Wyoming returns four national qualifiers and one All-American on a team that shows promise entering next season. The Cowboys posted a 12-6 dual record, winning seven of their last eight. 

Joey Novak is a returning All-American, finishing fifth at the 2025 NCAA Championships with a 29-7 season record. The New Prague, Minnesota, native is the nucleus of a team that will have battles at several weights, most notably 125, 133, and 174.

Head coach Mark Branch also picked up Christian Carroll at heavyweight. The Elkhart, Idaho, native has shown promise but has only competed 13 times in college with stops at Oklahoma State and Iowa State. 

Wyoming was selected to participate in the National Duals Invitational on November 15-16, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. 

“We have a very solid line up, especially at the upper weights, and we should have some fierce competition at the lower weights,” Wyoming coach Mark Branch said. “I love how these guys are coming together as a team with big expectations.”

Watch highlights of Novak's fifth-place match at the 2025 NCAA Championships

Overview

Head coach: Mark Branch (18th season)

Assistants: McCade Ford, Branson Ashworth, Devin Schroder

2025 NCAA tournament finish: 22nd

2025 NCAA tournament record: 9-10

2025 NCAA tournament points: 19.5

2025 Big 12 tournament finish: 10th

2025 dual record: 12-6 (6-3 Big 12 conference)

Returning national qualifiers: 4 (Gabe Willochell, Jared Hill, Eddie Neitenbach, Joey Novak)

Returning All-Americans: 1 (Joey Novak, 5th in 2025)

Last NCAA champion: Dick Ballinger (1960)

Last NCAA finalist: Bryce Meredith (2018)

Highest NCAA team finish: 3rd (1960)

Highest NCAA team finish under Branch: 17th (2018)

Most national placers in a season under Branch: 2 (2011, 2012, 2013, 2018)

Probable Starters

125 Pounds: Sefton Douglas, JR, 8-1 or Tucker Bowen, FR, 14-14
Douglas wrestled for two seasons at Western Wyoming Community College, finishing second at the 2025 NJCAA Championships. Bowen redshirted and competed in seven tournaments during his freshman campaign last season.

133 Pounds: Cody Phelps, JR, 6-7 or David Saenz, SR, 8-7
Phelps transferred from Michigan State, where he redshirted and wrestled in four opens. Saenz wrestled in two tournaments and went 0-2 in duals last season.

141 Pounds: Cole Brooks, JR, 15-17
Brooks started last season, finishing eighth at the Big 12 Championships. 

149 Pounds: Gabe Willochell, SR, 17-14
Willochell is a three-time national qualifier, once for Edinboro and twice for Wyoming. He closed out the 2024-25 season with six straight dual wins. 

157 Pounds: Jared Hill, SR, 23-12
Hill started his career at Oklahoma before transferring to Wyoming last season. He is a three-time national qualifier who finished fifth at the Big 12 Championships with a 3-2 record. 

165 Pounds: Sloan Swan, SO, 16-3
Swan redshirted last season and is the likely starter for the Cowboys. He competed in four tournaments. 

174 Pounds: Riley Davis, SO, 14-13 or Lane Foard, FR
Davis started last season, going 1-2 at the Big 12 Championships. Foard is an incoming freshman ranked #3 nationally at 190 pounds. 

184 Pounds: Eddie Neitenbach, SO, 14-9
Neitenbach went 8-3 in duals and qualified for NCAA Championships, going 2-2. Ten of his 14 wins were by bonus points. 

197 Pounds: Joey Novak, JR, 29-7
Novak had a breakout season after reaching the Round of 16 at nationals as a freshman. His NCAA tournament run included three wins over returning All-Americans. 

285 Pounds: Christian Carroll, SO, 5-5
Carroll is a two-time Super 32 champion and a 2023 U20 World Teamer who is looking to break through in college. He tried competing at 197 for Iowa State last season but is back at 285 for his sophomore year.