LARAMIE, Wyoming (11/13/25) – The University of Wyoming wrestling team is set to participate alongside some of the sport's very best this weekend. The Cowboys travel to Tulsa, Oklahoma, for the National Duals Invitational presented by Paycom. The event will be held inside the BOK Center, and all the duals will be streamed on Flo with the championship match on ESPN2.
"There are a lot of eyes on it this week, and there's a lot of buzz," head coach
Mark Branch said. "It's certainly the biggest thing going on in college wrestling in the early part of the year. It's great to be a part of it. We are going to see the highest level of college wrestling."
No. 24 Wyoming drew No. 4 Ohio State in opening round Saturday at 10 a.m. No. 9 Minnesota and No. 10 Virginia Tech are in the Pokes' quadrant, as well. The winner between the Cowboys and Buckeyes will face the winner between the Gophers and Hokies at 4 p.m. Saturday, while the two losers will square off at 2 p.m. The tournament is a double-elimination format.
"Our message to our team is, 'We get the privilege to go and do this,'" Branch said. "This is something to be excited about. There are a lot of teams and individual kids out there that wish they were competing in this event. So, we want to look at it that way. It's a great privilege for our program."
Wyoming has never battled Ohio State in its 95-year history. The Buckeyes counter a Cowboys' lineup featuring five ranked wrestlers with a ranked guy of their own at each weight.
The Pokes have No. 4
Joey Novak (197), No. 10
Eddie Neitenbach (184), No. 15
Jared Hill (157), No. 22
Gabe Willochell (149) and No. 26
Christian Carroll (HWT). The Buckeyes have No. 1 Jesse Mendez (141), No. 6 Nick Feldman (HWT), No. 7 Carson Kharchla (174), No. 7 Dylan Fishback (184), No. 8 Ben Davino (133), No. 8 Brandon Cannon (157), No. 9 Ethan Stiles (149), No. 10 Luke Geog (197), No. 12 Paddy Gallagher (165) and No. 16 Brendan McCrone (125).
Wyoming has just the one dual under its belt this season, a 40-7 victory at Western Wyoming – which is ranked No. 1 in the NJCAA. Novak didn't compete at that, accepting an invite to the NWCA All-Star Classic where he fell to Little Rock's No. 3 Stephen Little, 2-1.
Ohio State is also 1-0 with a 42-4 win at UT-Chattanooga this past weekend. The Buckeyes also took part in the Clarion Open to begin their season.
Minnesota owns a ranked wrestler at all but one weight. No. 1 Max McEnelly (184) spearheads the lineup followed by No. 5 Vance VomBaur (141), No. 7 Jore Volk (125), No. 10 Andrew Sparks (165), No. 14 Charlie Millard (157), No. 15 Koy Hopke (HWT), No. 17 Gavin Nelson (197), No. 20 Ethan Riddle (174) and No. 31 Drew Roberts (149).
Minnesota has competed in a pair of invitational thus far this season. They took part in the Southeast Open before going to the Bison Open this past weekend.
Virginia Tech is similar to the Gophers with a ranked grappler at eight weights. No. 4 Eddie Ventresca (125) leads it off followed by No. 11 Dillon Campbell (133), No. 17 Tom Crook (141), No. 19 Jimmy Mullen (HWT), No. 22 Jaden Bullock (184), No. 23 Sergio Desiante (174), No. 23 Sonny Sasso (197), No. 27 Mac Church (165).
Virginia Tech also participated in the Southeast Open. The Hokies defeated Bucknell in a dual last weekend, 19-12.
A $1,000,000 purse is being awarded by Paycom. Each of the 16 teams competing will be given $20,000 and there will be even more money at stake for the top eight placing teams. First is gifted $200,000, second and third get $150,000, fourth takes home $75,000, fifth gets $50,000, sixth gets $40,000, seventh $25,000 and eighth $20,000. There will also be a $10,000 takedown award for each round given to the team with the quickest average takedown when taking into account five separate individuals.
Following the trip to Tulsa, Wyoming opens up Big 12 competition on the road the following weekend. The Pokes travel to Cal Baptist on Nov. 22 for a 7 p.m. dual inside the Dale E. and Sarah Ann Fowler Events Center.
