The match- The Cowboys return to the friendly confines of Laramie Sunday to take on the Bison of NDSU after a tough Friday in Oklahoma. No rest for the wicked as this is the Cowboys fourth conference dual in five days and their third straight against a ranked opponent. Wyoming enters at 7-7 (4-3 B12) while #25 NDSU enters at 13-4 (3-1 B12). The teams share several common opponents to include Iowa State (UW won 19-15, NDSU won 25-16), OU (UW lost 18-19, NDSU lost 14-25), UNC (UW won 28-10, NDSU won 29-16), BSU (UW won 32-6, NDSU won 36-7), Cal Poly (UW won 32-3, NDSU won 30-6), Utah Valley (UW won 17-16, NDSU lost 16-22), and Air Force (UW won 29-9, NDSU won 23-10).
What to expect-UW and NDSU match up very even as both teams are heavy in talent in the lighter divisions. Bonus points will be important Sunday. Both teams have also been on the road with NDSU wrestling AFA Friday night and Wyoming freshly returned from a grueling Oklahoma road trip. NDSU should have the fresher legs, so hopefully UW brings a greater will to win. UW really needs this win to finish with an even record, show they can beat a ranked opponent, and to demonstrate they are not losing ground within the B12 or as a regional power. Expect NDSU to win at 133, 197, and HVYWT while UW will look to pick up wins in 141, 149, and 165. A glance at the rankings would indicate that NDSU should also win at 125 and 157….but I am not ready to write those off just yet. In the end, look for the Pokes to shake off a disappointing Friday and come in fired up to win a very a close match and show they are still a top four program within the B12.
Who to keep an eye on- This match just may go through Templeman and Colgan. Both continue to wrestle very well and both had big wins against the Sooners. Templeman did not compete against OSU and, while Colgan wrestled, he did not wrestle OSU’s main gun. They both have another opportunity to climb in the polls and the RPI against NDSU.
Notable rankings and qualifiers- Note that the NEW Coaches Poll rankings (top 33 in each class). This poll accounts for matches through 5 FEB (doesn’t include Wyoming’s matches against OU and OSU- Wyoming had some significant wins in the OU match). The poll is released four times a year (this is the second) and is one of the tools used in NCAA tournament selection in addition to winning percentage and rating percentage index (RPI). Note that RPI is also included (wrestler needs to have competed in at least 17 Division matches to be eligible).
1. 125-
a. #4 Josh Rodriguez (NDSU, 2015 NCAA qualifier, 2016 NCAA round of 12), #7 in Coaches Poll, not ranked in RPI
b. #15 Drew Templeman (UW, 2016 NCAA qualifier at 125), #14 in Coaches Poll, not ranked in RPI
2. 133- Cam Sykora (NDSU), #27 in Coaches Poll, not ranked in RPI
3. 141-
a. #8 Bryce Meredith (UW, 2016 NCAA runner-up), #8 in Coaches Poll, #15 in RPI
b. Mitch Bengston (NDSU, 2015 NCAA qualifier)
4. 149- Cole Mendenhall (UW), #20 in Coaches Poll, #22 in RPI
5. 157-
a. #7 Clay Ream (NDSU, 2015 and 2016 NCAA qualifier), #7 in Coaches Poll, #18 in RPI
b. #19 Archie Colgan (UW), #17 in Coaches Poll, #8 in RPI
6. 165-
a. #16 Branson Ashworth (UW), #14 in Coaches Poll, #12 in RPI
b. Andrew Fogarty (NDSU), #20 in Coaches Poll, #31 in RPI
7. 174-
8. 184-
9. 197- Cordell Eaton (NDSU), #30 in RPI
10. HVYWT- Benjamin Tynan (NDSU), #24 in Coaches Poll
*InterMat used for ranking information unless otherwise stated.
Notes-
1. Senior night for the Cowboys. The following will be honored:
a. Jake Elliott – Sacramento, Calif.
b. Cole Mendenhall – Great Falls, Mont.
c. Tanner Miller – Douglas, Wyo.
d. Nate Shaw – Bettendorf, Iowa
e. Drew Templeman – Orting, Wash.
f. Brandon Tribble – Colorado Springs, Colo.
g. Gunnar Woodburn – Claremore, Okla.
