Wrestling Looking to be Greedy at NCAA Championships

LARAMIE, Wyoming (3/19/25) – The University of Wyoming wrestling team concludes its 2024-25 season at the NCAA Championships this week. Six Cowboys travel to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for the three-day tournament beginning Thursday inside the Wells Fargo Center.

Gabe Willochell (149), Jared Hill (157), Eddie Neitenbach (184), Joey Novak (197) and Sam Mitchell (HWT) are the five who gained access to the Championships either by an automatic bid via the Big 12 Tournament or an at-large bid thereafter. Cole Brooks (141) is the first alternate at his weight class.

“We had a successful dual season and several guys wrestled consistently throughout the season, which is reflected in their qualification,” head coach Mark Branch said. “It feels good to get back to these numbers, and it’s something we can grow on.”

For several of the aforementioned grapplers, this isn’t their first NCAAs. Willochell and Hill will each be making their third trip. Willochell qualified last year as a Cowboy to go alongside his bid while at Edinboro and Hill will be making his first as a Cowboy after two qualifications at Oklahoma.

Novak and Mitchell are both two-time qualifiers. Novak did it as a freshman last year, and Mitchell went as a 197-pounder at Buffalo.

Neitenbach will be making his first trip as a freshman. Brooks’ selection as an alternate is also a first.

Wyoming enjoyed a cumulative record of 9-6 at last year’s NCAA Championships – which included five upsets – en route to a 33rd-place finish at 10 points. Jore Volk (125) spearhead the effort with a seventh-place finish that carried All-American status with it.

Branch will be looking for similar success this time around. A couple Pokes will be favored, on paper, in the opening round but by in large Wyoming will be eyeing upsets throughout the competition.

“We need our guys to just focus on the one match ahead of them and fully believe in themselves,” Branch said. “Nothing comes easy at the NCAA Tournament, and you can’t be satisfied with just being there. You have to be very greedy and want more.”

Willochell at 17-12 overall and four ranked wins earned the No. 30 seed. He went 2-2 at last year’s Championships and owns a career record of 2-4 at this stage. Willochell drew No. 3 Shayne Van Ness (Penn State) in the opening round who he lost to via fall in Wyoming’s dual at Penn State in December.

Hill garnered the highest seed of any Cowboy at No. 13 following his 21-10 season that featured a team-best seven ranked wins. He went 1-2 at last year’s NCAAs and holds a career record of 1-4 at the Championships. Hill will take on No. 19 Trevor Chumbley (Northwestern) and the two haven’t met since the 2022-23 season when Chumbley walked away with a 16-1 technical fall victory.

Neitenbach at 13-7 and four ranked wins reeled in the No. 19 seed. He’ll go against No. 14 DJ Parker (Oklahoma) in the opening round. Parker defeated Neitenbach via decision, 4-3, in a dual in Norman in November.

Novak is the No. 15 seed after his 22-5 season that saw five ranked wins. He went 2-2 at last year’s Championships. Novak squares off with No. 18 Dillon Bechtold (Bucknell) in the first round.

Mitchell earned the No. 30 seed following a 24-10 year with a pair of ranked victories. He went 1-2 at the 2024 NCAAs. Mitchell will battle No. 3 Greg Kerkvliet (Penn State) in the first round.

The 2025 NCAA Championships commence Thursday at 10 a.m. There are two sessions each day and all can be streamed via either ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN-Plus.