LARAMIE, Wyoming (2/6/25) – The University of Wyoming wrestling team is back at home this week. The Pokes battle No. 20 West Virginia on Saturday at 6 p.m. inside the UniWyo Sports Complex.
The Cowboys own a 9-6 overall record and a 3-3 mark in Big 12 action but have been particularly stout in Laramie this season. Wyoming is 3-0 and has outscored its foes, 108-13, inside the UniWyo.
The scoring margin is a byproduct of an aggressive approach. And that's exactly what head coach
Mark Branch wants to see again versus the nationally-ranked Mountaineers.
"We need to compete with passion and energy," Branch said. "We are at home and need to make our crowd a factor by wrestling with aggressiveness and win the close matches. Bonus points could be the biggest factor, so managing that on both sides will be huge."
On paper it appears as though bonus points may decide it. Wyoming lays claim to five ranked guys, while West Virginia possesses four. However, only one matchup Saturday will feature ranked versus ranked, as No. 32
Eddie Neitenbach (184) is slated to take on No. 16 Dennis Robin.
That leaves quite a few mismatches where major decisions, technical falls and pins could be in play. Wyoming's other ranked guys include No. 10
Joey Novak (197), No. 18
Cole Brooks (141), No. 19
Gabe Willochell (149) and No. 20
Jared Hill (157). West Virginia has No. 3 Peyton Hall (165), No. 9 Jett Strickenberger (125) and No. 19 Brody Conley (174).
If the final score is close Saturday, the Cowboys have been effective in those situations this season. They're 3-0 in duals decided by three points or fewer and two of those required wins in the final bout by
Sam Mitchell (HWT).
The rest of Wyoming's lineup features
Garrett Ricks (125),
Stockton O'Brien (133),
Cooper Voorhees (165) and
Riley Davis (174). In addition to its aforementioned ranked guys, West Virginia will trot out Tommy Maddux (133), Jordan Titus (141), Sam Hillegas (149), Sasha Gavronsky or Caleb Dowling (157), Ian Bush or Cole Tolley (197) and Wilson Spires or Rune Lawrence (HWT).
The Mountaineers are 8-6 on the season and 2-5 in league – they wrestle at Utah Valley on Thursday night. Wyoming is 4-1 all-time versus West Virginia and won the last meeting in 2022 in Morgantown, 25-11.
Following the dual against the Mountaineers, the Pokes close out their dual schedule at Air Force (Feb. 14) and home against Northern Colorado (Feb. 16).
