LAS VEGAS, Nevada (12/5/25) – The University of Wyoming wrestling team put forth a strong effort during Day 1 of the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invite. The Cowboys – who are currently eighth with a team score of 46.5 points – have four that advanced to compete Saturday and three of those are in the semifinals in tournament being contest inside the Westgate Resort & Event Center.

"We had some big wins, and we pulled off quite a few upsets," head coach Mark Branch said. "Those are good things to see. When you are looking big picture, long term, that's why we come to this tournament – to see kids we won't see the rest of the year, and to have a chance to have some ranked wins. Those'll carry you through the rest of the season."

No. 4 Joey Novak (197), No. 24 Christian Carroll (HWT) and Luke Willochell (133) are the Pokes set to compete Saturday in the semis. No. 11 Eddie Neitenbach (184) is still alive on the consolation side.

Novak punched his semifinal ticket in a very workmanlike way. He bonus-pointed each one of his three opponents, outscoring them by a combined tally of 38-3.

Carroll also boasted three bonus-point victories. He won via technical fall during the first two rounds and then made waves with an 11-2 major decision of No. 4 Taye Ghadiali (Michigan).

Willochell had a pair of surprises up his sleeve. After receiving a bracket draw of a first round bye, he upset No. 15 Derrick Cardinal (South Dakota State) and No. 13 Sean Spidle (Northwestern) both by decision.

Neitenbach logged a couple wins – one a ranked victory – Friday morning, but was pinned in the quarterfinals by No. 11 Brian Soldano (Oklahoma). Neitenbach responded with a decision win over No. 15 Ian Bush (West Virginia).

No. 24 Gabe Willochell (149) and No. 29 Riley Davis (174) each registered ranked wins before dropping a couple matches and being eliminated. Sefton Douglass (125) and Sloan Swan (165) also recorded wins, while John Alden (141) and Antonio Avila (157) went 0-2.  

"We had a couple kids that if something here or there went their way, they'd still be wrestling," Branch said. "It's not a fault of effort or those guys not coming out ready to fight. Sometimes the chips don't fall your way. You want those things to happen here, so you get a feel for what was it that didn't click and ended up having you in a bad position."

Saturday's action gets underway at 11 a.m.

125: Sefton Douglass (1-2)
First Round: No. 9 Jett Strickenberger (West Virginia) technical fall Douglass, 17-0
Consolation Second Round: Douglass decision Damian Moreno (Arizona State), 3-1
Consolation Round of 8 (1): No. 12 Blake West (Northern Illinois) fall Douglass, 2:34

133: Luke Willochell (2-0)
Second Round: Willochell decision No. 15 Derrick Cardinal (South Dakota State), 9-3
Quarterfinals: Willochell decision No. 13 Sean Spidle (Northwester), 9-3

141: John Alden (0-2)
First Round: No. 20 Eli Griffin (Rider) major decision Alden, 17-4
Consolation Second Round: Billy DeKraker (Northwestern) major decision Alden, 11-3

149: No. 24 Gabe Willochell (2-2)
First Round: Willochell decision Hunter Hollingsworth (Oklahoma), 4-0
Second Round: No. 24 Alek Martin (South Dakota State) decision Willochell, 15-10
Consolation Round of 16 (2): Willochell decision No. 28 Willie McDougald (West Virginia), 8-4
Consolation Round of 8 (1): Noah Tolentino (Oregon State) fall Willochell, 1:54

157: Antonio Avila (0-2)
Second Round: No. 3 Daniel Cardenas (Stanford) technical fall Avila, 19-4
Consolation Round of 16 (2): Derek Raike (Ohio) major decision, Avila, 13-3

165: Sloan Swan (1-2)
First Round: Swan major decision Josh Palmucci (Franklin & Marshall), 12-0
Second Round: Aiden Riggins (Iowa State) decision Swan, 10-6
Consolation of 16 (2): Jacob Bostelman (Northwestern) decision Swan, 7-3

174: No. 29 Riley Davis (1-2)
Second Round: Davis decision No. 29 Nick Fine (Columbia), 7-6
Quarterfinals: No. 4 Danny Wask (Navy) major decision Davis, 12-4
Consolation Round of 8 (2): Eddie Enright (Northwestern) technical fall Davis, 19-4

184: No. 11 Eddie Neitenbach (3-1)
First Round: Neitenbach decision J.D. Perez (Northwestern), 11-10
Second Round: Neitenbach decision No. 30 TJ McDonnell (Oregon State), 4-2
Quarterfinals: No. 11 Brian Soldano (Oklahoma) fall Neitenbach, :20
Consolation Round of 8 (2): Neitenbach decision No. 15 Ian Bush (West Virginia), 7-4

197: No. 4 Joey Novak (3-0)
First Round: Novak technical fall Spencer Mooberry (Northern Illinois), 18-2
Second Round: Novak major decision Kael Bennie (Utah Valley), 9-0
Quarterfinals: Novak major decision No. 26 Zayne Lehman (Ohio), 11-1

HWT: No. 24 Christian Carroll (3-0)
First Round: Carroll technical fall Aden Roe (Edinboro), 19-4
Second Round: Carroll technical fall No. 28 Hayden Filipovich (Purdue), 22-5
Quarterfinals: Carroll major decision No. 4 Taye Ghadiali (Michigan), 11-2