Cowboys Fall at West Virginia in Top-25 Battle, 21-15
MORGANTOWN, W.V., – The University of Wyoming wrestling team came up just short in a top 25 battle at West Virginia on Saturday. The No. 23 Cowboys fell to No. 19 West Virginia, 21-15, inside Hope Coliseum.
“We had some guys that did a really good job of putting us in a position to win, and I’m proud of that, and I’m proud of the effort,” head coach Mark Branch said. “It’s unfortunate. We all feel the sting of the loss. We certainly know we were in position to win another match, if not two. So that stinks.”
It was a dual of razor thin margins, both at the decision level and at the bonus-point threshold. West Virginia held a 2-1 edge in decisions that were decided by two points or fewer, while Wyoming owned three major decisions to the Mountaineers’ one technical fall and one major.
“Scoring bonus points at three matches, those are things we knew we were going to need,” Branch said. “We just needed to win that next match. I thought we had opportunities. We just didn’t close the deal.”
The dual was still doubt – West Virginia leading, 18-15 – heading into the final bout of the day. And that battle came down to the wire.
No. 28 Luke Willochell (133) dropped a 5-4 decision to No. 17 Gunner Andrick. It was tied 4-4 for the entire third period. Willochell needed an escape to win or force overtime, but after several wild scrambles, Andrick was able to remain on top and hang on for the one-point win.
In total, Wyoming claimed four bouts on Saturday. And, as stated above, nearly all were bonus-point wins.
No. 18 Gabe Willochell (149) got the Pokes on the board – in a dual that began at 141. He secured a major decision over TJ Langley, 11-2, which made it 4-3 in favor of the road squad.
Sloan Swan (165) knotted the team score back up, 8-8, with a major decision of his own. He defeated Shawn Taylor, 9-1, for Swan’s second win in as many duals.
The back-and-forth competition ensued, as No. 10 Eddie Neitenbach (184) leveled the team score, 11-11, with a ranked win. He beat No. 17 Ian Bush, for a second time this season, via decision, 4-2.
No. 8 Christian Carroll (HWT) possessed Wyoming’s final win of the day. He majored Brock Kehler, 17-5, which staked the Cowboys to a 15-14 advantage.
David Saenz (141), No. 17 Jared Hill (157), No. 28 Riley Davis (174) and Sefton Douglass (125) all dropped their bouts. Both Hill and Douglass fell to top 10 opponents.
Wyoming returns home next weekend. The Pokes host Oregon State at 3 p.m. inside the UniWyo Sports Complex.
No. 19 West Virginia 21 | No. 23 Wyoming 15
141: Jordan Titus (West Virginia) decision David Saenz (Wyoming), 10-4
149: No. 18 Gabe Willochell (Wyoming) major decision TJ Langley (West Virginia), 11-2
157: No. 4 Ty Watters (West Virginia) technical fall No. 17 Jared Hill (Wyoming), 18-3 (5:00)
165: Sloan Swan (Wyoming) major decision Shawn Taylor (West Virginia), 9-1
174: Michael Baldwin (West Virginia) decision No. 28 Riley Davis (Wyoming), 3-2
184: No. 10 Eddie Neitenbach (Wyoming) decision No. 17 Ian Bush (West Virginia), 4-2
197: No. 15 Rune Lawrence (West Virginia) decision Lane Foard (Wyoming), 9-4
HWT: No. 8 Christian Carroll (Wyoming) major decision Brock Kehler (West Virginia), 17-5
125: No. 8 Jett Strickenberger (West Virginia) major decision Sefton Douglass (Wyoming), 12-4
133: No. 17 Gunner Andrick (West Virginia) decision No. 28 Luke Willochell (Wyoming), 5-4
University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players
Gallery Credit: 7220Sports.com
- University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players
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