LARAMIE, Wyoming – The University of Wyoming wrestling team continued its strong form this weekend, securing a decisive 30-9 victory over North Dakota State on . The win improves the Cowboys’ season record to 6-5, and their Big 12 conference record to 5-1. The match, held at the UniWyo Sports Complex, showcased a dominant performance by Wyoming, marked by five bonus-point wins.
Head coach Mark Branch emphasized the team’s improved aggression and effort. “The guys just came out as we asked and were more aggressive and wrestled harder through all positions,” Branch said. “These last two duals, we showed a lot more hustle and we certainly took pride in what we were doing. Guys that weren’t scoring and opening up their offense were more aggressive and found their offense. It leads to good results whenever you wrestle hard.” This statement suggests a focused effort on fundamental improvements in technique and competitive spirit.
A significant boost for the Cowboys came with the return of All-American Joey Novak (197 lbs), who had been sidelined for a month due to injury. Novak, ranked No. 6 nationally, demonstrated his competitive edge with an 8-1 decision victory over No. 28 Devin Wasley. Branch highlighted Novak’s eagerness to return to competition, stating, “He’s been chomping at the bit. It sucks not being out there and not wrestling for the team, and I think that had been weighing on him. I know he was excited to get back out there, and I thought he wrestled great. It was awesome to see him open up and get into some pretty aggressive positions.” Novak’s return adds a key element to Wyoming’s lineup as they progress through the season.
Beyond Novak’s victory, Wyoming’s success was built on a series of strong individual performances. No. 27 Gabe Willochell (149 lbs) initiated the bonus-point streak with a 17-1 technical fall over Devon Harrison, establishing an early 11-5 lead for the Cowboys. Sloan Swan (165 lbs) continued his recent success, securing a 15-2 major decision win over Boeden Greenley, extending his winning record to four out of his last five matches.
The momentum continued with No. 31 Riley Davis (174 lbs) achieving a 9-1 major decision victory against Max Magayna. No. 9 Eddie Neitenbach (184 lbs) further solidified Wyoming’s lead with his team-leading eighth ranked win of the season, defeating No. 28 Aidan Brenot by a score of 14-3. This win mathematically secured the dual meet victory for Wyoming, bringing the score to 23-9.
The Cowboys closed out the match with continued dominance. No. 8 Christian Carroll (HWT) earned an 11-3 major decision win over Shilo Jones. Luke Willochell (133 lbs) and David Saenz (141 lbs) also contributed to the victory with individual decision wins. An extra match saw Antonio Avila (Wyoming) secure a 14-5 major decision win over Gabriel Gallardo (North Dakota State).
The Wyoming wrestling team’s performance demonstrates a clear emphasis on aggressive wrestling and capitalizing on scoring opportunities. The team’s ability to secure multiple bonus-point wins highlights their technical proficiency and competitive drive. The return of a key player like Joey Novak further strengthens their position within the Big 12 conference.
Wyoming’s next challenge will be on the road, facing Northern Colorado in a dual meet scheduled for , at 6 p.m. Inside Back of Colorado Arena. This upcoming match will provide another opportunity for the Cowboys to build on their recent success and continue their pursuit of a strong finish to the season.
No. 25 Wyoming 30 | North Dakota State 9
125: No. 17 Ezekiel Witt (North Dakota State) technical fall Tucker Bowen (Wyoming), 19-4 (6:45)
133: No. 25 Luke Willochell (Wyoming) decision Tristan Daugherty (North Dakota State), 3-1
141: David Saenz (Wyoming) decision Michael Olson (North Dakota State), 4-1
149: No. 27 Gabe Willochell (Wyoming) technical fall Devon Harrison (North Dakota State), 17-1 (5:21)
157: Gavin Drexler (North Dakota State) major decision No. 30 Jared Hill (Wyoming), 11-2
165: Sloan Swan (Wyoming) major decision Boeden Greenley (North Dakota State), 15-2
174: No. 31 Riley Davis (Wyoming) major decision Max Magayna (North Dakota State), 9-1
184: No. 9 Eddie Neitenbach (Wyoming) major decision No. 28 Aidan Brenot (North Dakota State), 14-3
197: No. 6 Joey Novak (Wyoming) decision No. 28 Devin Wasley (North Dakota State), 8-1
HWT: No. 8 Christian Carroll (Wyoming) major decision Shilo Jones (North Dakota State), 11-3
Extra Match
Antonio Avila (Wyoming) major decision Gabriel Gallardo (North Dakota State), 14-5
