Oklahoma edges No. 13 Northern Iowa 23-18 in Norman
Bonus-point majors at 197 and 285 lifted No. 21 Oklahoma past No. 13 Northern Iowa as the dual featured multiple lead changes and key one-sided upper-weight results.
NORMAN, Okla. — Oklahoma edged Northern Iowa 23-18 Saturday night at the University of Oklahoma, with bonus scoring in the final four weights swinging the dual in the Sooners’ favor.
The dual opened with an early forfeit that gave Oklahoma a team lift at 125, as Conrad Hendriksen recorded a win via default over Trever Anderson. The abrupt result provided an early momentum edge for the Sooners.
Northern Iowa answered immediately at 133 when No. 18 Julian Farber pinned Beric Jordan. Farber scored three takedowns in the bout — two in the first period and a third early in the second — and finished the match by fall, tying the dual and keeping the meet tightly contested.
Oklahoma regained ground through a string of decisions in the middle weights. No. 29 Tyler Wells edged Max Brady 4-1 at 141 when Wells recorded a takedown with 26 seconds remaining. Ethan Basile’s decision at 149 and Layton Schneider’s 3-2 victory at 157 pushed Oklahoma ahead before Northern Iowa rallied again at 165.
No. 6 Ryder Downey answered for Northern Iowa at 165 with a 7-1 decision that produced riding-time and two penalty-point awards late in the third period. Downey’s win evened the score and set up pivotal matches at 174 and above.
Carter Schubert’s one-point decision at 174 over No. 13 Jared Simma kept the dual within reach for Oklahoma, but the match turned decisively in the final two weight classes.
At 197, No. 11 DJ Parker delivered a 14-2 major decision, building his margin through multiple takedowns, a nearfall and two one-point awards in the third. Parker’s major swung four team points to Oklahoma and put the Sooners in position to close the meet.
Heavyweight No. 21 Juan Mora closed the dual with a 16-4 major decision at 285, adding another four team points via a third-period takedown, a four-point nearfall and riding time. The back-to-back majors in the upper weights produced the bonus haul that ultimately separated the teams.
Northern Iowa collected bonus scoring of its own, including Farber’s fall and a 7-0 decision at 184 from Nick Fox, but Oklahoma’s two major decisions proved decisive in the 23-18 result.
The victory was recorded by Oklahoma and is reflected in the final team score. The dual featured multiple lead changes and a sequence of bonus outcomes that decided the meet in the closing matches.