Wrestling Starts Fast and Never Slows in 37-3 Victory Over Cal Baptist

LARAMIE, Wyoming (1/25/25) – No nerves were needed during the University of Wyoming wrestling team’s dual against Cal Baptist on Saturday night inside the UniWyo Sports Complex. The Pokes started strong and didn’t let up en route to a 37-3 victory.

“A couple hours before the dual I got really nervous,” head coach Mark Branch said. “I thought, ‘Man, this could be a crazy dual.’ And there were a lot of question marks. Honestly, I didn’t expect those types of bonus points. When we wrestle that way, we have the opportunity to get better and be really competitive. It was fun too. I hope it was fun for the fans. I enjoyed it.”

The win improves Wyoming to 8-5 on the season and 2-2 in Big 12 action. The loss drops the Lancers to 5-7 overall and 2-5 in league.

Wyoming boasted bonus-point wins in half the bouts Saturday. Eddie Neitenbach (184) held the most impressive one, pinning No. 25 Nathan Haas in just 1:48.

“It wasn’t a fluke pin,” Branch said. “Eddie just put the hammer down on him and those are really exciting things.”

No. 10 Joey Novak (197) began the dual with bonus points, as well. He recorded a 16-0 technical fall of Eli Sheeran, and the Cowboys were off a running.

Garrett Ricks (125) had a major decision of Mitchell Neiner, 14-2. Cole Brooks (141) also majored Brady Hoshino, 14-3, and No. 25 Gabe Willochell (149) rounded out the bonus-point wins with a come-from-behind pin of Paul Kelly.

Sam Mitchell (HWT) used Novak’s momentum and got a 5-2 decision win over Tristan Kemp in Saturday night’s second bout. No. 15 Jared Hill (157) had a late takedown in a 5-1 decision win over Drayden Morton. Cooper Voorhees (165) earned a 7-1 decision win over Danile Manibog, and Riley Davis (174) defeated Carter Schmidt via decision, 4-1, to round out the victorious Pokes.

Wyoming takes to the road next week. The Cowboys travel to North Dakota State on Friday before going to South Dakota State on Saturday. Both duals begin at 6 p.m.

RV Wyoming 37 | Cal Baptist 3

125: Garrett Ricks (Wyoming) major decision Mitchell Neiner (Cal Baptist), 14-2

133: Hunter Leake (Cal Baptist) decision Stockton O’Brien (Wyoming), 1-0

141: Cole Brooks (Wyoming) major decision Brady Hoshino (Cal Baptist), 16-3

149: No. 25 Gabe Willochell (Wyoming) fall Paul Kelly (Cal Baptist), 4:31

157: No. 15 Jared Hill (Wyoming) decision Drayden Morton (Cal Baptist), 5-1

165: Cooper Voorhees (Wyoming) decision Daniel Manibog (Cal Baptist), 7-1

174: Riley Davis (Wyoming) decsion Carter Schmidt (Cal Baptist), 4-1

184: Eddie Neitenbach (Wyoming) No. 25 Nathan Haas (Cal Baptist), 1:48

197: No. 10 Joey Novak (Wyoming) technical fall Eli Sheeran (Cal Baptist), 16-0

HWT: Sam Mitchell (Wyoming) decision Tristan Kemp (Cal Baptist), 5-2