CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (1/10/25) – Friday inside the UNI-Dome was a very special day for the University of Wyoming wrestling team. The team participated in Day 1 of the NWCA National Dual Meet Championships, and head coach Mark Branch hit a milestone in a very thrilling way.

The Pokes rallied to defeat Drexel, 20-18, claiming wins in six of the final seven bouts. The win represented the 142 in Branch's head coaching career and that's the most for a coach in program history.  

"It's special," Branch said. "I've been here and have made a career here and have loved every minute of it. As crazy as that dual was maybe it was meant to be crazy, so I won't remember it as just another dual. So many people were a part of this – wrestlers and coaches. One of my biggest blessings is to have the same two bosses since I've been hired. I love Wyoming and I'm very honored and proud to be in this position."

With the milestone clinched, Branch added another victory to his belt. The Cowboys finished Friday downing George Mason, 30-12, to advance to the consolation bracket semifinals. The only letdown was a 22-12 loss to Northern Colorado in the quarterfinals.

A couple of Cowboys enjoyed spotless days. No. 12 Joey Novak (197) returned from injury and went 3-0, adding his fifth ranked win of the season over Drexel's No. 19 Mickey O'Malley. In all, only two points were scored on Novak during Friday's action.

No. 19 Gabe Willochell (149) also went 3-0. He defeated his first two foes via decision and scored a medical forfeit against Goerge Mason's No. 23 Kaden Cassidy.

No. 12 Jared Hill (157) collected a pair of wins, one of which was a ranked win over Goerge Mason's No. 23 DJ McGee. Ethan Ducca (174) and Sam Mitchell (HWT) also logged two wins Friday.

Wyoming will battle Central Michigan at 8 a.m. Saturday. The Cowboys and Chippewas are in the same quadrant as Drexel and Penn, meaning the winner and loser from each dual will square off for fifth and seventh, respectively.

Wyoming 20 | Drexel 18
125: Desmond Pleasant (Drexel) major decision Garrett Ricks (Wyoming), 12-4
133: Kyle Waterman (Drexel) major decision Stockton O'Brien (Wyoming), 16-5
141: Jordan Soriano (Drexel) fall No. 30 Cole Brooks (Wyoming), 4:31
149: No. 19 Gabe Willochell (Wyoming) decision Dom Findora (Drexel), 9-2
157: No. 12 Jared Hill (Wyoming) major decision Luke Nichter (Drexel), 17-3
165: Cooper Voorhees (Wyoming) decision Cody Walsh (Drexel), 9-7
174: Jasiah Queen (Drexel) major decision Ethan Ducca (Wyoming), 15-5
184: Riley Davis (Wyoming) decision Guiseppe Hoose (Drexel), 10-3
197: No. 12 Joey Novak (Wyoming) major decision No. 19 Mickey O'Malley (Drexel), 8-0
HWT: Sam Mitchell (Wyoming) decision Dom Petracci (Drexel), 3-1

RV Northern Colorado 22 | Wyoming 12
125: No. 6 Stevo Poulin (Northern Colorado) decision Garrett Ricks (Wyoming), 8-6
133: No. 11 Dominick Serrano (Northern Colorado) major decision Stockton O'Brien (Wyoming), 11-1
141: No. 1 Andrew Alirez (Northern Colorado fall No. 30 Cole Brooks (Wyoming), 4:05
149: No. 19 Gabe Willochell (Wyoming) decision Benji Alanis (Northern Colorado), 8-3
157: No. 17 Vinny Zerban (Northern Colorado) sudden victory No. 12 Jared Hill (Wyoming), 4-1
165: Clayton Ulrey (Northern Colorado) decision Cooper Voorhees (Wyoming), 6-4
174: Ethan Ducca (Wyoming) decision Aydin Rix-McEhnin (Northern Colorado), 7-4
184: No. 25 AJ Heeg (Northern Colorado) decision Riley Davis (Wyoming), 7-4
197: No. 12 Joey Novak (Wyoming) decision Andrew Donahue (Northern Colorado), 6-0
HWT: Sam Mitchell (Wyoming) decision Jose Valdez (Northern Colorado), 4-1

Wyoming 30 | RV George Mason 12
125: Garrett Ricks (Wyoming) decision Ben Monn (George Mason), 10-6
133: Stockton O'Brien (Wyoming) technical fall Geoffrey Whelan (George Mason), 16-1
141: No. 30 Cole Brooks (Wyoming) fall Dominic Hargrove (George Mason), 4:21
149: No. 19 Gabe Willochell (Wyoming) medical forfeit No. 23 Kaden Cassidy (George Mason), :48
157: No. 12 Jared Hill (Wyoming) decision No. 23 DJ McGee (George Mason), 2-0
165: No. 23 Evan Maag (George Mason) decision Cooper Voorhees (Wyoming), 14-7
174: Ethan Ducca (Wyoming) decision Logan Messer (George Mason), 10-3
184: No. 25 Malachi DuVall (George Mason) fall Riley Davis (Wyoming), 2:12
197: No. 12 Joey Novak (Wyoming) major decision Donovan Sprouse (George Mason), 11-2
HWT: James Blackman (George Mason) decision Sam Mitchell (Wyoming), 12-9