Oklahoma State With Four Top-Ranked Wrestlers In FloWrestling Preseason Rankings
(Robert Allen of Pokes Report contributed to this story.)
STILLWATER – The 2025-26 season for Oklahoma State was one of the most exciting seasons we’ve seen from the Pokes in quite some time as David Taylor and Co. finished with three individual national champions, all true freshmen in Jax Forrest at 133 pounds, Segio Vega at 149 pounds and Landon Robideau at 157 pounds.
Cody Merrill was also a finalist, finishing in second at 197 pounds.
This year’s roster appears to be even more stacked for Taylor and Co. as they return nearly everyone, while bringing in a talented crop of freshmen who will compete to take starting spots.
FloWrestling released its annual preseason rankings this week, which features four top-ranked wrestlers for the Pokes at their respective weight classes.
- 125: Troy Spratley – No. 6
- 133: Jax Forrest – No. 1
- 141: N/A
- 149: Sergio Vega – No. 1
- 157: Landon Robideau – No. 1
- 165: Dee Lockett – No. 4
- 174: Alex Facundo – No. 14
- 184: Zack Ryder – No. 8
- 197: Cody Merrill – No. 2
- HWT: Konner Doucet – No. 1
- Team rankings: No. 2
The heavyweight situation is extremely interesting as Doucet comes back with the added eligibility and is ranked preseason No. 1, but Oklahoma State has one of the very best recruits in the 2026 class in heavyweight Dreshaun Ross, who just finished with the silver medal at the U20 World Championships. You could call that alone, an embarrassment of riches for David Taylor and the Pokes.
The Cowboys have a solid dual schedule this season, which will feature No. 3 Nebraska, No. 4 Iowa, No. 6 Stanford and No. 10 Missouri. They’ll host Missouri and Nebraska in GIA, which I’ll be surprised if they aren’t already close to sellouts.
Penn State returns as the favorites, featuring Luke Lilledahl No. 1 at 125, PJ Duke No. 1 at 165, Mitchell Mesenbrink No. 1 at 174 and the No. 1 pound-for-pound wrestler, Rocco Welsh No. 2 at 184 and Josh Barr No. 1 at 197. But the Cowboys have drastically closed the gap in just two years and look to close it more in year three.
