Cowboys Sitting Second Heading Into Final Day of Big 12 Wrestling Championship

TULSA, Okla. – Four Cowboy wrestlers advanced to the Big 12 finals Saturday night at BOK Center, and earned automatic qualification for the NCAA Championship. Cole Moody at 165, Tate Samuelson at 184, Stephen Buchanan at 197 and Brian Andrews at 285 assured themselves a trip to the championships.

The Cowboys are sitting second in the team standings with 97 points, one point ahead of Oklahoma State, and 10 points behind Oklahoma in the battle for the team title.

"It was a fun day, our guys wrestled tough and we had a lot of tight matches and most of them we won and that makes a big difference. Those guys fought back hard in the consolation matches and kept us in the conversation" Head Coach Mark Branch said "It's been a fun day of competing and watching our guys grow and fight hard"

At 165 pounds Moody earned his first trip to the Big 12 finals in exciting fashion. In the Quarterfinals, he outlasted Jordan Robison (UNC) in a barn burner, 17-10. In the semifinals Moody would have a rematch against Peyton Hall (WVU) who bested Moody earlier this season. This time around however it would be Moody getting his hand raised gutting out a 5-4 decision. This is also the first time in his career that Moody has qualified for the NCAA Championships.

Samuelson went 3-0 on the day outscoring his opponents 25-7 in those the victories. In the quarterfinals Samuelson would be tested going to overtime against Darrien Roberts (OU). Samuelson opened things up in overtime, throwing Roberts to his back and sealing the 9-3 victory. In the semifinals Samuelson kept the momentum going knocking off Dakota Geer (OSU) 6-2. This will be the first Big 12 finals appearance of Samuelson's career and his third straight NCAA qualification.

Buchanan would also go 3-0, highlighting his day with a semifinal win over Noah Adams (WVU). It is the third time this season that Buchanan and Adams have met and the third time that Buchanan has won. This time Buchanan used a late takedown and a ride out to get his hand raised. For Buchanan, it is his first time making the Big 12 finals and second time qualifying for the NCAA tournament.

At heavyweight Andrews returned to action after being out for a month and he didn't miss a beat. Andrews cruised past Dalton Robertson (UNC) in the quaterfinals, 12-1 and then battled his way to a 4-3 semifinal victory over Branden Metz (NDSU). This is the second straight Big 12 finals appearance for Andrews.

Hayden Hastings (174) and Jaron Jensen (149) both picked up quarterfinal victories before falling in the semifinals. Jacob Wright (157) and Chase Zollmann (149) are also both still alive in the tournament with each wrestler picking up two wins on the consolation side of the bracket.

The Cowboys will be back in action tomorrow at 9 a.m. MT for the medal rounds which will be streamed on Big 12 Now on ESPN+. Tomorrow night's finals are set to begin at 4 p.m. MT and will be live on ESPN2.


Day One Results

125 - Darrick Stacey
First Round – No. 1 Brody Teske (UNI) Tech. Fall Stacey (WYO) 19-2
Cons. Round 1 – No. 7 Kysen Terukina (ISU) Dec. Stacey (WYO) 4-2

133 - Job Greenwood
Quarterfinals – Tony Madrigal (OU) Dec. No. 6 Greenwood (WYO) 6-0
Cons. Round 1 – Haiden Drury (FSU) Dec. No. 6 Greenwood (WYO) 2-0

141 - Chase Zollmann
First Round – No. 8 Zollmann (WYO) Dec. Ethen Basile (UNI) 5-3
Quarterfinals – No. 1 Ian Parker (ISU) Major Dec. No. 8 Zollmann (WYO) 12-1
Cons. Round 1 – No. 8 Zollmann (WYO) Dec. Stockton O'Brien (UVU) 4-2
Cons. Round 2 – No. 8 Zollmann (WYO) Dec. Kaden Gfeller (OSU) 5-4 (TB-1)

149 - Jaron Jensen
Quarterfinals – Jensen (WYO) Dec. No. 7 Cameron Hunsaker (UVU) 3-2
Semifinals – No. 3 Mitch Moore (OU) Dec. Jaron Jensen (WYO) 4-2

157 - Jacob Wright
First Round – No. 5 Wright (WYO) Dec. Alex Hornfeck (WVU) 7-1
Quarterfinals – No. 4 Cade Devos (SDSU) Dec. No. 5 Wright (WYO) 9-4
Cons. Round 1 – No. 5 Wright (WYO) Major Dec. Nick Knutson (UNC) 12-4
Cons. Round 2 – No. 5 Wright (WYO) Dec. Cayd Lara (UNI) 5-3

165 - Cole Moody
Quarterfinals – No. 3 Moody Dec. No. 6 Jordan Robison (UNC) 17-10
Semifinals – No. 3 Moody Dec. No. 2 Peyton Hall (WVU) 5-4

174 - Hayden Hastings
First Round – No. 2 Hastings (WYO) Dec. Julien Broderson (ISU) 6-1
Quarterfinals – No. 2 Hastings (WYO) Dec. No. 7 Cade King (SDSU) 3-1
Semifinals – No. 6 Jackson Hemauer (UNC) Dec. Hayden Hastings (WYO) 4-3

184 - Tate Samuelson
First Round – No. 2 Samuelson (WYO) Major Dec. Jacob Schoon (SDSU) 10-2
Quarterfinals – No. 2 Samuelson (WYO) Dec. No. 7 Darrien Roberts (OU) 9-3 (SV-1)
Semifinals – No. 2 Samuelson (WYO) Dec. No. 3 Dakota Geer (OSU) 6-2

197 - Stephen Buchanan
First Round – No. 2 Buchanan (WYO) Dec. Jacob Seely (UNC) 11-5
Quarterfinals – No. 2 Buchanan (WYO) Dec. No. 7 Owen Pentz (NDSU) 3-1
Semifinals – No. 2 Buchanan (WYO) Dec. No. 3 Noah Adams (WVU) 3-2

285 - Brian Andrews
Quarterfinals – No. 2 Andrews (WYO) Major Dec. Dalton Robertson (UNC) 12-1
Semifinals – No. 2 Andrews (WYO) Dec. No. 7 Brandon Metz (NDSU) 4-3