2017 Iowa at Oklahoma State

Iowa vs. Oklahoma State Riddled With Toss-Up Matches

Iowa vs. Oklahoma State Riddled With Toss-Up Matches

Top-ranked Oklahoma State hosts No. 3 Iowa on Sunday, Jan. 15, at 2 PM CT, in a rematch of last year's historic "Grapple on the Gridiron," the highest-attended match in NCAA Division I wrestling history.

Jan 9, 2017 by Christian Pyles
Iowa vs. Oklahoma State Riddled With Toss-Up Matches
Live On Flo This Week: 1/13 Blair at Wyoming SeminarySDSU at Wyoming, | 1/13-1/14: Eastern States, 5 Counties, | 1/15: Iowa at Oklahoma State, SDSU at Air Force, Oregon State at Wyoming

Top-ranked Oklahoma State hosts No. 3 Iowa on Sunday, Jan. 15, at 2 PM CT, in a rematch of last year's historic "Grapple on the Gridiron," the highest-attended match in NCAA Division I wrestling history.

Below are the potential swing bouts that will determine the winner of the dual, which is streaming live on FloWrestling. It must be noted, however, that with this rivalry, nobody is safe.  With this many tight bouts, and the additional highly-competitive matches, prognosticators around the country will be pulling their hair out trying to figure out which team will win this dual. 

133: #1 Cory Clark (Iowa) vs #6 Kaid Brock (OSU)
No question this is a swing match. Clark is the unquestioned No. 1. Brock has only lost once in the past two seasons and that was an injury default loss to Nahshon Garrett (who also beat Clark last year). People wonder if Kaid is a title contender. I think he could be. We'll know for sure on Sunday.

149: #2 Brandon Sorensen (Iowa) vs #3 Anthony Collica (OSU)
Collica is wrestling at an incredible level, the best I've ever seen him compete. However, Brandon Sorensen is probably the least-respected elite wrestler in the country. The guy stacks up wins and points more than most realize. Collica narrowed the gap from his first loss to Sorensen (6-1) to his second (4-2). He's clearly only improved since that time. 

157: #2 Michael Kemerer (Iowa) vs #5 Joseph Smith (OSU)
Coming into the year, Smith probably had the edge on paper. He has missed time, then came back and didn't look quite as sharp as we're used to him on the mat. Kemerer fires attacks at an incredibly high clip and has used his offense, pace, and scrambling to climb all the way to No. 2. Getting a two or three seed this year will be huge, as Jason Nolf has continued to separate himself from the jury. If Smith wants one, he'll need to start by picking up a win here.

174: #11 Alex Meyer (Iowa) vs #5 Kyle Crutchmer (OSU)
Watching these guys last week I feel neither is wrestling at their best. Crutchmer has incredible leg attacks but has been more reluctant to use them than I remember. Meyer tends to leave his legs open, but his pace keeps him in matches -- as it did last year outdoors at Kinnick Stadium against Crutchmer.

184: #5 Sammy Brooks (Iowa) vs #4 Nolan Boyd (OSU)
These two have hit on two occasions. Brooks has had the upper hand in seemingly both bouts, but they are 1-1 against each other due to an ill-advised throw attempt in Gallagher-Iba Arena. We'll get the rubber match on Sunday.

285: #7 Sam Stoll (Iowa) vs #9 Austin Schafer (OSU)
Schafer is a stud who has bumped up from 197. Stoll is as physically imposing and strong as any 285 pounder out there. Schafer's leg attacks versus Stoll's upper-body skills. Something's gotta give.

There are lots of rumors swirling at this point about Iowa true freshman Alex Marinelli's redshirt getting pulled. Apart from that potential change, this should be the lineup for Sunday. Don't forget to tune in live Sunday to watch every match on FloWrestling.

125: #1 Thomas Gilman (Iowa) vs. #12 Nick Piccininni (OSU)
133: #1 Cory Clark (Iowa) vs. #6 Kaid Brock (OSU)
141: Topher Carton (Iowa) vs. #1 Dean Heil (OSU)
149: #2 Brandon Sorensen (Iowa) vs. #3 Anthony Collica (OSU)
157: #2 Michael Kemerer (Iowa) vs. #5 Joe Smith (OSU)
165: Joey Gunther (Iowa) vs. #4 Chandler Rogers (OSU)
174: #11 Alex Meyer (Iowa) vs. #5 Kyle Crutchmer (OSU)
184: #5 Sammy Brooks (Iowa) vs. #4 Nolan Boyd (OSU)
197: Cash Wilcke (Iowa) vs. #4 Preston Weigel (OSU)
285: #7 Sam Stoll (Iowa) vs. #9 Austin Schafer