Wyoming Wrestling Blanks Mustangs, 46-0, in home opener

LARAMIE -- University of Wyoming wrestling head coach Mark Branch was pleased with how his team opened the season last week with a win over Campbell in the Dual at the Daddy. His one critique was that, at times, his student-athletes wrestled a tad passively.

Coming into the Pokes’ home opener on Saturday, Branch wanted a more aggressive approach from his team. He got his wish.

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No. 24 Wyoming dominated No. 1 Western Wyoming, 46-0, to improve to 2-0 on the season. It’s the largest margin of victory of the Branch era and the first shutout since the 2014 season.

“I think today was a step forward,” Branch said. “We are just getting more comfortable and more confident with each match. So, with it being the second dual of the year, I’m still not where I want to be with that aggressiveness, but we definitely moved our feet and hands better today.”

The Cowboys’ impressive point total encompassed eight bonus-point victories. Half of those wins were via pin, including the first three bouts.

No. 2 Jore Volk (125) got things started with his first pin since his freshman season. He toppled No. 5 Sefton Douglass in the second period. Rankings for the Mustangs are reflective of the Open Mat’s NJCAA poll.

Stockton O’Brien (133) kept things going with his second pin in as many matches. He pinned No. 11 Zach Marrero in the second period, as well.

No. 29 Cole Brooks (141) made it 18-0 with the match’s third consecutive pin. He defeated No. 5 Dmitri Garza-Alacron in the first period.

Wyoming followed up its three straight pins with three straight major decisions. No. 17 Gabe Willochell dispatched of No. 5 Tristan Stafford, 15-3, No. 23 Jared Hill (157) took care of No. 12 Hixton Canto, 15-3, and Cooper Voorhees (165) beat Banks Norby, 17-5.
Seamus Casey (174) – who was competing in his first dual as a Cowboy and wrestling up a weight class – won via decision, 6-3, over No. 10 Sam May. Brett McIntosh (184), who was also competing up a weight class, majored No. 9 Banks Love, 12-2.

No. 10 Joey Novak (197) boasted his second pin in as many duals. He defeated Ian Dickinson in the first period. Kevin Zimmer (HWT) closed the match with the closest bout of the day, downing No. 1 Dmarian Lopez via decision, 4-2.

Wyoming, as a team, is back in action Oct. 22 at No. 3 Oklahoma State. Volk participates in the NWCA All-Star Classic on Nov. 16 in State College, Pennsylvania.

Wyoming 46 | Western Wyoming 0

125: No. 2 Jore Volk (Wyoming) fall *No. 5 Sefton Douglass (Western Wyoming), 4:36
133: Stockton O’Brien (Wyoming) fall *No. 11 Zach Marrero (Western Wyoming), 4:52
141: No. 29 Cole Brooks (Wyoming) fall *No. 5 Dmitri Garza-Alarcon (Western Wyoming), 1:58
149: No. 17 Gabe Willochell (Wyoming) major decision *No. 5 Tristan Stafford (Western Wyoming), 15-3
157: No. 23 Jared Hill (Wyoming) major decision *No. 12 Hixton Canto (Western Wyoming), 15-5
165: Cooper Voorhees (Wyoming) major decision Banks Norby (Western Wyoming), 17-5
174: Seamus Casey (Wyoming) decision *No. 10 Sam May (Western Wyoming), 6-3
184: Brett McIntosh (Wyoming) major decision *No. 9 Banks Love (Western Wyoming), 12-2
197: No. 10 Joey Novak (Wyoming) fall Ian Dickinson (Western Wyoming), 1:59
HWT: Kevin Zimmer (Wyoming) decision *No. 1 Dmarian Lopez (Western Wyoming), 4-2
* NJCAA rankings

- University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players