LARAMIE, Wyoming (2/15/26) – The University of Wyoming wrestling team celebrated Senior Day on Sunday against No. 16 Oklahoma. And it was a pair of seniors that bookended the No. 24 Pokes' upset dual win inside the UniWyo Sports Complex.
The competition started with
Jared Hill (157) and concluded with No. 30
Gabe Willochell (149), both of whom logged wins. It encapsulated what was a dominating 24-10 win over the Sooners.
"That's a great way to finish the dual season at home. That was a solid, dominating victory," head coach
Mark Branch said. "I was pleased with how the guys came out and wrestled. We can officially start to point our eyes toward the Big 12 Tournament."
Sunday marked the first time since 2018-19 that the Cowboys logged a pair of top 16 wins in a single season, having already defeated No. 10 South Dakota State last month. Wyoming finishes the year at 8-5 overall and 7-1 in conference play.
The dual was competed in close quarters for the first few bouts. Following Hill's 5-2 sudden victory over Layton Schnieder, No. 32
Sloan Swan (165) dropped a 9-8 decision to Bryce Burkett, which knotted the team competition at 3-3.
No. 33
Riley Davis (174) recaptured the lead for his squad with a bounce-back victory. He toppled Clay Giddens by decision, 4-2, which gave Wyoming a 6-3 lead it would never surrender.
That was in large part due to the Pokes' heavy hitters. No. 9
Eddie Neitenbach (184), No. 5
Joey Novak (197) and No. 7
Christian Carroll (HWT) each recorded wins that essentially put the dual to bed.
Neitenbach boasted a 20-4 technical fall of Anders Thomspon. Novak impressed in an 11-0 major decision of No. 11 DJ Parker, and Carroll returned to dispose of No. 19 Juan Mora by decision, 5-3.
The Willochell brothers put the finishing touches on the victory. No. 23
Luke Willochell (133) defeated Carter Schmidt via decision, 8-1, and
Gabe Willochell took down Hunter Hollingsworth by decision, 4-2.
Wyoming's starters now turn their attention to the postseason. The Big 12 Tournament is March 6-7 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, inside the BOK Center.
The majority of the Pokes' reserves will be action next weekend. The Cowboy Shootout is set for Feb. 22 at 10 a.m. inside the Arena-Auditorium.
No. 24 Wyoming 24 | No. 16 Oklahoma 10
157:
Jared Hill (Wyoming) sudden victory Layton Schneider (Oklahoma), 5-2
165: Byrce Burkett (Oklahoma) decision No. 32
Sloan Swan (Wyoming), 9-8
174: No.33
Riley Davis (Wyoming) decision Clay Giddens (Oklahoma), 4-2
184: No. 9
Eddie Neitenbach (Wyoming) technical fall Anders Thompson (Oklahoma), 20-4 (5:57)
197: No. 5
Joey Novak (Wyoming) major decision No. 11 DJ Parker (Oklahoma), 11-0
HWT: No. 7
Christian Carroll (Wyoming) decision No. 19 Juan Mora (Oklahoma), 5-3
125: Sebastian Degennaro (Oklahoma) major decision
Sefton Douglass (Wyoming), 11-0
133: No. 23
Luke Willochell (Wyoming) decision Carter Schmidt (Oklahoma), 8-1
141: No. 25 Tyler Wells (Oklahoma) decision
David Saenz (Wyoming), 7-4
149: No. 30
Gabe Willochell (Wyoming) decision Hunter Hollingsworth (Oklahoma), 4-2
