Wyoming Wrestling Finishes Soldier Salute With Eyes on Big 12

The University of Wyoming wrestling team traveled to Xtreme Arena in Coralville, Iowa, for the Soldier Salute Tournament, the program's final regular-season tournament before the Big 12 Championships in March. The event, broadcast on Big 10-Plus, presented a challenging field that included four top-10 teams led by No. 3 Iowa State and eight ranked programs overall, placing a premium on performance for Wyoming's starters and reserves.

For most starters, the weekend represented the first tournament action since the Dec. 13 dual with No. 1 Penn State, a gap that coach Mark Branch described as a factor in preparation. “This is our last opportunity in a tournament setting before Big 12s, which is kind of crazy,” Branch said. “We have to take advantage of this environment. I love this tournament because it’s a two-day tournament no matter what. We’ve talked to our team about being excited about this because it’s the last chance to replicate the postseason.”

While the Cowboys remain outside the team top 25, several individual wrestlers traveled ranked among the nation's best. Joey Novak entered the weekend at No. 4 at 197 pounds, Christian Carroll at No. 8 in heavyweight, and Eddie Neitenbach at No. 12 at 184. Additional ranked athletes included Luke Willochell (No. 16, 133), Jared Hill (No. 18, 157), Gabe Willochell (No. 27, 149) and Riley Davis (No. 28, 174). Starters rounding out the lineup were Sefton Douglass (125), John Alden (141) and Sloan Swan (165).

The tournament also provided critical mat time for backups and developmental wrestlers. Isaiah Harrison, Tucker Bowen, David Saenz, Antonio Avila, Cole Brooks, Lane Foard and Gunner Henry were among the reserves who gained experience against stiff competition. That depth-building is important for Albany County supporters who follow the Pokes closely; strong bench performance can influence team resilience during conference duals and postseason seeding.

Last year Wyoming placed seventh at the Soldier Salute with several starters sidelined by injury, and Jared Hill led the team with a runner-up finish. With the regular-season tournament slate complete, Wyoming will return to dual competition, opening with a road dual at Utah Valley inside Lockhart Arena on Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. The stretch of duals between now and the Big 12 Tournament will frame final adjustments, health management and lineup decisions that will determine how competitive the Cowboys will be in March.