Cowboys roll on Senior Night

The University of Wyoming Wrestling team defeated the Cal State Fullerton Titans (2-8-1), 28-13 on Senior Night in the UniWyo Sports Complex on Friday, improving their record to 11-3 overall.

Cowboy seniors Cory VomBaur and Alex Rieder competed in the last home dual of their UW careers. VomBaur wrestled Aaron Navarrete at 133 pounds, recording four takedowns and a reversal during the match and cruising to a 11-3 major decision for the Cowboys. Unfortunately, Rieder was not able to win his match with Todd Noel of the Titans at 174 pounds, wrestling tough for the Cowboys but losing in a decision to Noel, 10-5.

As a whole, the ‘Pokes won six of 10 bouts with the Titans, which included five bonus-point victories.

“Tonight was good and I’m proud of what we were able to do,” UW head coach Mark Branch said. “I think it was important to send the seniors out right. Rieder’s match didn’t end the way he wanted, but it was nice to have him out there representing us since he has meant so much for this program.

“That’s (aggressive wrestling) what we hope for. It was good to see Cory come out and open up. Overall, I’m proud of the way we competed.”

The dual began at heavyweight with Cowboy L.J. Helbig wrestling a tough match against the Titans’ No. 17-ranked Kurt Klimek. Helbig trailed the entire match, but closed the gap at the 6:55 mark of the match with a big takedown. Helbig would ultimately lose to Klimek by decision, 9-6

No. 12 Michael Martinez then battled Andre Gonzalez of the Titans at 125 pounds. Martinez controlled the entire match, taking his first lead at 2:28 with a takedown and never giving it up. Martinez wrestled his way to a major decision, 10-2.

Following VomBaur’s win, Cowboy Kasey Garnhart (141 pounds) wrestled up from his normal weight of 133 pounds for the third straight match. Garnhart lost, 9-1, in a major decision to No. 27 (NCAA Coaches’ Rankings) Adin Duenas.

The Cowboy’s Chase Smith, also wrestling up a weight class, could not avoid a second straight UW loss at 149 pounds. Smith wrestled Nick Jordan to a close 3-0 loss. After no scoring in the first period, a quick three-point nearfall from Jordan at the beginning of the second period proved to be the deciding moment of the match. Smith was close to nearfall points of his own in the second period, but time expired before the points could be awarded.

After that match, the Titans would take their second lead, 10-8, of the dual but they would not lead again. Wyoming would then win four of the next five matches.

Freshman Jimmy Belleville would wrestle his way to a solid victory over Steven De La Fuente at 157 pounds. Belleville came out early with a takedown at 1:07 and would earn two more takedowns and a reversal on his way to a 10-4 decision. That gave the Cowboys an 11-10 team lead over the Titans and UW would never let up.

No. 9-ranked Shane Onufer and No. 9 Joe LeBlanc would once again prove invaluable to the Cowboys, pinning both of their opponents. Onufer, at 165 pounds, wrestled Clayton Schuelke of the Titans and controlled his entire match, leading 11-3 before sticking his opponent at the 4:11 mark. Like Onufer, LeBlanc at the 184 pounds was controlling his match against Mark Savalle, leading 12-0, before pinning his opponent at 3:11. The win by fall was LeBlanc’s 10th of the season and Onufer’s pin was his eighth this season.

Rieder’s loss was sandwiched between Onufer and LeBlanc’s wins.

The final match of the evening was ay 197 pounds and it pitted UW’s Alfonso Hernandez against Ethan Weisrock. Hernandez would come out of the gate quickly with a takedown at :39 and would never look back. He would score five takedowns and three nearfalls on his way to winning by technical fall, 18-3.

“We trained right through this dual and we will do the same next week with the Air Force match-up,” Branch said. “Although our eyes are on the postseason right now, that match is important to us and we want to finish the dual season strong. Just like tonight, I will expect us to come out, perform well and dominate.”

Up next for the Cowboys, they will travel to Colorado Springs to take on the Air Force Falcons Thursday at 7 p.m.