Cowboys down Northern Colorado for second straight dual win

* University of Wyoming Athletics media relations release

Greeley, Colo. (Feb. 4, 2021) – The Wyoming Cowboy wrestling squad picked up their second straight Big 12 win of the season Friday night in Greeley, Colorado as they downed Northern Colorado, 21-15.

The Pokes rattled off six straight wins including three bonus point wins to seal the victory. 

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“We had a lot of adversity this week and the guys stepped up and did their job tonight. To see Jaron (Jensen) come out and get us started with a big win and really get us going was really enjoyable,” UW head wrestling coach Mark Branch said. “I thought our shape looked good tonight and now it’s an important time for us to focus on the details and get better every day.”   

After dropping the first three matches of the night, Jensen provided a spark at 149 pounds. He faced off against Chris Sandoval in a tightly contested match. After a back and forth start Sandoval took a 4-3 lead into the third period. The third period belonged to Jensen however as he scored three straight points and hung on for the 6-5 victory.  

At 157 pounds No. 13-ranked Jacob Wright had a solid outing against Nathan Moore controlling Moore from start to finish in a gritty match. Wright racked up over two minutes of riding time to seal his 4-1 win. 

No. 22-ranked Cole Moody then made it three wins in a row for Wyoming as he faced Nick Knutson. Moody got off to a fast start and jumped out to a 4-1 lead with a pair of takedowns. He added on two more takedowns in the third period to cruise to a 11-2 win for the first bonus point win of the night for Wyoming.  

At 174 pounds No. 11 Hayden Hastings kept things rolling against Damen Pape. After getting taken down, Hastings quickly scored a reversal but trailed 3-2 going into the second. Hastings then recorded a second period ride out and added five more points in a hectic third period to win the match 8-5. 

The second bonus point win of the night was produced by 16th-ranked Tate Samuelson as he faced Xavier Vasquez. Samuelson controlled the match from whistle to whistle scoring five takedowns throughout the match. He tacked on an escape and riding time point for the 12-3 major decision.  

In the only ranked matchup of the night No. 4 Stephen Buchanan faced off against No. 23-ranked Alan Clothier at 197 pounds.

Buchanan put together a dominant performance overwhelming Clothier from the neutral position and scoring five takedowns during the match. Buchanan rolled to a 16-3 major decision win for his second victory over Clothier on the season.  

Up the next the Pokes will have another trip to Colorado next Friday as they head to Colorado Springs to take on the Air Force Falcons.  

Wyoming Cowboys – 22 |Northern Colorado Bears – 15 

125 – Jace Koelzer (UNC) dec. Darrick Stacey (WYO) 5-1 

133 – Dyson Kunz (UNC) Fall (3:41) Josh Kyle (WYO) 

141 – No. 6 Andrew Alirez (UNC) dec. Darren Green (WYO) 6-3 

149 – Jaron Jensen (WYO) dec. Chris Sandoval (UNC) 6-5  

157 – No. 13 Jacob Wright dec. Nate Moore (UNC) 4-1 

165 – No. 22 Cole Moody (WYO) major dec. Nick Knutson (UNC) 11-2 

174  - No. 11 Hayden Hastings  (WYO) dec. Damen Pape (UNC) 8-5 

184 – No. 16 Tate Samuelson (WYO) major dec. Xavier Vasquez (UNC) 12-3 

197 – No. 4 Stephen Buchanan (WYO) major dec, No. 23 Alan Clothier 16-3 

285 –  Jacob Seely (UNC) dec. Terren Swartz (WYO) 8-2 

EXTRA MATCHES 

141- Darren Green (WYO) major dec. Dyson Kunz (UNC) 9-0 

149 – Chris Sandoval (UNC) tech fall. Josh Kyle (WYO) 21-5 

157 – Cooper Voorhees (WYO) dec. Zeke Alirez (UNC) 10-3 

165 – No. 22 Cole Moody fall (3:43) Brayden Engelking (UNC)

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