Wyoming Wrestlers to Compete in Soldier Salute Tournament

LARAMIE -- The University of Wyoming wrestling team is back in action before the New Year. The Cowboys participate in the Soldier Salute Tournament on Sunday and Monday inside Xtreme Arena in Coralville, Iowa.

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Unlike the most recent invitational, the Reno Tournament of Champions, the Soldier Salute will include most of Wyoming’s starters. No. 32 Stockton O’Brien (133), No. 25 Cole Brooks (141), No. 19 Jared Hill (157), Cooper Voorhees (165) and Riley Davis (174) are all scheduled to compete. Tucker Bowen (125), Josh Kyle (133), David Saenz (133), Tyson Charmoli (133), John Alden (141), Aidan Noonan (141), Antonio Avila (149), Sloan Swan (157), Warren Carr (157), Ethan Ducca (174), Quayin Short (174) and Sam Mitchell (HWT) are also set to compete.

“At this point in the season, getting quality matches and staying healthy are the two biggest things,” head coach Mark Branch said. “We are still not quite healthy as a team, but the guys wrestling in Iowa have the opportunity to get quite a few matches in two days.”

For those backups, it will have only been a week since they went in Reno. Avila spearheaded that effort, winning the 149-pound title, while five others – Davis, Ducca, Short, Swan and Christian Herrera (141) – seized top-five finishes.

For many of the starters, a dual at Penn State on Dec. 15 represents the most recent time they took to the competition mat. It’ll be important for those few to take advantage of the numerous opportunities in Iowa, as they look to springboard the back half of their seasons.

“They will have the opportunity to make adjustments and find a rhythm,” Branch said. “Some guys are still trying to figure out the optimal style and pace that will serve them best, so two days of wrestling should really be helpful in doing that.”

Wyoming took part in this tournament last season and had three podium finishes. However, only one of those three is healthy and going this time around. O’Brien placed sixth in 2023, accumulating three consolation round victories whilst competing at 141 pounds.

Stiff competition will be present. Bellarmine, No. 2 Iowa, No. 13 Iowa State, No. 7 Minnesota, No. 19 Missouri, Navy, No. 4 Nebraska, No. 23 North Carolina, No. 14 South Dakota State and No. 10 Northern Iowa are all sending wrestlers.

The tournament begins Sunday at 9 a.m. and Day 2, Monday, commences at 10 a.m. There will be a championship and consolation bracket for each weight.

Following the Soldier Salute, Wyoming returns to the state of Iowa for the National Dual Meet Championships. That tournament runs from Jan. 10-11 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, inside the UNI-Dome.