LARAMIE, Wyo. — The No. 16 Oklahoma wrestling team (10-5, 3-4 Big 12) concludes its regular season on Sunday, facing No. 24 Wyoming (7-5, 6-1 Big 12) in a key Big 12 dual meet. The competition is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT at the Uniwyo Sports Complex and will be streamed on the Mountain West Network.
The Sooners are looking to finish the regular season strong as they head into the postseason. Oklahoma has already secured nine dual victories against Division I opponents this season, the most under third-year head coach Roger Kish. This match presents a final opportunity to fine-tune their performance before the Big 12 Championships.
Oklahoma comes into the contest following a 23-14 loss at No. 17 Missouri on Thursday night. Despite an early lead, the Sooners struggled in the middle weight classes. Still, Conrad Hendriksen (125), DJ Parker (197), and Juan Mora (285) each secured ranked victories in the loss, demonstrating the team’s potential for success. The team is focused on translating that individual success into a team victory against Wyoming.
This dual marks the 25th all-time meeting between Oklahoma and Wyoming, with the Sooners holding a significant 18-4-2 advantage in the series according to the University of Wyoming Athletics website. Oklahoma hasn’t traveled to Laramie since 2018, adding another layer to the challenge. Last season, the Sooners dominated Wyoming with a 27-6 victory in Norman on Nov. 23, 2024, winning eight of the ten bouts.
Sooner Standouts and Recent Successes
Seniors DJ Parker and Juan Mora are currently riding four-dual win streaks, providing consistent leadership for the Sooners. Parker, coming off a major decision victory over Missouri’s No. 12 Evan Bates, leads the team with 12 bonus-point wins this season. Mora, competing in the heavyweight division, has won eight of his last nine bouts dating back to Dec. 13 at Rutgers, and is pushing for his first NCAA qualification.
Earlier this season, Oklahoma achieved two notable top-15 victories. On January 31, they defeated No. 13 Northern Iowa 23-18. Prior to that, on December 13, the Sooners rallied from a 14-6 deficit to upset No. 12 Rutgers 19-14 at Jersey Mike’s Arena in Piscataway, marking their highest-ranked dual win since 2015.
Looking Ahead: A Challenging Schedule
Oklahoma has faced one of the nation’s toughest wrestling schedules this season. Beyond their season-opening road contest against No. 1 Penn State, the Sooners have nine duals scheduled against teams ranked in the NWCA Coaches’ Top 25, with six of those taking place on the road. They have faced three top-five opponents, five ranked inside the top 15, and nine in the top 25 overall. The team similarly competed at the prestigious Cliff Keen Invitational, widely considered the premier regular-season tournament in college wrestling.
Currently, seven Sooners are ranked individually by InterMat, FloWrestling, and Open Mat: Conrad Hendriksen (125), Tyler Wells (141), Peyten Kellar (165), Carter Schubert (174), Brian Soldano (184), DJ Parker (197), and Juan Mora (285). Oklahoma is ranked No. 16 nationally by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA), having climbed as high as No. 15 this season.
Following Sunday’s dual at Wyoming, the Sooners will turn their attention to the Big 12 Championships, where they will compete for a conference title and NCAA qualification spots. The outcome of this weekend’s match will undoubtedly influence their seeding and momentum heading into the championship tournament.
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