Big 12 Championships preview: Multiple teams in position to dethrone Oklahoma State

Photo of David Carr at the 2021 NCAA Championships. Photo by Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com.

The 2022 Big 12 Championships are set to take place this weekend, March 5-6, at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. All sessions will be available to watch on ESPN’s platforms.

Athletes from 12 schools will compete for 58 automatic bids allocated to the conference for the 2022 NCAA Championships in Detroit, Mich., March 17-19.

For more information on tickets, session times and more, visit the Big 12 Championships landing page.

Big 12 in final NCAA Coaches Rankings
125: No. 18 Killian Cardinale (WVU), No. 12 Trevor Mastrogiovanni (Ok State), No. 15 Noah Surtin (Mizzou), No. 16 Brody Teske (UNI), No. 17 Taylor LaMont (UVU), No. 18 Kysen Terukina (ISU), No. 22 Joey Prata (OU)

133: No. 2 Daton Fix (Ok State), No. 13 Haiden Drury (UVU), No. 21 Kyle Biscoglia (UNI), No. 24 Kellyn March (NDSU), No. 25 Ramazan Attasauov (ISU), No. 28 Gabe Tagg (SDSU), No. 31 Anthony Madrigal (OU)

141: No. 6 Clay Carlson (SDSU), No. 7 Andrew Alirez (N. Colorado), No. 9 Ian Parker (ISU), No. 13 Allan Hart (Mizzou), No. 16 Carter Young (Ok State), No. 23 Cael Happel (UNI), No. 26 Dylan Droegemueller (NDSU)

149: No. 15 Kaden Gfeller (Ok State), No. 17 Jarrett Degen (ISU), No. 18 Josh Edmond (Mizzou), No. 22 Willie McDougald (OU)

157: No. 1 David Carr (ISU), No. 5 Jared Franek (NDSU), No. 13 Justin Thomas (OU), No. 15 Jacob Wright (Wyoming), No. 17 Wyatt Sheets (Ok State), No. 20 Jarrett Jacques (Mizzou), No. 33 Derek Holschlag (UNI)

165: No. 2 Keegan O’Toole (Mizzou), No. 8 Peyton Hall (WVU), No. 10 Travis Wittlake (Ok State), No. 13 Austin Yant (UNI), No. 17 Luke Weber (NDSU), No. 29 Tanner Cook (SDSU), No. 30 Cole Moody (Wyoming)

174 kg: No. 9 Dustin Plott (Ok State), No. 11 Cade DeVos (SDSU), No. 14 Hayden Hastings (Wyoming), No. 16 Peyton Mocco (Mizzou), No. 20 Lance Runyon (UNI), No. 21 Joel Devine (ISU), No. 23 Anthony Mantanona (OU), No. 25 Austin Brenner (NDSU), No. 31 Sam Wolf (AFA)

184: No. 4 Parker Keckeisen (UNI), No. 7 Marcus Coleman (ISU), No. 10 Dakota Geer (Ok State), No. 17 Tate Samuelson (Wyoming), No. 19 Jeremiah Kent (Mizzou)

197: No. 3 Stephen Buchanan (Wyoming), No. 6 Rocky Elam (Mizzou), No. 7 Yonger Bastida (ISU), Jake Woodley (OU), No. 13 Tanner Sloan (SDSU), No. 22 Owen Pentz (NDSU), No. 24 Alan Clothier (N. Colorado), No. 25 Evan Bockman (UVU)

285: No. 6 Wyatt Hendrickson (AFA), No. 15 Zach Elam (Mizzou), No. 20 AJ Nevills (SDSU), No. 22 Sam Schuyler (ISU), No. 23 Brandon Metz (NDSU), No. 25 Michael Wolfgram (WVU), No. 29 Josh Heindselman (OU), No. 31 Luke Surber (Ok State), No. 32 Tyrell Gordon (UNI), No. 33 Jacob Seely (N. Colorado)

Big 12 in NWCA Coaches Poll
No. 5 Iowa State
No. 9 Missouri
No. 13 Oklahoma State
No. 17 Northern Iowa
No. 24 Oklahoma
No. 25 South Dakota State

NO. 5 IOWA STATE (15-1 overall, 8-0 Big 12)
The Cyclones won the conference regular season title, going undefeated in Big 12 action with an 8-0 record. Overall, the squad posted a 15-1 record, suffering an early-season loss to then-No. 1 Iowa, 22-11. From that point, ISU went on a dominant run, winning its next 13 duals. Leading the team is returning Big 12 champion and 2021 NCAA champion David Carr at 157 pounds. With 10 seeded wrestlers, Iowa State seeks its first Big 12 Championship title since 2009, when it shared the crown with Nebraska.

