

At 125, top-seeded Troy Spratley started things off with a 8–0 major decision against 5-seed Conrad Hendriksen of Oklahoma. Spratley allowed just one point across three matches on Friday, becoming the first Cowboy to clinch a spot in the finals round.

Forrest, also a No. 1 seed, continued his hot hand with his third tech fall of the day — ninth of the season — steamrolling Northern Iowa's fifth-seeded Julian Farber 21–6. Another top-seeded freshman followed suit at 141, as Sergio Vega blanked South Dakota State's Julian Tagg 4–0.

But OSU’s dominance didn’t stop there.

Casey Swiderski (149), Landon Robideau (157) and Lockett (165) also won their semifinal matches via major decision. At 174, top-seeded Alex Facundo clinched his spot in the finals with a 7-2 decision against Iowa State’s fourth-seeded MJ Gaitan. And at heavyweight, 2-seed Konner Doucet finalized OSU’s onslaught of finalists with a 4-2 decision against Luke Rasmussen of South Dakota State.

And then there’s Lockett.

The freshman’s semifinal performance embodied that approach as well as any result on Friday. The abnormal circumstances didn’t hinder his focus. When action resumed, Lockett wrestled with the precise aggressive mindset that earned him the top seed in the bracket.

Behind the scenes of Dee’s 72-minute match after a tornado warning halted the tournament. The bout was delayed for concussion protocol, a video review, and a tornado shelter-in-place. In total, it lasted 72 minutes and 52 seconds. Very Oklahoma. 🤠#stillyboys pic.twitter.com/kk1cEqEgFJ
— stillyboys (@stillyboys_) March 7, 2026

Since Lockett’s Feb. 22 loss to Iowa’s Mikey Caliendo — his lone defeat this season — he and Robideau have engaged in friendly banter. Which Lockett clarified Robideau has often initiated.

"Landon's been throwing jabs at me ever since the Iowa match," Lockett said. "Just making sure I'm focused and ready to go. He's a great leader for us freshmen. The last two weeks, really, he's been talking a little bit more, now that I’ve lost too."

Fraternal banter aside, Lockett stayed the course — despite the concussion protocol pause and the severe weather stoppage. And in the end his precision paid dividends.

Oklahoma State freshman Dee Lockett goes for a shot against South Dakota State's Marcus Espinoza-Owens during the 165-pound quarterfinals on Friday, March 6, 2026 at the Big 12 Wrestling Championships in Tulsa — Photo by Luke Tolbert

In many ways, his outing on the event’s first day was a pure microcosm of OSU’s thunderous start. Staying present in the moment and handling whatever adversity arises.

Now, the Cowboys are one more strong day away from clinching a second-straight Big 12 title, with Lockett being a prominent contributor.

"You've got to keep progressing," Taylor said. "You've got to keep scoring points, got to keep closing matches out on top, just continue to build. We're going to be challenged tomorrow, so it's good for our guys. We've just got to keep getting better."