Oklahoma State vs. Iowa wrestling: Why old-school showdown, rivalry remains important to sport

STILLWATER — Every now and then when talking to the media, an overtly stern look comes across John Smith’s face — the type of expression one can only imagine his Olympic opponents saw when they stepped to the center of the wrestling mat.

The Oklahoma State coach got one of those looks earlier this week when discussing why Sunday’s dual against fourth-ranked Iowa means so much for his Cowboys.

Not just in this moment, as the Cowboys ramp up for the postseason in a renaissance run that saw them climb 10 rungs in the rankings to the No. 2 spot.

But in the big picture of Oklahoma State and Iowa and wrestling across the country.

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“I’ve been coaching 30-plus years, and we’re wrestling it as long as I’m coach,” Smith said with not even a dash of hyperbole in his voice. “It’s a big dual meet for them when we go there. It’s a big dual meet for us when they come here.

“You don’t take it for granted. You never know how things could change. But it’s sure nice while we have it that we’ve been committed to each other and having this dual meet.”

The 57th edition of OSU (14-0) versus Iowa (11-2) is set for 2 p.m. Sunday at a sold-out Gallagher-Iba Arena, and will be televised on FS1.

OSU holds a 29-25-2 advantage in a rivalry that debuted in 1954 but became a staple starting in 1977. They’ve met nearly every year since, missing only on rare occasions, and a few times wrestling twice in the same season. This will be the 49th meeting in the last 48 years.

In an age when college sports is dictated by money and conference allegiance and other aspects that have nothing to do with the athletes competing in the arena, OSU-Iowa is a throwback to the era when it began nearly 50 years ago.

College football programs use lower-level opponents to buy wins and college basketball programs play in made-for-TV events at exotic locations, but OSU-Iowa perseveres solely because it’s a meaningful event for the teams, the wrestlers and the sport. Because the current coaches — Smith and Iowa’s Tom Brands — believe in many of the same philosophies their predecessors did when they began, and continued, the rivalry decades ago.

“We’ve been committed to each other,” Smith said, referencing the desire by former OSU coach Tommy Chesbro and former Iowa coach Dan Gable to build this rivalry. “They made a commitment to wrestle when they were the two best teams in the country. And there’s been a commitment to doing it ever since.

“We don’t have to wrestle this dual meet. We could be done. They don't have to wrestle it. There’s been years that, probably, you prefer not to wrestle, because you're positioned for the national tournament. But it’s … one of those meets people look forward to and people want to watch it. It’s a longstanding rivalry that has sustained over time.”

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And with OSU’s return to its lofty spot in the rankings, this one has that old-school hype, too.

While OSU is two spots ahead of the Hawkeyes in the team rankings, Iowa has the higher-ranked wrestler in six of the 10 weight classes. Yet, in two of the four where OSU has the ranking advantage, the gap is wide, suggesting the potential for bonus points.

Upsets — and if they come, bonus points — likely will tell the story of this dual. Either will represent a significant swing from what is expected.

Neither the history nor the meaning of the dual is lost on current wrestlers, including those like OSU’s Izzak Olejnik. Born and raised in Bakersfield, California, he began his college wrestling career at Northern Illinois before transferring to OSU this season.

Yet from afar, he has always watched OSU-Iowa.

“I’m a huge wrestling fan in general, so even when I was at NIU, I was involved with what was going on in the wrestling world,” the 165-pound super-senior said. “The history between the two teams, it’s definitely gonna be fun to be a part of, and I’m just looking forward to being able to wrestle in it.”

Scott Wright covers Oklahoma State athletics for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Scott? He can be reached at swright@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @ScottWrightOK. Sign up for the Oklahoma State Cowboys newsletter to access more OSU coverage. Support Scott’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com or by using the link at the top of this page.

No. 2 OSU vs. No. 4 Iowa

REGULAR-SEASON FINALE: 2 p.m. Sunday at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater (FS1)

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OSU-Iowa wrestling is an old-school showdown, rivalry vital to sport