Wrestling: Iowa State up next for OU

The Oklahoma wrestling team looks to get back on the winning track Friday against No. 9 Iowa State (11-3) at 7 p.m. at the Howard McCasland Field House in Norman.

The Sooners (11-2, 0-1 in the Big 12) are coming off a defeat by No. 13 Wisconsin in last weekend’s ESPNU Wrestling Invitational in Oklahoma City. Battling back after a 9-0 deficit and tying the match at 15, OU came up short in the last bout, losing 18-15.

“Our team is looking forward to getting back to Big 12 competition against an extremely talented Iowa State squad,” head coach Jack Spates said. “The Big 12 has proven to be the toughest conference in the country. Our team has to be hitting on all cylinders going into this weekend.”

Last season, the Cyclones defeated OU by a 27-9 final. The Sooners last beat ISU in Norman by a 27-19 margin in 2002.

The most anticipated dual of this year’s matchup will be at 184 pounds, pitting undefeated Joshua Weitzel (19-0), ranked No. 7, against No. 1-ranked Cyclone Jake Varner (17-0).

Five other Sooners are ranked this week, including 157-pounder Chad Terry, who is ranked for the first time at No. 20. Brian Shelton is ranked No. 13 at 133 pounds, Zack Bailey is No. 14 at 141 pounds and Will Rowe is ninth at 149 pounds. Senior Joel Flaggert rounds out the list ranked No. 5 at 197 pounds.