Every competing member of the University of Wyoming wrestling team was eliminated from the NCAA Championships on Friday in Oklahoma City, Okla.
Junior Shane Woods managed to get one victory for the day to lead the Pokes, before losing 6-4 to Nick Bonnaccorsi of Pittsburgh.
“We wrestled tough and with a lot of effort and heart, but it was the little things that stumped us,” UW head coach Mark Branch said. “It sums up the whole season – coming up a little short. We had more downs than ups and it’s something we’ve got to address and not accept and use to get better. It’s been a frustrating year for me. We’ve constantly been fighting to create a culture that will get us to the next level.”
Woods’ win came in the wrestleback bracket against 12th-seeded Taylor Meeks of Oregon State, a 2013 All-American. Woods got ahead early, and used an aggressive style to hold on for a 5-3 victory.
In his match against Bonnaccorsi, Woods lost on a deep shot from his opponent in overtime, 6-4.
Wyoming juniors Taylor Cox and Dakota Friesth and redshirt freshman Benjamin Stroh were also eliminated Friday.
Cox, an All-American in 2013, lost 11-7 to seventh-seeded Bradley Taylor of Wisconsin after going down early in the bout 4-0 on a takedown and back points. Cox managed to come back to within two with 40 seconds remaining, 9-7, but lost on another takedown at the end of the match.
Friesth lost in a close match to Indiana’s Ryan Leblanc 6-4 on Friday morning. In the final minute of the match, Friesth came close to the takedown he needed to tie the match, but never managed it.
Stroh’s bout was less narrow, as he was pinned in the first period by Lazarus Reyes of Illinois. Reyes came out on top and earned the takedown and eventual fall.
After Session III, Wyoming was 49th in the tournament with three team points. This season will be the first time since 2008 that Wyoming has not had an All-American.
“Friday is the toughest day of the tournament. It’s a dogfight,” Branch said. “Woody (Shane Woods) wrestled the best he has all season, and especially against a kid who’s beat him a couple of times this season and a returning All-American.”
Wyoming had a stronger performance in the tournament on Thursday, with each wrestler going 1-1 on the day to enter the wrestleback bracket.
Friday marks the end of the Cowboys’ season. The Pokes finished the NCAA Championships 5-8 overall.
