Cowboy Wrestlers Battle Past Oregon State
Behind six wins in 10 matches, the No. 11 Wyoming Cowboy wrestling team won its sixth-straight dual Sunday with a 22-16 victory over Oregon State at the UniWyo Sports Complex.
The dual came down to the final three bouts, as Wyoming had to rally from a 16-12 deficit. They did and improved to 10-3 on the season.
Sophomore Montorie Bridges came through with a key major decision, 13-5 at 133 pounds, which tied the score at 16. Fellow sophomore Sam Turner followed with a 9-3 decision at 141 pounds. That gave the Pokes a 19-16 edge, as the match headed into the final weight.
In order to avoid the dual coming down to criteria, UW needed a victory in the final bout. They got it in dramatic fashion.
Redshirt sophomore Jaron Jensen came through with a hard-fought 4-3 win by decision. Jensen recorded a takedown with 31 seconds left that propelled him to the victory. His opponent couldn’t get off the bottom before time ran out, which gave the Cowboys a 22-16 team victory.
Wyoming head coach Mark Branch said in a release from the University of Wyoming,
“It was a nail-biter and a hard-earned win. We had some guys that got a chance to be the hero. That was good for Jaron. It’s difficult being in that situation, having to carry the balance of everything that had happened previous to that.”
The Cowboys got on the board thanks to a pin by senior Branson Ashworth at 165 pounds. That came in the first period and in just 2:10.
Freshman Tate Samuelson picked up an 8-2 decision at 184 pounds, which was followed by redshirt freshman Cale Davidson’s 6-2 decision at 197 pounds. Halfway through the dual, UW held a 12-7 lead.
Oregon State rallied with wins at the next two weights, heavyweight and 125. That set the stage for the Pokes’ rally and third straight win over the Beavers.
Wyoming returns to action Friday with a Big 12 dual versus Air Force at 7 p.m.