The University of Wyoming wrestling team opens its 2024-25 home slate this weekend. The Cowboys host Western Wyoming Community College on Saturday at 2 p.m. inside the UniWyo Sports Complex.
The Pokes are 1-0 on the young season. They defeated Campbell, 28-12, in the Dual at the Daddy on Halloween night.
It was a high-intensity dual against the Fighting Camels for a couple of different reasons. It was a spotlight event, the first and only dual going that night, on UFC Fight Pass. It was also a competition against another team receiving votes in the NWCA Coaches’ Poll. Finally, it was an opportunity for Wyoming to level the series considering that Campbell won last year’s Battle in the Barn meeting.
The task for the Cowboys on Saturday is to reset and give their undivided attention and very best to the Mustangs. They are ranked No. 1 in the National Junior College Athletic Association dual team rankings and have won the last two NJCAA national championships.
“We just want to build on our performance,” head coach Mark Branch said. “We felt our guys, as a team, wrestled a little conservative against Campbell, but that could be attributed to the intense environment, as well as it being the first dual of the year. With this being our first true home dual, we need to be more aggressive, wrestle a higher pace, and open our offense up in all areas.”
Wyoming and Western Wyoming met last season in the season-opening dual. The Cowboys claimed a 31-10 victory. Wyoming has won all four previous meetings with the Mustangs.
This season’s matchup features a combined 11 ranked wrestlers. Five Cowboys appear in the rankings, while six Mustangs are ranked.
Wyoming’s lineup will look similar to the one that went against Campbell. No. 2 Jore Volk (125), Stockton O’Brien (133), No. 29 Cole Brooks (141), No. 17 Gabe Willochell (149), No. 23 Jared Hill (157) and Cooper Voorhees (165) will anchor the front half of the Cowboys’ lineup. The back half could have a couple new faces that precede the closers in Joey Novak (197) and Kevin Zimmer (HWT).
Following the match with Western Wyoming, the Pokes take to the road for their first true road dual of the season. They travel to Oklahoma State on Nov. 22 and Oklahoma on Nov. 23. Prior to that, however, Volk participates in the All-Star Classic on Nov. 16 in State College, Pennsylvania.