Big 12 pre-seeds: No. 6 Kysen Terukina (125), No. 5 Ramazan Attasauov (133), No. 1 Ian Parker (141), No. 3 Jarrett Degen (149), No. 1 David Carr (157), No. 7 Isaac Judge (165), No. 7 Joel Devine (174), No. 2 Marcus Coleman (184), No. 4 Yonger Bastida (197), No. 3 Sam Schuyler (285)

Returning 2021 Big 12 champions: David Carr (157)

NO. 9 MISSOURI (11-4 overall, 8-2 Big 12)
Missouri has won 10-straight conference team titles, dating back to 2012, when the Tigers captured their last Big 12 title. From 2013-2021, Mizzou competed in the MAC Conference, where it claimed nine-consecutive tournament wins. This year, the Tigers returned to the Big 12 in impressive fashion, winning eight of 10 conference duals. Overall, the team went 11-4 with key wins over Oklahoma State, Arizona State and Lehigh. Led by No. 2 in the country Keegan O’Toole, who was also a 2021 Junior World champion, Mizzou is poised to make a run at its 11^th-straight conference title.

Big 12 pre-seeds: No. 5 Noah Surtin (125), No. 4 Allan Hart (141), No. 4 Josh Edmond (149), No. 4 Jarrett Jacques (157), No. 1 Keegan O’Toole (165), No. 6 Peyton Mocco (174), No. 6 Jeremiah Kent (184), No. 5 Rocky Elam (197), No. 2 Zach Elam (285)

Returning 2021 Big 12 champions: None, Mizzou was part of MAC Conference last season

NO. 13 OKLAHOMA STATE (13-4 overall, 6-3 Big 12)
Since 2010, Oklahoma State has won every conference tournament title, except for 2013, when Missouri edged out the Cowboys. In 2021, OSU shared the crown with in-state rival OU. Overall, the program has collected 55 conference tournament titles. This season, the team is highlighted by 2021 NCAA runner-up Daton Fix at 133 pounds, who won a silver medal at the Senior World Championships in October. Unfortunately, the team lost a major key to its lineup when 2021 NCAA champion AJ Ferrari (197) suffered season-ending injuries in car wreck in early 2022. As a squad, OSU went 13-4 in duals with a 6-3 mark in Big 12 action, dropping bouts to UNI, ISU and Mizzou.

Big 12 pre-seeds: No. 4 Trevor Mastrogiovanni (125), No. 1 Daton Fix (133), No. 5 Carter Young (141), No. 1 Kaden Gfeller (149), No. 3 Wyatt Sheets (157), No. 4 Travis Wittlake (165), No. 1 Dustin Plott (174), No. 4 Dakota Geer (184), No. 7 Luke Surber (285)

Returning 2021 Big 12 champions: Daton Fix (133)

NO. 17 NORTHERN IOWA (7-7 overall, 6-3 Big 12)
Northern Iowa heads into the conference championship with eight seeded athletes and as a strong threat for the title. This season, the Panthers went 7-7 in duals with a 6-3 record in the Big 12, highlighted by a 19-15 win over then-No. 3 Oklahoma State in Stillwater, marking the first time in history the Panthers beat the Cowboys at OSU. UNI returns the most 2021 Big 12 champions with two in Brody Teske at 125 pounds and Parker Keckeisen at 184 pounds.

Big 12 pre-seeds: No. 3 Brody Teske (125), No. 2 Kyle Biscoglia (133), No. 6 Cael Happel (141), No. 5 Colin Realbuto (149), No. 7 Derek Holschlag (157), No. 3 Austin Yant (165), No. 4 Lance Runyon (174), No. 1 Parker Keckeisen (184)

Returning 2021 Big 12 champions: Brody Teske (125), Parker Keckeisen (184)

NO. 25 SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (13-4 overall, 5-2 Big 12)
South Dakota State had a strong start to its season, collecting multiple finalists and champions at various open tournaments, including the Cyclone Open and Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, before getting to the meat of its dual season. In dual action, the Jackrabbits scored notable wins over Northern Iowa and Mizzou, going 13-4 overall and 5-2 in conference. The squad brings seven seeded wrestlers to Tulsa, including three No. 2 seeds.

Big 12 pre-seeds: No. 3 Gabe Tagg (133), No. 2 Clay Carlson (141), No. 6 Tanner Cook (165), No. 2 Cade Devos (174), No. 5 Cade King (184), No. 2 Tanner Sloan (197), No. 4 AJ Nevills (285)

Returning 2021 Big 12 champions: None

NORTH DAKOTA STATE (10-4 overall, 4-4 Big 12)
The Bison picked up 10 dual wins this season for a 10-4 overall record, highlighted by four conference wins over Air Force, Northern Colorado, West Virginia and Wyoming. As a team, NDSU finished in second at the Southern Scuffle with one individual champion and five other placers. The Bison return 2021 Big 12 champion Luke Weber, who is the No. 5 seed at 165 pounds.

