Wrestling Set to Host Air Force on Friday and North Dakota State on Sunday
Sefton Douglass — courtesy photo
LARAMIE, Wyoming (2/4/26) – The University of Wyoming wrestling team is back at home this weekend for a pair of duals. The No. 25 Cowboys host Air Force on Friday at 6 p.m. before battling North Dakota State on Sunday at 1 p.m. Both duals will be held at the UniWyo Sports Complex, and both will be broadcast by Flo and the Mountain West Sports Network.
The Pokes are fresh off their worst performance of the 2025-26 season, falling at home to Oregon State this past weekend, 25-12. They’re eager to return to the competition mat in front of their fans and showcase a better version of themselves.
“They’re not too happy with how they wrestled Saturday, and they’re ready to put that behind them and show a better product this weekend, and that’s what we expect,” head coach Mark Branch said. “We had a great home crowd, and I hope they come back and give us another chance because I know we can come out and be more entertaining than we were.”
Wyoming is 4-5 overall and 3-1 in the Big 12. The Falcons are also 4-5 on the season but 0-4 in league action.
The Pokes are still trying to get healthy for the stretch run. Their projected lineup for Friday features seven ranked guys led by No. 4 Joey Novak (197). No. 7 Christian Carroll (HWT), No. 9 Eddie Neitenbach (184), No. 25 Luke Willochell (133), No. 27 Gabe Willochell (149), No. 28 Riley Davis (174) and No. 30 Jared Hill (157) round out Wyoming’s ranked individuals.
Air Force possesses just a pair of wrestlers with a national rank. No. 32 Karson Thompkins (197) and No. 33 Logan Fowler (165) are both slated to compete this weekend. Â
Wyoming owns a decided advantage in the all-time series with the Falcons. The Cowboys are 48-13 all-time, which includes a 25-1 mark in Laramie. Wyoming claimed last year’s matchup, 27-9, in Colorado Springs.
The Pokes’ Sunday opponent, the Bison, are 6-7 on the year. They’re 3-2 in Big 12 competition.
North Dakota State boasts four ranked grapplers led by No. 16 Max Petersen (149). The other three are No. 17 Ezekiel Witt (125), No. 28 Aidan Brenot (184) and No. 28 Devin Wasley (197).
Wyoming holds a 15-9 edge in the all-time series with the Bison. The Pokes won last year’s meeting, 27-12, in Fargo.
Following the dual with North Dakota State, the Cowboys take to the road for the final time in the regular season. They travel to Northern Colorado on Feb. 13.