In retrospect, Roger Kish didn’t mind not competing this weekend. 

A bye week was just fine with him as a record-setting winter storm rolled through Oklahoma, canceling University of Oklahoma in-person classes from Friday afternoon through Tuesday. 

“It was a blessing in disguise a little bit that these guys got a little extra time off to catch their breath and really focus on their wrestling,” the Oklahoma wrestling coach said. “Kinda a nice thing, too.” 

It was a well-received week of rest in time for a critical homestand against #3 Iowa State (7 p.m. CT Friday) and #14 Northern Iowa (7 p.m. CT Saturday). 

“Both programs are incredibly talented,” Kish said. “Both rosters. We are expecting some really good matches here come Friday and Saturday evening. What the keys are for us is being able to continue to identify our strengths.” 

The Sooners must continue to wrestle in their best positions and force opponents to wrestle in those spots, Kish said.  That includes finishing leg attacks, establishing hard rides late in matches and quickly escaping from bottom. 

“For us to find success, we’ve gotta find opportunities to take advantage of offense and the critical moments in matches where we can make the most out of it,” Kish said. “… A lot of key components, but at the end of the day, our guys are up for the challenge. They are excited for the weekend. It is going to be a fun weekend here in Norman.” 

Soaring Schubert 

Carter Schubert doesn’t just wish to become an elite wrestler.  

He lives it.  

The redshirt sophomore ranked #8 at 174 pounds ditched old habits, jumped two weight classes and is reaping the rewards more than two months after a Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invite title.  

“He has really just done a phenomenal job at living the lifestyle and letting it lead him to his day-to-day,” Kish said. “We are just really proud of him, man. Really proud of who he has become and how quick it took him to kinda figure some things out.” 

Schubert coasts into the weekend with five wins in his past six bouts, including decisions over then-#4 Lenny Pinto (Rutgers) and then-#21 Brody Conley (West Virginia). 

Only loss in that span? A 7-2 decision against then-#7 Alex Facundo (Oklahoma State). 

“Carter has been so unique and one of the most fun transitions I have watched a young athlete endure in terms of really embracing the concepts that we put forth day to day in our training, the expectations and the standards,” Kish said. “He has really taken that and took it all in.” 

The tests continue. 

Schubert will likely see #12 MJ Gaitan (Iowa State) and #13 Jared Simma (Northern Iowa) this weekend. 

“(Schubert) has been such a good leader for us here in how he does things,” Kish said. “He is really starting to see the benefits pay off for him right now and really getting a lot of confidence heading into this Big 12 season. Hopefully it runs through postseason. He has been phenomenal.” 

Regaining Health

Fans didn’t see Oklahoma’s lineup at full strength for the first few months of the season. 

They still won’t, as 157-pounder Rafael Hipolito received season-ending right foot surgery in early December. 

Peyten Kellar, a 165-pounder who earned 2024 157 All-American honors with Ohio, only returned to action Dec. 21. 

“(Kellar) has done a great job at getting himself in a good, healthy spot here,” Kish said. “Now it is just about being able to get some consistency as he competes and trains. Some more repetition along the way has been really nice to see. So, we are really excited for Peyten to get back in the full swing of it.” 

Virginia transfer Jack Gioffre (149) has yet to make his OU debut. 

“Gioffre, we are kinda playing by ear a little bit as he is still working through his recovery,” Kish said. “In terms of health-wise, I think the guys that are able and capable of wrestling, training and competing today are all in pretty good spirits. Their health seems to be in pretty good shape.” 

Hipolito’s injury made way for the emergence of redshirt freshman Layton Schneider from nearby Edmond North High. 

OU’s staff tested a “couple different athletes” at the 157 starting spot but have so far settled on Schneider.  

“Right now, we have been really happy with Layton Schneider,” Kish said. “He has been doing a good job. He has got a good attitude. He loves to learn. He loves to train. For the young man, it is just making sure that he finds confidence in some of those critical moments that he can find success in. He has done a really good job for us.” 

Schneider (7-9) won two Oklahoma 6A state titles and was a four-time state finalist. 

He will likely battle #8 Vinny Zerban (Iowa State) and RJ Weston (Northern Iowa) this weekend. 

