LARAMIE, Wyoming (1/9/25) – The University of Wyoming wrestling team is set to participate in the NWCA National Dual Meet Championships. The tournament takes place Friday and Saturday in Cedar Falls, Iowa, inside the UNI-Dome on the campus of Northern Iowa.

This tournament is unlike many, and it's a type of competition that the Cowboys haven't competed in since the 2019-20 season. It's a dual tournament format comprised 14 "mid-major" programs that, by in large, don't compete in a power league.

"This is a new concept to bring together teams with a similar blueprint, and that's something we don't always get," head coach Mark Branch said. "Our schedule this year has been loaded with top-ranked competition, so to be able to match up with teams like us is going to be a different feel for us. I think it's a great opportunity."

Wyoming was awarded the No. 5 seed and will battle Drexel in the first round Friday at 9 a.m. There's a championship and consolation bracket, and the Cowboys/Dragons matchup is in the same quadrant as No. 4 seed Northern Colorado and CSU-Bakersfield.

Northern Iowa collected the top overall seed. South Dakota State is the No. 2 seed, while Little Rock rounded out the top three. No. 6 George Mason, No. 7/8 Ohio, No. 7/8 Penn, Sacred Heart, SIU-Edwardsville, Cal Poly and Central Michigan round out the field.

This marks the first time the Pokes have competed in a dual since traveling to No. 1 Penn State. It'll be a new lineup for Wyoming and the opportunity to wrestle multiple duals is a welcomed sight for a team looking to build some continuity and chemistry.

"We haven't wrestled in a dual tournament in quite a few years, and it certainly can help us come together more as a squad, and we need that badly," Branch said. "We are going to have to pull for each other and wrestle for the team, and we expect our guys to respond well to that."

The new lineup will feature an old face who's back in the fray. Garrett Ricks (125) returns to the team and will assume the starting role that Jore Volk left due to a season-ending injury.
Ricks started for stretches of last season, which included the postseason. He competed at 133 pounds and went 0-2 at the Big 12 Tournament following a 9-10 regular season that featured a pair of ranked wins.

It will also be the return of No. 12 Joey Novak (197). He's back for the first time since suffering an injury at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invite. Novak boasts a 6-3 record that's littered with four ranked wins.

Many of the familiar faces round out the projected starting lineup. Stockton O'Brien (133), No. 30 Cole Brooks (141), No. 19 Gabe Willochell (149), No. 12 Jared Hill (157), Cooper Voorhees (165), Ethan Ducca (174), Riley Davis (184) and Sam Mitchell (HWT) are likely to wrestle most if not all the competition.

Following the Duals, Wyoming remains on the road. The Cowboys travel to Oregon State on Jan. 19 before finally coming home for a pair of duals against Utah Valley (Jan. 24) and Cal Baptist (Jan. 25).