Wrestling Upsets No. 10 South Dakota State, 24-18

Photo courtesy of UW Athletics

LARAMIE, Wyoming (1/18/26) – The University of Wyoming wrestling team has curiously resided just on the outside looking in of the NWCA Coaches' Poll. Even though the Cowboys have scored more points against No. 1 Penn State than any other team this season and their only losses have come to top 10 teams, the Pokes were still not viewed as one of the 25 best teams in the country.

That'll change following Sunday. Wyoming defeated No. 10 South Dakota State, 24-18, inside the UniWyo Sports Complex, marking its first victory over a top 10 team in eight years.

"That's a really good team," head coach Mark Branch said. "To be able to pull off that win says a lot about our guys and our team. We had a lot of big moments in that dual. And to beat a team like that, you have to have big moments."

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No. 32 Jared Hill (157) provided one of those big moments. He pinned No. 17 Cael Swensen in overtime, which vaulted Wyoming ahead, 14-9. It was a lead the Pokes never relinquished.

"That was super gutsy," Branch said. "It was kill or be killed. If Jared doesn't do what he did, he goes to his back. Jared went for it, and that was a huge momentum swing. It got the crowd on their feet and was huge heading into halftime."

Sloan Swan (165) showcased some guts, as well. He had been struggling this season, but he logged one of the biggest wins of his career coming out of halftime. Swan utilized a late takedown to upset No. 27 Marcus Espinoza-Owens via decision, 4-1.

"Having Jared go out there against a really tough guy and get a win, that was huge," Swan said. "You can feel the energy rise, and it pumped me up."

The lead Swan gave the Cowboys needed a little extra help, and without No. 4 Joey Novak (197), that help fell to No. 12 Eddie Neitenbach (184) and No. 9 Christian Carroll (HWT). And they delivered.

Neitenbach earned a hard-fought 4-1 decision over Brock Fettig. Carroll dialed up the offense and defeated No. 19 Luke Rasmussen via major decision, 16-4.

The Willochell brothers rounded out the Wyoming scorers on Sunday. Luke Willochell (133) eased past Cale Seaton, defeating him via technical fall, 15-0 (2:31), and Gabe Willochell (149) toppled Colin Dupill via decision, 9-2.

South Dakota State started off the match with one of their four wins, as No. 19 Brady Roark earned a 4-0 decision over Sefton Douglass. No. 16 Julian Tagg (141) pinned John Alden, No. 18 Moses Espinoza-Owens (174) defeated Riley Davis via decision, 8-2, and No. 6 Bennett Berge (197) pinned Gunner Henry.

With the win, Wyoming improves to 4-3 on the season and 3-0 in Big 12 action. South Dakota State falls to 9-2 overall and 2-1 in league play.

The Cowboys head back out on the road next weekend. They travel to No. 24 West Virginia on Saturday for a 4 p.m. dual inside Hope Coliseum.   

Wyoming 24 | No. 10 South Dakota State 18

125: No. 19 Brady Roark (South Dakota State) decision Sefton Douglass (Wyoming), 4-0

133: No. 28 Luke Willochell (Wyoming) technical fall Cale Seaton (South Dakota State), 15-0 (2:31)

141: No. 16 Julian Tagg (South Dakota State) fall John Alden (Wyoming), 6:48

149: No. 18 Gabe Willochell (Wyoming) decision Colin Dupill (South Dakota State), 9-2

157: No. 32 Jared Hill (Wyoming) fall No. 17 Cael Swensen (South Dakota State), 7:01

165: Sloan Swan (Wyoming) decision No. 27 Marcus Espinoza-Owens (South Dakota State), 4-1

174: No. 18 Moses Espinoza-Owens (South Dakota State) decision No. 29 Riley Davis (Wyoming), 8-2

184: No. 12 Eddie Neitenbach (Wyoming) decision Brock Fettig (South Dakota State), 4-1

197: No. 6 Bennett Berge (South Dakota State) fall Gunner Henry (Wyoming), 5:34

HWT: No. 9 Christian Carroll (Wyoming) major decision No. 19 Luke Rasmussen (South Dakota State), 16-4

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