The University of Wyoming wrestling team competed at the Big XII Championships last week, posting a fifth place finish. Oklahoma State took the title home in Tulsa, winning the championship by a resounding 85 points (176.5). However, the Cowboys were able to secure five wrestlers into the NCAA Championships in St. Louis to finish off the season.
Bryce Meredith and Drew Templeman will return for the second year in a row, while teammates Branson Ashworth and Archie Colgan will make their first appearance.
Making the NCAA Championships is a dream come true for any wrestler, but for senior Cole Mendenhall, it means one last opprotunity to do what he loves.
“The chance to make my dreams come true,” Mendenhall said. “I’ve been chasing this my whole life and it’s what I’ve been working for since I was little, so it means a lot to me.”
Mendenhall has never qualified for the NCAAs before this season and has come close multiple times, but a 28-8 record and a third place finish at the Big XII Championships have secured him a spot in St. Louis next week.
“My Big XIIs were pretty good,” Mendenhall said. “My semifinal match didn’t go exactly how I wanted it to, but I did what I had to on the back stretch and was able to grab third place.”
Mendenhall fell to Jerry McGinty in the semifinal, but three takedowns and a two-point nearfall sent Mendenhall into the third place match. There, Mendenhall was able to pin South Dakota State’s Alex Kocer on the way to grabbing the third place finish and automatically qualifying for St. Louis.
Leading up to an NCAA qualifier has been quite a journey for the Great Falls, Montana native. Mendenhall came out his freshman season on fire, going 21-10 on the season and barely missing the NCAA’s. As a sophomore he faltered slightly, going 16-16, and has only progressed every season after.
“It’s been a roller coaster ride,” Mendenhall said. “I did well my freshman year, but my sophomore year started to go a little downhill. My junior year I started to improve again, and now I’m here. This is the best I’ve done and the farthest I’ve made it so it’s been fun.”
As a senior, making the NCAA championships is a great honor, and something Mendenhall is not taking for granted.
“It’s amazing,” Mendenhall said. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do and having this opportunity is like a dream come true.”
Making NCAA’s as a senior is an opportunity that many do not get the chance to have. It means one last chance to show the world where hard work can take a competitor. The 5’7 wrestler weighing in at 149 is determined to show what he can do in St. Louis, and it is the only thing on his mind.
“I am just focused on wrestling right now, that’s why I’m there and I want to be successful,” Mendenhall said. “We’ve had a lot of short hard practices, just staying in shape and condition. This is my last go at it so I’m working really hard.”
Mendenhall’s last opportunity to wrestle means more to him than just competing on the mat for the last time. It also means the last time he will put on the brown and gold.
“I love this team a lot,” Mendenhall said. “I’m going to miss competing every day. Even in practice you get to compete against the guys every day. That’s what I’ll miss.”
Watch Mendenhall and his UW teammates compete for a title in St. Louis, March 16-18, at the Scottrade Center on WatchESPN.
