Wrestling Falls at No. 3 Nebraska, 28-9

LINCOLN, Nebraska (11/8/26) – The University of Wyoming wrestling team took part in a top 20 battle on Sunday inside the Devaney Center. The No. 20 Cowboys faced off with No. 3 Nebraska, falling, 28-9, to drop to 1-1 on the season.

“It was a good experience, especially this early in the season,” head coach Mark Branch said. “Our guys needed this. We saw a lot of top-ranked guys, and we fought. I felt like in every match we fought hard.”

No. 16 Luke Willochell (133) gave the Pokes an early shot in the arm. He upset No. 7 Jacob Van Dee with a late takedown and ride out for a 5-4 decision win.

It moved Willochell to 2-0 on the season and represented his first-career top 10 win. It also avenged a loss in the consolation round of last year’s NCAA Championships.

“That was awesome,” Branch said. “That’s a couple-time All-American he beat. That was certainly the highlight.”

Wyoming’s two hammers accounted for the other pair of wins. No. 6 Eddie Neitenbach (184) and No. 4 Joey Novak (197) each moved to 2-0 on the year, and both had to fight off some adversity.

Neitenbach gave up two early takedowns to Ethan DeLeon and had to scrap his way back. Neitenbach tallied a takedown and back points to persevere with a 13-8 decision win.

Novak was the one half of the premier bout of the day. He battled No. 5 Camden McDanel, and Novak scored a late takedown and ride out for a 4-1 victory that moved him to 4-0 lifetime against McDanel.

“Joey wrestled well, but there were two or three times we had a good opportunity to score, and the kid found his way out of it,” Branch said. “When you’re in those tight matches, you have to keep your composure. Joey showed a lot of heart. When matches come down to that, I know how big his heart is, and I know he’s going do whatever it takes to get the job done.”

Isaiah Harrison (125) and No. 32 Riley Davis (174) each fell to top-five guys, however, they only lost by decision. The Huskers earned three major decisions and two technical falls in the other five bouts.

The Cowboys remain on the road next week. They travel to No. 7 Stanford on Nov. 15 for a 2 p.m. dual at the Cardinal’s outdoor softball stadium.

No. 3 Nebraska 28 | No. 20 Wyoming 9

125: No. 4 Vincent Robinson (Nebraska) decision, Isaiah Harrison (Wyoming), 8-2

133: No. 16 Luke Willochell (Wyoming) decision No. 7 Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska), 5-4

141: Lincoln Sledzianowski (Nebraska) major decision Derek Barrows (Wyoming), 11-2

149: No. 5 Anthony Echemendia (Nebraska) major decision Austin Collins (Wyoming), 16-4

157: No. 3 Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) major decision Antonio Avila (Wyoming), 17-4

165: Meyer Shapiro (Nebraska) technical fall Manny Rojas (Wyoming), 18-3

174: No. 2 Christopher Minto (Nebraska) decision No. 32 Riley Davis (Wyoming), 10-4

184: No. 6 Eddie Neitenbach (Wyoming) decision Ethan DeLeon (Nebraska), 13-8

197: No. 4 Joey Novak (Wyoming) decision No. 5 Camden McDanel (Nebraska), 4-1

HWT: No. 9 Cade Ziola (Nebraska) technical fall Winston McBride (Wyoming), 19-4

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