UW Travels to Lincoln for Triangular, Featuring Nebraska, N. Iowa

* University of Wyoming press release

LARAMIE -- The University of Wyoming wrestling team returns to dual action this week. The Cowboys travel to Lincoln, Nebraska, for a Triangular featuring the host Cornhuskers and Northern Iowa.

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The duals take place inside the Devaney Center. The competition against Northern Iowa gets underway at 11 a.m., while the dual against Nebraska begins at 12:30 p.m.

Saturday represents the first time this season that Wyoming has competed in multiple duals in one day. However, competing multiple times in a single day is nothing foreign, seeing as the Cowboys have competed in a trio of invitationals where their student-athletes compete four, five and sometimes six times in one day.

“This is a little different than a tournament in that our guys know they have two matches and that’s it,” head coach Mark Branch said. “It’s important to have a short memory no matter what because you have to get re-focused very quickly and move on to a different opponent.”

Wyoming is 3-3 overall this season and that includes a 1-2 mark in Big 12 action. The Pokes last dual occurred at home against Oklahoma State where they dropped a 31-9 decision.

The Soldier Salute Tournament this past weekend was the most recent competition for the Cowboys. Wyoming had a few finish on the podium, led by Jore Volk (125) who took second and Joey Novak (197) who placed third.

Volk is ranked as high as No. 8, owning a 14-4 record, which includes a 4-4 record against ranked guys. Novak is as high as No. 15 with a 15-7 record and a team-best 6-6 mark against ranked grapplers.

Gabe Willochell (149) – who didn’t compete at the Soldier Salute because of an illness – is ranked at high as No. 22. Cole Brooks (141), who’s been battling injuries over the last month, rounds out the ranked Wyoming grapplers at No. 31.

Northern Iowa is receiving votes in the most recent NWCA Coaches’ Poll and lays claim to an 1-3 overall record. The Panthers boast eight ranked wrestlers, headlined by Parker Keckeisen who’s No. 1 at 184.

Northern Iowa took last year’s matchup in Cedar Falls, 33-3. Nebraska and Wyoming’s last meeting occurred during the 2019-20 season where the Cornhuskers claimed a 28-7 victory in Lincoln.

Nebraska is ranked No. 7 in the coaches’ poll. The Cornhuskers also boast a ranked wrestler at eight weight classes and have a guy ranked No. 1 in Ridge Lovett at 149.

Following the Triangular in Lincoln, the Pokes return home for a dual against Air Force. That one is set for Jan. 12 at 6 p.m. inside the UniWyo Sports Complex.