As the Wyoming Cowboys wrestling team continues with its practices, which began Oct. 10, the Cowboys are working harder now than ever to ensure it has a successful season just as it did last year.
“We have been anticipating the first practice for quite some time now,” head coach Mark Branch said. “Our team is anxious and hungry and they know we have a short timetable to get prepared for some of our toughest competition.”
Branch is going on his fifth year with the team and has high expectations of bring home the Western Wrestling conference title. Though the team lost several seniors due to graduation, there is still plenty of talent making this prospect achievable.
Cowboy wrestlers Zach Zehner and Alfonso Hernandez are top returners from last year’s team as they both qualified for the NCAA Championships last season. Junior Patrick Martinez was also a qualifier for the championship but is no longer on the team due to a dismissal announced earlier in the week.
The first two weeks of November the Cowboys will be hosting duals against both Boise State and Nebraska. Boise is reported by the Mountain West to be ranked 14th overall while Nebraska is ranked 18th. Though both teams appear to be bringing a challenge during Wyoming’s opener for their dual season, it is nothing that the team cannot handle.
“I think the most exciting thing is we have some guys who have stood in the shadows of some Wyoming Wrestling greats and now they see an opportunity to shine and stand out. We expect to continue to improve each week and each year until we climb to the top. It will be very fun to watch this team develop over the season.”
Last season the Cowboys finished 19th overall in the NCAA Championships, which was the first time it had placed in the top-20 since 1996. With all the effort and hard work being put forth by the wrestlers this season, their aim is bound to improve. In WIN Magazine, the Cowboys were ranked in a preseason team poll to take No. 25 in the nation. The report additionally mentioned that several Cowboys, including Zehner and Hernandez, are ranked in the top 25 for individual rankings this year. This prediction gives Wyoming a positive outlook on how their season can and should end up.
Wyoming’s home dual against Boise State will be held Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. followed by the event the Cowboy Open tournament, scheduled for Nov. 3. Wyoming will conclude its home duals after their match again Nebraska which is set for Nov. 11 at 1 p.m.
