GREELEY, Colo. (1/26/24) – Jumping out to a fast start has been the recipe for the University of Wyoming wrestling team during it modest two-dual win streak. That wasn't the case Friday at Northern Colorado.
The Cowboys dropped their first two bouts of the night and needed to stem the partisan crowd in come-from-behind form. And that's just what they did.
The Pokes rallied for a 23-16 win inside Bank of Colorado Arena. The win improves Wyoming to 6-5 overall and 4-3 in Big 12 action, while the loss drops Northern Colorado to 8-5 overall and 1-4 in league.
"We had some gusty performances," head coach
Mark Branch said. "It's a win. But I don't feel like we moved forward since our last two duals. We didn't come out and wrestle the way we can. We just weren't coming out as aggressive as I wanted, so a lot of matches you're hanging around and hoping they go your way."
No. 31
Cole Brooks (141) provided the first victory of the night for the Cowboys. He downed Rudy Lopez by major decision, 11-2, moving to 9-4 on the season.
"We needed someone to not necessarily stop the bleeding but swing momentum back in our favor," Branch said. "I know what Cole is capable of, and I think there's a lot more in him, but that was gusty of him."
No. 14
Gabe Willochell (149) and
Sloan Swan (157) kept the momentum flowing with a pair of victories, improving their records to 15-6 and 10-4, respectively. Willochell defeated Benji Alanis via major decision, 10-1, and Swan rode Roman Cruz for the entirety of the third period en route to a 2-0 decision win.
Following the intermission,
Cooper Voorhees (165) made it four in a row for Wyoming. He defeated Derek Matthews via decision, 6-2, giving him a pair of dual wins in a row, vaulting to 8-13 overall on the year.
Ethan Ducca (184), in his long-awaited return from injury, scored a victory. He won via decision against Damen Pape, 8-3, making his record 4-1.
Joey Novak (197) clinched the win in emphatic fashion. He won via a second period pin of Xavier Vasquez, improving to 17-10 on the season.
Wyoming returns home for the remainder of its regular season. The Pokes host No. 10 South Dakota State on Thursday at 6 p.m. inside the UniWyo Sports Complex.
Wyoming 23 | Northern Colorado 16
125: No. 13 Stevo Poulin (Northern Colorado) dec. No. 4
Jore Volk (Wyoming), 3-1
133: No. 14 Dominick Serrano (Northern Colorado) major dec.
Garrett Ricks (Wyoming), 14-6
141: No. 31
Cole Brooks (Wyoming) major dec. Rudy Lopez (Northern Colorado), 11-2
149: No. 14
Gabe Willochell (Wyoming) major dec. Benji Alanis (Northern Colorado), 10-1
157:
Sloan Swan (Wyoming) dec. Roman Cruz (Northern Colorado), 2-0
165:
Cooper Voorhees (Wyoming) dec. Derek Matthews (Northern Colorado), 6-2
174: No. 32 Travis Mastrogoivanni (Northern Colorado) dec.
Quayin Short (Wyoming), 4-2
184:
Ethan Ducca (Wyoming) dec. Damen Pape (Northern Colorado), 8-3
197: No. 19
Joey Novak (Wyoming) fall Xavier Vasquez (Northern Colorado), 4:52
HWT: Andrew Blackburn-Frost (Northern Colorado) fall
Bradley Moore (Wyoming), 1:17
