Picture It: Wyoming Wrestling Dominates Mustangs

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LARAMIE, Wyoming (10/31/26) – It was a scary, good time Saturday inside the UniWyo Sports Complex. The University of Wyoming wrestling team dominated Western Wyoming, 51-0, to begin their 2026-27 campaign in style.

"I thought we wrestled pretty well," head coach Mark Branch said. "Obviously, we scored a lot of pins and technical falls, and you want to see that. We did a good job getting on the attack early and scoring a lot. I'm looking forward to the next one and getting better this week."

The Pokes won all 10 bouts by bonus points. Three were pins, five were technical falls and two were major decisions.

Isaiah Harrison (125) began the afternoon with a pin. He dropped Wylee Willson in the second period, which set a tone that permeated throughout the lineup.

Harrison, a redshirt-freshman, was one of three freshmen in the lineup Saturday who were receiving their first-career home start. Derek Barrows (141) and Austin Collins (149) were also jockeying with those nerves.

"You don't know what to expect with those freshmen, and if they're going to get out there and tighten up and let the nerves overcome them," Branch said. "It was good to see them open up and dominate."

Barrows logged a pin of Dalton Compton, which followed a 15-0 technical fall for No. 17 Luke Willochell (133) over Luke Schroeder. Collins methodically recorded a technical fall, as well, defeating Logan Crowther, 20-4.

Antonio Avila (157) made it back-to-back technical falls, earning his 16-1 variety against Treyson Hunt. Manny Rojas (165) recorded a 10-2 major decision of Dominic Blue, while No. 32 Riley Davis (174) registered a 20-5 technical fall of Kelten Crow.

It was all business from the two heavy hitters, Eddie Neitenbach (184) and Joey Novak (197). Neitenbach needed just 2:44 to win 21-6 over Isaac McGee while Novak pinned Trevyn Gates in 56 seconds.

Winston McBride (HWT) – who, just like Harrison, was making his first-career home start – ended the dual similarly to how his smaller teammate began it. He boasted an 18-5 major decision of Morgan Hatch, which gave the contest its final tally.

Wyoming steps up in competition next week. The Cowboys travel to No. 3 Nebraska on Nov. 8 for a 2 p.m. dual inside the Devaney Center.