Freshmen shine as Wyoming wrestlers start new season with 51-0 win
The University of Wyoming defeated Western Wyoming with ten bonus-point victories, including three pins, to start the 2026-27 campaign.
By Thiago Kovalenko ·
The University of Wyoming wrestling team defeated Western Wyoming 51-0 on Saturday at the UniWyo Sports Complex in Laramie. The Pokes secured ten bonus-point victories across all weight classes to open the 2026-27 season. Head coach Mark Branch said the team wrestled well and scored numerous pins and technical falls. He noted that the squad got on the attack early and accumulated points efficiently.
Three matches ended in pins, five concluded with technical falls, and two resulted in major decisions. Isaiah Harrison at 125 pounds pinned Wylee Willson in the second period. The redshirt-freshman was one of three freshmen making their first career home start. Derek Barrows at 141 pounds and Austin Collins at 149 pounds also competed in their first home match against the Mustangs.
Branch said he did not know how the freshmen would handle the pressure of a home debut. He expressed relief that the three athletes opened up and dominated their opponents rather than tightening up from nerves. Barrows pinned Dalton Compton to secure the 141-pound match. No. 17 Luke Willochell at 133 pounds recorded a 15-0 technical fall over Luke Schroeder.
Collins defeated Logan Crowther with a 20-4 technical fall at 149 pounds. Antonio Avila at 157 pounds earned a 16-1 technical fall against Treyson Hunt. This marked Avila's second consecutive technical fall victory. Manny Rojas at 165 pounds won a 10-2 major decision against Dominic Blue. No. 32 Riley Davis at 174 pounds recorded a 20-5 technical fall over Kelten Crow.
The heavyweight division provided the quickest finishes in the dual. No. 6 Eddie Neitenbach at 184 pounds won a 21-6 technical fall in 2 minutes and 44 seconds. Joey Novak at 197 pounds pinned Trevyn Gates in just 56 seconds. Winston McBride at heavyweight ended the dual with an 18-5 major decision over Morgan Hatch.
McBride, like Harrison, was making his first career home start. His victory provided the final points in the 51-0 aggregate score. The Pokes will face a higher-ranked opponent next week. The team travels to No. 3 Nebraska on Nov. 8 for a 2 p.m. dual at the Devaney Center.
