Recap: No. 17 Wyoming downs @UNCBearsWrestle 38-4

Saturday, February 10

Laramie, WY

6 PM

University of Northern Colorado

University of Wyoming

Photo by: Dean Popejoy

2/10/2018 10:46:00 PM | Wrestling

Results Sheet

Northern Colorado unable to take enough shots to match the Cowboys

By: Matthew Kushar, UNCBears.com

Laramie, Wyo.- Northern Colorado wrestling had a difficult Saturday night, as No. 17 Wyoming defeated them 38-4. The Cowboys were able to record two falls and a tech fall against the Bears while winning nine of the 10 matches on the night.

The night began in the 197 lb weight class and UNC welcomed back No. 20 Jacob Seely to the lineup after injuries kept him out the past month. Seely faced Luke Paine and the match had a bitter ending when Seely suffered another injury that caused him to bow out. Wyoming opened with a 6-0 lead on the injury default.

Now in the heavyweight class, Robert Winters Jr. went against Sam Eagan. Winters would fall behind in the first period after a takedown by Eagan to trail 2-1. Eagan scored another takedown in the second period, but Winters had an escape to stay within striking distance. Winters managed another escape in the third period, but it was not enough and Eagan won a 6-3 decision after riding time. Wyoming extended the lead to 9-0.

Sean Cannon was on the mat for UNC in the 125 lb weight class and battled Drake Foster. The match started well for Cannon with a quick takedown, but Foster responded with his own to hold a 3-2 lead after the first period. Foster separated from Cannon in the second period with two takedowns and an escape for ann 8-2 advantage. The third period ended shortly when Foster managed to pin Cannon at 6:37 and Wyoming extended its lead to 15-0 after three matches.

Rico Montoya took on Ronnie Stevens in the 133 lb weight class, trying to get UNC on the board. Montoya led 2-0 after the first period with a takedown on Stevens. In the second period, Montoya kept shooting and scored another takedown on Stevens for a 5-0 lead heading to the third. Montoya did not back down in the final period, earning two takedowns, plus riding time to win 11-2 for a major decision. UNC was on the board, trailing 15-4.

In the 141 lb weight class, Benjamin Polkowske had a difficult matchup against No. 1 Bryce Meredith, who was wrestling his final home match in his career. Meredith had an early takedown, but Polkowske managed to get an escape in the first period. Another takedown by Meredith put the lead at 4-1 and we would then end the match with a pin on Polkowske at 2:10. The Cowboys now held a 21-4 lead over the Bears going to the break.

Owen Lamb was thrown into the starting role in the 149 lb weight class after Jimmy Fate came down with an illness. Lamb faced Sam Turner and in the first period, Turner built a 6-0 lead with a takedown and a four-point near fall. Turner's lead grew to 8-0 after a takedown in the second period on Lamb. In the final period, Turner added two more takedowns and another four-point near fall to end the match with a 19-1 tech fall at 6:52. The deficit for UNC now was 26-4.

Tyler Kinn took on No. 10 Archie Colgan in the 157 lb weight class. A takedown by Colgan, followed by an escape from Kinn left the score at 2-1 after the first period. Kinn tied the match in the second period with an escape and they headed to the decisive third. Colgan took the lead with an escape and follow it up with a takedown on Kinn. Riding time gave Colgan a 6-3 decision win over Kinn and Wyoming lead 29-4 in the dual.

In the 165 lb weight class, No. 17 Keilan Torres met No. 13 Branson Ashworth in a marquee matchup. Ashworth earned the first points with a takedown, but Torres salvaged an escape to end the first period 2-1. The second period would have Ashworth scoring another takedown and Torres being hit with a stalling penalty to fall in a 6-1 hole going to the final period. Torres suffered another stalling warning in the third period and riding time would give Ashworth the 8-1 decision victory. The Cowboys extended their lead to 32-4.

Sethan Bogulski went against Kyle Pope in the 174 lb weight class. A pair of takedowns form Pope in the first period left Bogulski trailing 4-1. Pope managed an escape in the second period, but that was the extent of the scoring. Bogulski got tagged with a stalling warning in the third and Pope recorded another takedown to win 8-2 by decision. Wyoming padded its lead, 35-4.

The final match of the dual had No. 18 Dylan Gabel facing off with Chaz Polson. Neither wrestler managed to score anything in the first period, but the tie was broken in the second with a takedown by Polson. Gabel scored an escape to keep Polson close at 2-1. Polson chose down to start the third and it paid off when he scored a reversal on Gabel for a 4-1`advantage. Polson would add a riding time point to win 5-1 to close out the dual.

Wyoming (12-3, 6-2) defeated Northern Colorado (2-9, 1-5) 38-4 and extend the Bears losing streak to five duals. UNC was unable to create enough chances to score in its matches.

In their words
Head Coach, Troy Nickerson

On the overall match
"It was a tough night against a tough team. I don't think we competed where we needed to be to win the dual. I think we let them control the pace and the action in the match. We held back and results from the match shows that."

On the individual matches
"[Cannon] was definitely winnable match and we just stopped wrestling. Ben is wrestling the No. 1 kid in the country and we saw some good things from him, being aggressive. I'm proud of Owen Lamb. He came out on very short notice and jumped up a weight. He competed hard, you could tell he was small for the weight class and wrestling a talented opponent. Tyler Kinn competed hard but didn't get enough offense off to win the match. [Torres] and [Bogulski] we didn't take any shots and it's hard to win when you don't attack. [Gabel} let the opponent take the match to his positions."

On what needs to change
"I just want to see our guys give themselves a chance to win by going out and competing hard by letting their offense go and controlling ties. They just need to put themselves in a position to win the match and I still believe we have a good team. But it's tough to win when you are on the defensive."

Up Next
Northern Colorado travels to Orem, UT for a dual against Big 12 foe Utah Valley next Friday, Feb. 16th.