2. Link to Coaches Poll and RPI: http://news.theopenmat.com/college-wrestling-news/latest-di-coaches-rankings-rpi-revealed/61775
3. UW release: http://www.gowyo.com/news/ranked-opponents-on-tap-for-uw-wrestling-02-09-2017
4. UW release on Oklahoma and Oklahoma State losses: http://www.gowyo.com/news/wyoming-falls-to-oklahoma-oklahoma-state-02-10-2017
What to expect-UW and NDSU match up very even as both teams are heavy in talent in the lighter divisions. Bonus points will be important Sunday. Both teams have also been on the road with NDSU wrestling AFA Friday night and Wyoming freshly returned from a grueling Oklahoma road trip. NDSU should have the fresher legs, so hopefully UW brings a greater will to win. UW really needs this win to finish with an even record, show they can beat a ranked opponent, and to demonstrate they are not losing ground within the B12 or as a regional power. Expect NDSU to win at 133, 197, and HVYWT while UW will look to pick up wins in 141, 149, and 165. A glance at the rankings would indicate that NDSU should also win at 125 and 157….but I am not ready to write those off just yet. In the end, look for the Pokes to shake off a disappointing Friday and come in fired up to win a very a close match and show they are still a top four program within the B12.
Who to keep an eye on- This match just may go through Templeman and Colgan. Both continue to wrestle very well and both had big wins against the Sooners. Templeman did not compete against OSU and, while Colgan wrestled, he did not wrestle OSU’s main gun. They both have another opportunity to climb in the polls and the RPI against NDSU.
Notable rankings and qualifiers- Note that the NEW Coaches Poll rankings (top 33 in each class). This poll accounts for matches through 5 FEB (doesn’t include Wyoming’s matches against OU and OSU- Wyoming had some significant wins in the OU match). The poll is released four times a year (this is the second) and is one of the tools used in NCAA tournament selection in addition to winning percentage and rating percentage index (RPI). Note that RPI is also included (wrestler needs to have competed in at least 17 Division matches to be eligible).
1. 125-
a. #4 Josh Rodriguez (NDSU, 2015 NCAA qualifier, 2016 NCAA round of 12), #7 in Coaches Poll, not ranked in RPI
b. #15 Drew Templeman (UW, 2016 NCAA qualifier at 125), #14 in Coaches Poll, not ranked in RPI
2. 133- Cam Sykora (NDSU), #27 in Coaches Poll, not ranked in RPI
3. 141-
a. #8 Bryce Meredith (UW, 2016 NCAA runner-up), #8 in Coaches Poll, #15 in RPI
b. Mitch Bengston (NDSU, 2015 NCAA qualifier)
4. 149- Cole Mendenhall (UW), #20 in Coaches Poll, #22 in RPI
5. 157-
a. #7 Clay Ream (NDSU, 2015 and 2016 NCAA qualifier), #7 in Coaches Poll, #18 in RPI
b. #19 Archie Colgan (UW), #17 in Coaches Poll, #8 in RPI
6. 165-
a. #16 Branson Ashworth (UW), #14 in Coaches Poll, #12 in RPI
b. Andrew Fogarty (NDSU), #20 in Coaches Poll, #31 in RPI
7. 174-
8. 184-
9. 197- Cordell Eaton (NDSU), #30 in RPI
10. HVYWT- Benjamin Tynan (NDSU), #24 in Coaches Poll
*InterMat used for ranking information unless otherwise stated.
Notes-
1. Senior night for the Cowboys. The following will be honored:
a. Jake Elliott – Sacramento, Calif.
b. Cole Mendenhall – Great Falls, Mont.
c. Tanner Miller – Douglas, Wyo.
d. Nate Shaw – Bettendorf, Iowa
e. Drew Templeman – Orting, Wash.
f. Brandon Tribble – Colorado Springs, Colo.
g. Gunnar Woodburn – Claremore, Okla.
2. Link to Coaches Poll and RPI: http://news.theopenmat.com/college-wrestling-news/latest-di-coaches-rankings-rpi-revealed/61775
3. UW release: http://www.gowyo.com/news/ranked-opponents-on-tap-for-uw-wrestling-02-09-2017
4. UW release on Oklahoma and Oklahoma State losses: http://www.gowyo.com/news/wyoming-falls-to-oklahoma-oklahoma-state-02-10-2017