The absurd difficulty of Alex Facundo’s schedule this season provided a brief moment of levity on Wednesday during David Taylor’s weekly gathering with the Oklahoma State wrestling media. 

The coach of the Cowboys shook his head and began to laugh when he figured out where the question was headed.  

Did you know going into the year that basically every match Alex has is going to be against a top-10 dude? 

“I remember looking and being like, ‘Man, he’s going to have a pretty fun year this year — a lot of challenges,’” Taylor said. “That’s just part of it sometimes. Sometimes you really can’t control that stuff.”

It became apparent early in the season that Facundo wasn’t going to get many pushovers this season. He wrestled four bouts at the National Duals Invitational. His opponents: #2 Patrick Kennedy, #3 Simon Ruiz, #4 Christopher Minto and #5 Matthew Singleton. 

That was the start of what’s become a recurring theme — Facundo getting challenged against a high-caliber opponent. 

Seventh-ranked Facundo is 10-4 this season and 9-1 since facing the gauntlet in Tulsa. 

“Alex is doing a good job,” Taylor said. “Again, you think about — he hasn’t competed frequently in the last three or four years, so this is his first real season in quite a long time. He’s almost approaching it like a freshman. I think that’s where his progression has been this year. 

“His last couple of matches, just the way he’s starting to carry himself, he’s starting to hit a little bit of growth. You gotta run with those things. When you’re getting (a) growth (stretch) in wrestling … you gotta make the most of them. He’s going through that right now, and it’s fun to watch.”

Since the National Duals Invitational, Facundo won a rematch with Minto, downed #8 Carter Schubert and knocked off returning All-American Cam Steed in his last outing. He’ll face two more tests this weekend when the Cowboys take on Northern Iowa and Iowa State and 13th-ranked Panther Jared Simma and #12 Cyclone M.J. Gaitan come to Stillwater. 

Big Test’On Deck For Merrill

Cody Merrill’s stingy style lends itself to tight, low-scoring matches and he’s won his fair share of them this season.  Although the freshman 197-pounder has the lowest bonus-point percentage among Oklahoma State starters at 18.2 percent, Merrill owns a 10-1 record.  

The degree of difficulty increases for Merrill this weekend when he tangles with second-ranked Rocky Elam of Iowa State. Elam, a four-time All-American at Missouri, is 11-0 this season with the Cyclones. 

“The Elam kid is pretty good, been around a long time,” Taylor said. “He’s got a good takedown, he’s tough on top, you know, similar matchup. I think it’s gonna be a good test, and I know he’s looking forward to the opportunity.”

Merrill has been difficult to take down and he’s been tough on top, too. Those qualities have helped him win five matches this yar by two points or fewer. 

“He has a patience about him,” Taylor said. “A lot of guys on top, they get a little anxious and they make a mistake and their hand comes over top. He just has really good patience and he’s willing to stick with it. He has a really good, strong, committed ride on top. I think that’s kind of an art that’s been lost in college wrestling, and it’s because it’s hard. Riding someone’s hard, a lot of people don’t want to put that work in. We put a lot of effort in there.”

Down A Dual 

After Oklahoma State’s Friday trip to Missouri, the Cowboys were slated to take on Utah Valley in Stillwater on Sunday. However, Winter Storm Fern had other plans in store. Due to inclement weather, the dual was cancelled, and a statement from Oklahoma State Athletics said both programs would look to reschedule at a later date.     

“A little disappointing that we lost our Sunday home match last week,” Taylor said. “We really value our home matches and the experience that it gives to the state.”

With less than a month remaining in the regular season, Taylor acknowledged that the dual might not get rescheduled. 

“I would love to get it back on this schedule, but it doesn’t look promising,” he said.

One person was pulled from a car that crashed into a creek in southwest Oklahoma City on Wednesday afternoon, according to police.

Police said this happened near Southwest 59th Street and North Morgan Road.

Authorities said they believe the car veered off the road and drove into the pond.

Police said the car started to fill up with water, and an officer and a passerby helped the woman escape.

Oklahoma City police said the woman was transported to the hospital and appears to be OK.