Nebraska secures 28-9 victory over Wyoming
The No. 3 Nebraska wrestling team defeated the No. 20 University of Wyoming 28-9 on Sunday, Nov. 8, at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln.
The Huskers took seven of the ten matches, including a five-win stretch between the 141 and 174-pound weight classes.
Wyoming managed to secure three individual victories, providing flashes of competitiveness against the top-three program.
Willochell upsets Van Dee in standout performance
The most significant moment for the Cowboys occurred at 133 pounds, where No. 16 Luke Willochell earned his first career top-10 win. Willochell secured a 5-4 decision over No. 7 Jacob Van Dee by utilizing a late takedown and a ride out to seal the upset, as reported by gowyo.com.
This victory served as redemption for Willochell, who had previously lost to Van Dee in the consolation round of last year’s NCAA Championships. Wyoming head coach Mark Branch noted that the experience was valuable for the team so early in the season, stating, “Our guys needed this. We saw a lot of top-ranked guys, and we fought.”
Novak and Neitenbach battle through adversity
Wyoming’s other two wins came from established heavy hitters in the lineup. No. 4 Joey Novak won a premier 197-pound matchup against No. 5 Camden McDanel, finishing with a 4-1 decision. The win moved Novak to a 4-0 lifetime record against McDanel.
Coach Branch highlighted the mental toughness required in such close contests, saying Novak showed heart when the match hung in the balance. Similarly, No. 6 Eddie Neitenbach overcame an early deficit at 184 pounds. After falling behind to Ethan DeLeon, Neitenbach rallied to win 13-8, improving his season record to 2-0.
Husker dominance in the middle weights
The Daily Nebraskan reported that senior 149-pounder Anthony Echemendia, a transfer from Iowa State, secured a 17-4 win over Austin Collins. While Echemendia held a narrow 3-1 lead after the first period, he surged to a 13-3 lead by the end of the second.
Three other wrestlers also scored heavily for the Huskers:
- Meyer Shapiro (165 lbs): The Cornell transfer and three-time All-American earned a technical fall against Manny Rojas, winning 18-3.
- Antrell Taylor (157 lbs): The senior secured a 17-4 major decision over Antonio Avila.
- Cade Ziola (HWT): The redshirt freshman closed the evening with a 19-4 technical fall against Winston McBride.
Nebraska coach Mark Manning attributed Ziola’s success to his physical preparation, noting the impact of the athlete’s commitment to strength training over the summer.
Match results by weight class
| Weight | Winner | Loser | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 125 | No. 4 Vincent Robinson (NEB) | Isaiah Harrison (WYO) | 8-2 Decision |
| 133 | No. 16 Luke Willochell (WYO) | No. 7 Jacob Van Dee (NEB) | 5-4 Decision |
| 141 | Lincoln Sledzianowski (NEB) | Derek Barrows (WYO) | 11-2 Major Decision |
| 149 | No. 5 Anthony Echemendia (NEB) | Austin Collins (WYO) | 16-4 Major Decision |
| 157 | No. 3 Antrell Taylor (NEB) | Antonio Avila (WYO) | 17-4 Major Decision |
| 165 | Meyer Shapiro (NEB) | Manny Rojas (WYO) | 18-3 Technical Fall |
| 174 | No. 2 Christopher Minto (NEB) | No. 32 Riley Davis (WYO) | 10-4 Decision |
| 184 | No. 6 Eddie Neitenbach (WYO) | Ethan DeLeon (NEB) | 13-8 Decision |
| 197 | No. 4 Joey Novak (WYO) | No. 5 Camden McDanel (NEB) | 4-1 Decision |
| HWT | No. 9 Cade Ziola (NEB) | Winston McBride (WYO) | 19-4 Technical Fall |
Upcoming schedule for Wyoming and Nebraska
The loss drops Wyoming to a 1-1 record on the season. The Cowboys will continue their road schedule next week, traveling to face No. 7 Stanford on Nov. 15. That dual is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Cardinal’s outdoor softball stadium, according to gowyo.com.
The Huskers are set to travel to face No. 2 Oklahoma State on Friday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m., with the match slated to stream on ESPN+, per The Daily Nebraskan.
