The University of Wyoming wrestling team wrapped up its competition at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational on Saturday, finishing 12th overall with 38.5 points, KOWB reports.
The tournament, held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, featured elite competition from across the nation. Oklahoma State claimed the top spot with 192 points, followed by Nebraska (115 points) and Ohio State (110.5 points) rounding out the top three.
Wyoming’s standout performances came from Joey Novak (197 lbs.) and Jared Hill (157 lbs.), both of whom reached the podium. Novak, ranked No. 13, finished in fourth place, while Hill, ranked No. 21, claimed fifth place in their respective weight classes.
- Joey Novak (4th place, 197 lbs.)
Novak exceeded expectations, finishing four spots higher than his pre-seed ranking. His day included a hard-fought sudden victory (5-2) over No. 13 Wyatt Voelker of Northern Iowa in the consolation semifinals. However, Novak was forced to default in the third-place match against No. 11 Luke Surber of Oklahoma State. Novak went 1-1 on Saturday, adding to his Friday victories, which included a win over No. 15 Nick Stemmet of Stanford (5-1) and a decision over No. 26 Chase McDaniel of Nebraska (6-4). - Jared Hill (5th place, 157 lbs.)
Hill, unseeded at the start of the tournament, battled his way to a fifth-place finish. On Saturday, he dropped a close 5-4 decision to No. 6 Paddy Gallagher of Ohio State in the consolation semifinals. Hill’s run through the tournament included wins over several higher-ranked opponents, including No. 20 Colton Washleski of Rider (8-2) and Nate Wade of Cornell (5-1). He also benefited from medical forfeits to advance through portions of the bracket. Hill’s gritty performance demonstrated his ability to compete with some of the nation’s top wrestlers.
While Novak and Hill were the only Cowboys to compete on Saturday, several other Wyoming wrestlers notched victories during Friday’s opening rounds.
- Stockton O’Brien (133 lbs.) put together a strong performance, earning three wins on Friday. He secured a decision over Chase Liardi of Hofstra (9-6) and later claimed an overtime win (4-1) against Micah Roes of Binghamton. O’Brien was ultimately eliminated after being pinned by No. 8 Nic Bouzakis of Ohio State.
- Cole Brooks (141 lbs.) and Gabe Willochell (149 lbs.) each secured two wins. Brooks recorded a major decision (11-2) over Alek VanBebber of Cal Poly and a 12-4 major decision over Justin Hoyle of Hofstra. Willochell, ranked No. 18, picked up a 14-6 major decision against Ayden Garver of Oregon State and defeated No. 33 Richard Fedalen of Columbia (10-2). He was eliminated by No. 13 Colin Realbuto of Northern Iowa in a narrow 13-12 decision.
- Eddie Neitenbach (184 lbs.) earned two wins, including a dramatic 51-second pin against Hunter Perez of Sacred Heart. He followed that with a 5-4 decision over Jon Halverson of Northwestern. He was eventually knocked out by No. 4 Bennett Berge of South Dakota State in a 12-2 major decision.
- Cooper Voorhees (165 lbs.) and Kevin Zimmer (HWT) each picked up a win on Friday. Voorhees defeated Kekana Fouret of Oregon State (3-0) before being eliminated by Kyle Mosher of Hofstra (11-7). Zimmer scored a 12-4 major decision over Brendan Gilchrist of Sacred Heart but was eliminated by No. 14 Cory Day of Binghamton via fall.
Wyoming’s 38.5 points earned the Cowboys a 12th-place finish in a highly competitive field. Oklahoma State ran away with the team title, accumulating 192 points, well ahead of Nebraska (115 points) and Ohio State (110.5 points).
The Cowboys will now shift their focus to dual action as they prepare for a challenging matchup against the No. 1-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions. The dual meet is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 15, at 11 a.m. inside Rec Hall in State College, Pennsylvania. This showdown against one of the nation’s premier programs will provide Wyoming wrestlers with another opportunity to test themselves against elite competition.
The Wyoming Cowboys showcased their talent and toughness at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, finishing 12th among a field of top-tier programs. Standout performances by Joey Novak and Jared Hill, along with contributions from wrestlers like Stockton O’Brien, Cole Brooks, and Gabe Willochell, highlight the depth of Wyoming’s squad. As they prepare for a showdown against No. 1 Penn State, the Cowboys will look to build on the momentum gained in Las Vegas.