Big 12 pre-seeds: No. 4 Kellyn March (133), No. 8 Dylan Droegemueller (141), No. 8 Gaven Sax (149), No. 2 Jared Franek (157), No. 5 Luke Weber (165), No. 8 Austin Brenner (174), No. 8 DJ Parker (184), No. 6 Owen Pentz (197), No. 6 Brandon Metz (285)

Returning 2021 Big 12 champions: Luke Weber (165)

NO. 24 OKLAHOMA (8-6 overall, 3-5 Big 12)
Returning Big 12 co-champ OU enters Tulsa with an 8-6 overall record and a 3-5 mark in conference action. The Sooners notched a ranked win over then-No. 23 South Dakota State at home, edging out the Jackrabbits, 16-15. They nearly took out the Cowboys weeks later but came up short, 18-16. OU brings nine seeded wrestlers to the tournament, boasting a No. 2 seed in Willie McDougald at 149 pounds.

Big 12 pre-seeds: No. 7 Joey Prata (125), No. 7 Tony Madrigal (133), No. 2 Willie McDougald (149), No. 6 Justin Thomas (157), No. 8 Joe Grello (165), No. 3 Anthony Mantanona (174), No. 7 Keegan Moore (184), No. 3 Jake Woodley (197), No. 8 Josh Heindselman (285)

Returning 2021 Big 12 champions: None

WYOMING (4-5 overall, 4-4 Big 12)
Wyoming primarily saw conference action this season, winning four of its matchups over teams such as Utah Valley, Northern Colorado, Air Force and West Virginia. Leading the team is No. 1 seed Stephen Buchanan, who is expected to compete at 197 pounds.

Big 12 pre-seeds: No. 8 Job Greenwood (133), No. 7 Darren Green (141), No. 6 Jaron Jensen (149), No. 5 Jacob Wright (157), Hayden Hastings (174), No. 3 Tate Samuelson (184), No. 1 Stephen Buchanan (197)

Returning 2021 Big 12 champions: None

NORTHERN COLORADO (6-6 overall, 2-5 Big 12)
Northern Colorado went .500 on the year, collecting a 6-6 dual record with two Big 12 wins against Utah Valley and Air Force Academy. The Bears ended the season with a 19-18 victory over AFA to propel them into this weekend’s conference tournament, where they will have four seeded athletes, including No. 3 Andrew Alirez at 141 pounds.

Big 12 pre-seeds: No. 8 Jace Koelzer (125), No. 3 Andrew Alirez (141), No. 7 Chris Sandoval (149), No. 7 Alan Clothier (197)

Returning 2021 Big 12 champions: None

WEST VIRGINIA (6-8 overall, 1-6 Big 12)
West Virginia notched a conference dual win over Utah Valley and claimed five other wins this season. At the Southern Scuffle, the Mountaineers had three placers, including runners-up Killian Cardinale and Peyton Hall, who both received top-2 seeds for the Big 12 Championships. Michael Wolfgram is the third Mountaineer to earn a seed, coming in at No. 5 at 285 pounds.

Big 12 pre-seeds: No. 1 Killian Cardinale (125), No. 2 Peyton Hall (165), No. 5 Michael Wolfgram (285)

Returning 2021 Big 12 champions: None

UTAH VALLEY (5-6 overall, 0-5 Big 12)
An abbreviated season saw Utah Valley only get action in five conference duals, which UVU came up short in all five. Overall, the Wolverines went 5-6 in duals, including wins over California Baptist and CSU Bakersfield. 2021 NCAA All-American Taylor LaMont leads the team, wrestling at 125 pounds, where he will enter the tournament as the No. 2 seed.

Big 12 pre-seeds: No. 2 Taylor LaMont (125), No. 6 Haiden Drury (133), No. 8 Jaxon Garoutte (157), No. 8 Evan Bockman (197)

Returning 2021 Big 12 champions: None

AIR FORCE (4-9 overall, 0-8 Big 12)
The Air Force Academy boasts a No. 1 seed, Wyatt Hendrickson at heavyweight, heading into the Big 12 Championships. Hendrickson leads the nation as the NCAA’s most dominant wrestler in Division I, averaging 5.47 team points in each outing.

Big 12 pre-seeds: No. 1 Wyatt Hendrickson (285)

Returning 2021 Big 12 champions: None

2021 Big 12 Conference results
Champions
125: Brody Teske (UNI)
133: Daton Fix (OSU)
141: Dom Demas (OU)
149: Boo Lewallen (OSU)
157: David Carr (ISU)
165: Luke Weber (NDSU)
174: Demetrius Romero (UVU)
184: Parker Keckeisen (UNI)
197: AJ Ferrari (OSU)
285: Gannon Gremmel (ISU)

Final team standings
T1. Oklahoma State - 124
T1. Oklahoma - 124
3. Iowa State - 117.5
4. Wyoming - 105.5
5. Northern Iowa - 79
6. North Dakota State - 78
7. Northern Colorado - 70.5
8. South Dakota State - 67.5
9. West Virginia - 57
10. Utah Valley - 55
11. Air Force - 32.5
12. Fresno State - 31