Two UW Players Arrested for Larceny, Kicked Off Teams

University of Wyoming student-athletes have been dismissed from their teams following arrests connected to a burglary. University of Wyoming head basketball coach Larry Shyatt and head wrestling coach Mark Branch announced today that men’s basketball player Shakir Smith and wrestler Patrick Martinez have been dismissed from their respective teams effective immediately.

Commander Mitch Cushman with the Laramie Police Department says both Smith and Martinez were arrested yesterday following an investigation of a burglary that took place in the early morning hours of September 29. Smith was arrested for larceny and Martinez was arrested for conspiracy to commit larceny, but Cushman reports that all charges against Martinez have since been dropped.

Smith would have been a sophomore for the Pokes this season. The guard played sparingly in his freshman season, seeing action in 15 games.

Last year Martinez was second on the Cowboy wrestling team with 35 wins. He was a two-time West Regional Champ at 174 pounds and would have been a junior this season.

Neither Coach Shyatt, Coach Branch nor any other UW official will have any further comment according to the release from the university.