LARAMIE, Wyo. (12/15/23) – The University of Wyoming wrestling team competes in its second invitational of the season Sunday. The Cowboys travel to the Silver State for the Reno Tournament of Champions inside the Reno Events Center.
Wyoming has gone through a rigorous schedule the past couple of weeks. First it was the Cliff Keen Invitational – featuring the strongest field not named the NCAA Tournament – and second, it was No. 3 Missouri, which boasted a ranked wrestler at all but three weight classes.
"Our last two competitions were against some of the best wrestlers in the country," head coach
Mark Branch said. "While RTOC will have some great competitors, I think we will give our guys the chance to get more matches and wrestler much deeper into the tournament at most every weight."
The Pokes rose to the occasion during their first invitational of 2023-24. They greatly exceeded expectations, placing 17th as a team with 43.5 points, and positioning three on a Cliff Keen podium.
Reno presents a different field and level of access. A total of 23 Wyoming student-athletes will compete – some attached and some unattached – which Branch hopes will create some internal competition and improvement.
"I'm looking forward to this tournament because we will have over 20 kids competing," Branch said. "We will get to see some competition amongst ourselves as well as see how we compete in another tournament. We need to take advantage of the opportunity and wrestle with a purpose."
No. 11
Jore Volk (125),
Cooper Birdwell (133),
Garrett Ricks (133), No. 31
Cole Brooks (141), No. 18
Gabe Willochell (149),
Aidan Noonan (149),
Cooper Voorhees (157),
Sloan Swan (157),
Brett McIntosh (165),
Riley Davis (174),
Quayin Short (184),
Tyce Raddon (184),
Joey Novak (197),
Kevin Zimmer (HWT) and
Mason Ding (HWT) are all set to compete attached.
Dylan Catlin (125),
David Saenz (133),
Josh Kyle (133),
Stockton O'Brien (141),
Warren Carr (149),
Paolo Salminen (157),
Lane Catlin (HWT) and
Winston McBride (HWT) are slated to compete unattached.
Action gets underway Sunday at 10 a.m. First-, third- and fifth-place matches wrap up the tournament at 7 p.m. that same day.
Wyoming has a quick turnaround following the Reno Tournament of Champions. The Cowboys host No. 9 Oklahoma State on Tuesday at 6 p.m. inside the UniWyo.
