From: Lincoln Joseph Mansch lmansch@uwyo.eduSubject: Cowboys Welcome Oklahoma for Big 12 Dual

Date: February 2, 2018 at 10:21 AMTo: Lincoln Joseph Mansch lmansch@uwyo.edu

Cowboys Welcome Oklahoma for Big 12 Dual

Notes | Live Video ($) | Live ResultsLARAMIE, Wyo. (Feb. 2, 2018) -- Wyoming wrestling continues its Big 12 schedule bywelcoming the Oklahoma Sooners on Sunday afternoon. The dual will begin at 1 p.m.MT inside the UniWyo Sports Complex. Live results can be found on Trackwrestling withlive video on Flowrestling. Fans are also encouraged to follow @WyoWrestle on Twitterfor updates throughout the dual. Faculty and staff that present valid UW identificationcan purchase tickets for $5. Last Time OutThe Pokes (9-3, 3-2 Big 12) are coming off a 40-6 victory against Fresno State onSaturday night. The Pokes dominated with eight wins, four of which came via pins. Itwas the first time UW put 40 points on the board since Feb. 7, 2014 against NorthernColorado. At the time the Pokes won 41-6. Saturday’s win was also the eighth inBranch’s tenure that UW has scored 40 or more points in a dual. Wyoming in the RankingsBryce Meredith once again sits atop the 141 rankings to lead the Brown and Gold intothe weekend against Oklahoma. Montorie Bridges continues to shine with his highestrankings coming in a No. 3 in the Trackwrestling individual rankings at 133 pounds.Archie Colgan held steady being the tenth-ranked wrestler at 157 pounds in theFlowrestling, Trackwrestling and InterMat individual rankings. Branson Ashworth, who isninth in the nation with seven tech falls against Division I competition, is the fourthCowboy in the rankings. He moved up a spot in all polls, sitting No. 13 at 165 pounds. As a team, the Pokes remained No. 22 in the USA Today/NWCA Division I WrestlingCoaches Poll, as Oklahoma is receiving votes. UW is tenth in the Trackwrestling teamrankings, and 11th in the Flowrestling team rankings. Know the Competition – OklahomaThe Sooners will face Utah Valley tonight before making the trip to Laramie. Mostrecently, OU is coming off a 22-13 defeat against No. 12 South Dakota State. Before thedual with the Jackrabbits, the Sooners had won their previous two duals. They currentlyhold a 7-7 overall record with a 3-3 mark in Big 12 action.

Oklahoma has a few wrestlers ranked in their respective weight classes. Yoanse Mejiasleads the way as the tenth-ranked wrestler at 174 pounds. He qualified for the NCAAChampionships last year at 165 pounds. Christian Moody, also an NCAA Qualifier, is theNo. 17 ranked wrestler at 125 pounds, while Davion Jeffries sits at No. 20 at 149pounds. Jeffries is a two-time NCAA Qualifier and was the Big 12 runner-up at 149pounds last season. It will be the 21st contest between Oklahoma and Wyoming. The Sooners hold a 17-3advantage in the all-time series. A year ago, Wyoming won five of the first six matchesonly to see OU win the last four and escape with a 19-18 victory over the Pokes inNorman. UW will be looking for its first win against OU since the 2014-15 season. Closing in on 100After his win on Saturday night, Meredith currently has 98 career Division I wins. Hewent 29-5 in his first season at Wyoming, totaled a 32-8 record last season and has a22-1 mark as of right now. He also went 15-7 during his freshman season at NorthCarolina State in 2014-15. All-Time Wins as a CoachMark Branch has had quite the career while leading the Cowboys. He is also closing inon third place in wins as head coach at UW. In his ten seasons, he has a record of 96-49. Everett Lantz (1936-43, ‘46-52, ‘53-65) went 141-73-8 during his tenure, whileSteven Suder (1989-2008) and Joe Dowler (1973-87) posted records of 127-136-2 and104-64-1, respectively. Oklahoma TiesAssistant coach Teyon Ware wrestled at the University of Oklahoma winning two NCAAindividual championships at 141 pounds and earned a spot in the NCAA finals on threeseparate occasions. He won NCAA Championships during his freshman and juniorseasons. In 2003, he was a Big 12 Champion and also earned the Big 12 OutstandingWrestler award. Up NextWyoming continues with its busy week as the Brown and Gold will compete againstUtah Valley and Northern Colorado next Friday and Saturday, respectively. The dualagainst UVU will begin at 7 p.m. MT, while the dual with UNC will begin at 6 p.m. in theArena-Auditorium. Probable Lineups125: Drake Foster, So. (15-9; 5-5 dual) v. No. 17 Christian Moody, RSo. (20-8; 12-2dual)133: No. 5 Montorie Bridges, RFr. (26-3; 12-0) v. Jake Rubio, RJr. (12-8; 8-6)141: No. 1 Bryce Meredith, Sr. (22-1; 12-0) v. Mike Longo, Sr. (13-14; 4-10)149: Sam Turner, RFr. (19-13; 7-5) v. No. 20 Davion Jeffries, Jr. (19-11; 9-5) / NoahTeaney, RJr. (6-4; 0-0)157: No. 10 Archie Colgan, Sr. (25-7; 7-3) v. Justin Thomas, RFr. (19-11; 7-7)165: No. 13 Branson Ashworth, Jr. (27-3; 11-1) / Dewey Krueger, So. (15-6; 2-0) v.Dawaylon Barnes, Sr. (16-8; 7-5)174: Kyle Pope, Sr. (19-9; 9-3) v. No. 10 Yoanse Mejias, Sr. (22-5; 11-1) / JeremyThomas, RFr. (3-7; 1-3)184: Chaz Polson, Sr. (22-9; 5-5) OR Luke Paine, Sr. (1-0; 1-0) v. Matthew Waddell, Fr.

184: Chaz Polson, Sr. (22-9; 5-5) OR Luke Paine, Sr. (1-0; 1-0) v. Matthew Waddell, Fr.(5-14; 3-10)197: Chaz Polson, Sr. (22-9; 5-5) OR Luke Paine, Sr. (1-0; 1-0) v. Andrew Dixon, Sr.(14-14; 5-9)285: Sam Eagan, Jr. (9-10; 3-4) v. Marquise Overton, Jr. (1-2; 1-2) / Connor Webb, Fr.(5-15; 2-9)

--LJM-- Lincoln ManschAssistant Director, Media and Public RelationsUniversity of Wyoming Athletics1000 E. University Avenue | Laramie, Wyoming 82071Office: (307) 766-2257 | Cell: (406) 396-7381