Wrestling Finally Returns Home with Duals Against Utah Valley and Cal Baptist

LARAMIE, Wyoming (1/22/25) – It has been quite a while since the University of Wyoming wrestling team last competed at home. In fact, it’s been 76 days.

The Cowboys – who hold a 6-5 overall record and an 0-2 mark in Big 12 action – finally return to the UniWyo Sports Complex this weekend. They host Utah Valley on Friday at 6 p.m. before battling Cal Baptist on Saturday at 6 p.m.

“Our guys are definitely looking forward to not traveling this weekend,” head coach Mark Branch said. “It’s been a long stretch of driving and flying and sleeping in strange beds, so it will be nice to be at home for so many reasons. We need to show up and perform for our fans and entertain them with an aggressive style.”

A dual against Western Wyoming on Nov. 9 stands as the most recent home wrestling event for the Pokes. They had an aggressive style then, scoring 46 points – the most ever in the Branch era – and the most since the 2000-01 season.

Speaking of the Branch era, the 17-year head coach hit an impactful milestone recently. At the NWCA Dual National Championships in Cedar Falls, Iowa, he became the school’s all-time winningest head coach with his 142nd victory.

Since then, he’s added a few more wins, all of which have been decided late. The Pokes are fresh off a 19-17 victory at Oregon State, which marked the third consecutive win by three points or fewer. That’s the most that’s happened in a single season since 2003-04.

No. 11 Joey Novak (197) is a big part as to why Wyoming has found success recently. Since returning from injury, he’s 6-0 with five bonus-point victories. Novak is 12-3 on the season with five ranked wins.

No. 19 Gabe Willochell (149) and No. 20 Jared Hill (157) anchor the middle part of the lineup. Willochell is 11-9 with four ranked wins, and Hill is 12-7, having accumulated four ranked wins, as well.

Eddie Neitenbach (184) returned from injury and logged a bonus-point win at Oregon State to move to 4-4. Sam Mitchell (HWT) filled in due to injury and done quite well, going 4-2 in duals – 15-6 overall – with a ranked win.

Garrett Ricks (125) leads things off and is still discovering his old form after coming back to the team following Jore Volk’s season-ending injury. He’s 2-4, but three of those losses are to ranked competition, two of which reside in the top 10.

Stockton O’Brien (133) will look to break out of his slump. He sits at 9-11 with a ranked win.

Cole Brooks (141) is eying a return to the polls. He’s fresh off his second ranked win of the season at Oregon State and possesses a 10-11 record.

Cooper Voorhees (165) has been solid in the middle all season. He’s 11-9.

Ethan Ducca or Riley Davis (174) rounds out the projected lineup this week. Both hover around .500 with Davis at 9-9 and Ducca at 8-9.

Utah Valley, like Wyoming, is receiving a vote in the NWCA Coaches’ Poll. The Wolverines are 5-5 overall and 1-2 in Big 12 competition.

Utah Valley boasts a pair of ranked wrestlers. No. 4 Terrell Barraclough (165) and No. 16 Haiden Drury (141) are both likely to compete Friday.

Cal Baptist – which competes at Northern Colorado on Friday night – is 5-5 overall and 2-3 in league. The Lancers own one ranked guy, No. 30 Nathan Haas (184).

Following the pair of home duals, Wyoming is back on the road. The Pokes travel to North Dakota State on Jan. 31 and No. 12 South Dakota State on Feb. 1.