Sunday, November 8
Lincoln, NE
2 p.m.
University of Wyoming
at
University of Nebraska
11/6/2026 4:19:00 PM | Wrestling
LARAMIE, Wyoming (11/6/26) – The University of Wyoming wrestling team travels to Lincoln, Nebraska, for a top 20 battle on Sunday. The No. 20 Cowboys face off against the No. 3 Huskers inside the Devaney Center at 2 p.m. (MST). The dual will be streamed on Big 10+.
"They're at the height of their program. They're having the best couple of years they've had in the history of their program," head coach Mark Branch said. "It's nice because we are on the rise too. We are doing some great things. So, for the both of us to come together and put a great dual out there in the region is good for sport."
The Pokes are fresh off a 51-0 victory over Western Wyoming in their season opener last weekend. The 51 points were tied for the third-most in program history, but the Cowboys dropped a couple of spots in the NWCA Coaches' Poll to a pair of teams that didn't compete.
All 10 wins against the Mustangs were of the bonus-point variety. Three were pins, five were technical falls and two were major decisions.
Branch understands it'll likely be a little different against the Huskers, who will be opening their season on Sunday. Nebraska finished third at the 2026 NCAA Championships and return a good chunk of their lineup this season.
"Whether it was Saturday or this coming Sunday, I don't want us to focus on the outcome," Branch said. "I want us to focus on how we perform. We performed well Saturday, and a lot of that had to do with our confidence. You're more open and aggressive when you're confident. Are the points going to come as freely on Sunday? Probably not. When points are harder to come by, do we still wrestle with confidence? Do we let it fly?"
No. 6 Eddie Neitenbach (184), No. 4 Joey Novak (197) and No. 3 Christian Carroll (HWT) are a few Cowboys that feel confident in most, if not all, scenarios. Novak is a two-time All-American, while Neitenbach and Carroll won their first such award in 2026. Those three, in addition to NCAA qualifiers, No. 16 Luke Willochell (133) and No. 32 Riley Davis (174), will look to lead a mostly-youthful lineup around them.
Four of the 10 starting spots Sunday could be filled be either freshmen or sophomores who have only started a handful of duals combined. So, Branch and the coaches will lean on their decorated and experienced wrestlers to set the tone Sunday.
"We have a mix of guys that have wrestled on the biggest stages, in some of the biggest arenas and in some of the most hostile arenas in the country," Branch said. "We also have some guys that are just dipping their toe in the water right now, so everything is a learning experience. We want to learn about our team, and this presents a great opportunity to see how we respond in those environments."
In addition to Willochell, Davis, Neitenbach and Novak, Wyoming will trot out Isaiah Harrison (125) or Sefton Douglass (125), Derek Barrows (141), Austin Collins (149) or Cole Brooks (149), Antonio Avila (157) or Sloan Swan (157), Manny Rojas (165) and Carroll (HWT) or Winston McBride (HWT).
Nebraska will send out a lineup with possibly eight ranked guys. No. 4 Vincent Robinson (125), No. 7 Jacob Van Dee (133), No. 30 Jake Hockaday (141) or Lincoln Sledzionowski (141), No. 5 Anthony Echemendia (149) or Scott Robertson (149), No. 3 Antrell Taylor (157), Nolan Fellers (165) or Niko Rotella (165), No. 2 Christopher Minto (174), Ethan DeLeon (184), No. 5 Camden McDanel (197) and No. 9 Cade Ziola (HWT) make up the Huskers' lineup.
Following the trip to Lincoln, the Pokes remain on the road the following weekend. They travel to No. 7 Stanford on Nov. 15.
"They're at the height of their program. They're having the best couple of years they've had in the history of their program," head coach Mark Branch said. "It's nice because we are on the rise too. We are doing some great things. So, for the both of us to come together and put a great dual out there in the region is good for sport."
The Pokes are fresh off a 51-0 victory over Western Wyoming in their season opener last weekend. The 51 points were tied for the third-most in program history, but the Cowboys dropped a couple of spots in the NWCA Coaches' Poll to a pair of teams that didn't compete.
All 10 wins against the Mustangs were of the bonus-point variety. Three were pins, five were technical falls and two were major decisions.
Branch understands it'll likely be a little different against the Huskers, who will be opening their season on Sunday. Nebraska finished third at the 2026 NCAA Championships and return a good chunk of their lineup this season.
"Whether it was Saturday or this coming Sunday, I don't want us to focus on the outcome," Branch said. "I want us to focus on how we perform. We performed well Saturday, and a lot of that had to do with our confidence. You're more open and aggressive when you're confident. Are the points going to come as freely on Sunday? Probably not. When points are harder to come by, do we still wrestle with confidence? Do we let it fly?"
No. 6 Eddie Neitenbach (184), No. 4 Joey Novak (197) and No. 3 Christian Carroll (HWT) are a few Cowboys that feel confident in most, if not all, scenarios. Novak is a two-time All-American, while Neitenbach and Carroll won their first such award in 2026. Those three, in addition to NCAA qualifiers, No. 16 Luke Willochell (133) and No. 32 Riley Davis (174), will look to lead a mostly-youthful lineup around them.
Four of the 10 starting spots Sunday could be filled be either freshmen or sophomores who have only started a handful of duals combined. So, Branch and the coaches will lean on their decorated and experienced wrestlers to set the tone Sunday.
"We have a mix of guys that have wrestled on the biggest stages, in some of the biggest arenas and in some of the most hostile arenas in the country," Branch said. "We also have some guys that are just dipping their toe in the water right now, so everything is a learning experience. We want to learn about our team, and this presents a great opportunity to see how we respond in those environments."
In addition to Willochell, Davis, Neitenbach and Novak, Wyoming will trot out Isaiah Harrison (125) or Sefton Douglass (125), Derek Barrows (141), Austin Collins (149) or Cole Brooks (149), Antonio Avila (157) or Sloan Swan (157), Manny Rojas (165) and Carroll (HWT) or Winston McBride (HWT).
Nebraska will send out a lineup with possibly eight ranked guys. No. 4 Vincent Robinson (125), No. 7 Jacob Van Dee (133), No. 30 Jake Hockaday (141) or Lincoln Sledzionowski (141), No. 5 Anthony Echemendia (149) or Scott Robertson (149), No. 3 Antrell Taylor (157), Nolan Fellers (165) or Niko Rotella (165), No. 2 Christopher Minto (174), Ethan DeLeon (184), No. 5 Camden McDanel (197) and No. 9 Cade Ziola (HWT) make up the Huskers' lineup.
Following the trip to Lincoln, the Pokes remain on the road the following weekend. They travel to No. 7 Stanford on Nov. 15.
Players Mentioned
149/157
/ Wrestling
141
/ Wrestling
149
/ Wrestling
HWT
/ Wrestling
149
/ Wrestling
174
/ Wrestling
125
/ Wrestling
125
/ Wrestling
HWT
/ Wrestling
184
/ Wrestling
197
/ Wrestling
165
/ Wrestling
165
/ Wrestling
133
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