In the offseason of 2008, when Mark Branch was named the 14th head coach in the history of the University of Wyoming wrestling program, expectations and the profile of Wyoming wrestling rose immediately. 

How could they not? 

Despite being a first-year head coach then, Branch brought quite an impressive list of accolades to Laramie. 

As a competitor at Oklahoma State, Branch was a four-time NCAA finalist (1994-97) and a two-time NCAA champion — winning it all as a freshman in 1994 and a senior in 1997. During that 1994 season, Branch’s individual efforts also helped OSU win an NCAA team title. 

As an associate head coach alongside the legendary John Smith for six seasons, Branch saw Oklahoma State squads win NCAA team crowns in 2003, 2004 and 2005. 

Branch — now in his 17th year leading the Wyoming program — said his time in Stillwater influenced his tenure in Wyoming “tremendously” and ultimately gave him some of the confidence he needed to take the Wyoming job in the first place.  

“My time as an athlete — and then my time coaching there at Oklahoma State — really kind of set the stage and gave me a foundation to start coaching here (at Wyoming),” Branch said. As a first-time head coach, there was still a lot I didn't know, and I figured that out really quickly on the job, but being around one of the greatest programs in the history of wrestling was something I felt instilled at least enough confidence in me to be able to take this job on and be able to get started.”

Under Branch and his staff, Wyoming wrestling has had nine different Cowboys reach All-American status, including a two-time NCAA finalist in Bryce Meredith. Branch and his staff have also helped 29 conference champions while in Laramie, including 24 Western Wrestling Conference (WWC) champions and five Big 12 Conference champions — one of whom is current 125-pounder Jore Volk, who was a Big 12 champ and All-American last year. 

Dual At The Daddy

It would be an understatement to say that the 2024-25 wrestling season started uniquely. The season began in a rare pre-November dual meet on Halloween night against the SoCon’s Campbell Camels. 

But that was not all.

The dual was at Frontier Park in Cheyenne, a place with deep ties to not only the state of Wyoming but also the sport of rodeo in general. 

On the mat, the Cowboys dominated, winning convincingly, 28-12, avenging a loss to the Camels from the year prior. The Pokes took seven of the dual’s 10 bouts along the way, which included a win by fall at 133 by UW’s Stockton O'Brien against a ranked foe and three-time NCAA qualifier in Domenic Zaccone. Plus, true freshman Eddie Neitenbach showed up in a big way, earning a 12-0 major decision over Cole Rees to widen the deficit. 

Volk (125), Cole Brooks (141), Oklahoma transfer Jared Hill (157), Cooper Voorhees (165), and Joey Novak (197) also started their seasons with wins on opening night.

“I think we started off well in our first couple of competitions,” Branch said. “Campbell has a really solid team; they beat us last year. I felt like we really controlled that dual and did some really good things.”

As for the one-of-a-kind experience itself, Branch was equally impressed by the Dual at the Daddy. 

“I think the biggest thing that jumps out to me is how much my guys enjoy being a part of it, and it's such a different experience for them, and we've been able to rally support and corporate support,” Branch said.  

“… And this is a deal where they walk away with, you know, a $300 cowboy hat, $80 pair of jeans, $150 vest and a unique singlet that Adidas made. So, these guys think these events are special, and they are special, and so I see the joy and the excitement that they have, which is the most rewarding thing for me,” Branch said. 

After Wyoming's dominant showing in nearby Cheyenne, the Cowboys welcomed #1 Western Wyoming Community College, the reigning back-to-back Junior College national champions, to the Uniwyo Sports Complex in Laramie for its home opener. 

The Pokes kept rolling, winning 46-0, with four falls and four wins by major decision. 

Looking Back On The Weekend In Oklahoma

The Division I wrestling season is long. The season is a grind. Inevitably, teams will battle some form of adversity, whether it be injuries, tough losses, or possibly both. 

Branch and the Cowboys hit a bit of a snag on the road last weekend in his native Oklahoma after recording a 2-0 dual meet record, during which the team in brown and gold won 17 of 20 individual bouts to start the season. 

First, on Nov. 22, Wyoming went into historic Gallagher-Iba for the first Oklahoma State home dual meet of the David Taylor Era, which drew a crowd of more than 7,000 on a Friday night. 

The result was not what Branch had hoped for. The #3 Cowboys of Oklahoma State bested Wyoming 32-6, winning eight of the 10 matches. 

A pair of nationally ranked transfers, Gabe Willochell (149) and Hill, put together back-to-back wins in the middle of the dual before intermission. However, a strong second half by the sport’s most dominant program extended the deficit and ultimately put the dual out of reach for the Branch and company. 

“It was disappointing because we had leads at ‘25 and ‘41 that we gave up at the very end,” Branch said of a pair of 7-4 overtime losses — Troy Spratley defeated Jore Volk at 125 and Tagen Jamison downed Cole Brooks at 141. “And so that was frustrating. I feel like we should have won at ‘25. We should have won at ‘41. 

“We wrestled exceptionally well at ‘49 and won that match; we won at ‘57,” Branch continued. “And then we were in matches at ‘84 where, you know, we were, on paper, we were severely outmanned, but the true freshman in a second match (Neitenbach), I mean, he took (NCAA runner-up Dustin) Plott to the wire and had an opportunity to win that.”

Wyoming had a quick turnaround and traveled to Norman for a showdown with a ranked Sooners squad. In Norman, the results were similar. Wyoming fell by a 27-6 margin and dropped eight of 10 individual matches.  

During the dual, Wyoming’s Hill, a former Sooner, won 4-2 against his former school at 157, and Pokes’ sophomore Joey Novak added a tight win, 3-1, over a ranked Sooner foe at 197 in Bradley Hill. 

“Again, I think we could have won at least six matches there (against Oklahoma), but, you know, I think that's a little bit with youth. I think guys need to learn how to win tough matches, tight matches, so that's a great learning experience,” Branch said. “And I look at this whole first semester (as great experience) because we go to Vegas next (for the Cliff Keen Invitational), and then after Vegas, we go up to Penn State. 

“Our first semester is going to be a great challenge but also a great learning experience for our team, and I think there's no doubt that it will benefit us in the second semester.”

Big Expectations For The 2025 Cowboys

Branch did not mince words when he discussed his expectations for the 2025 Wyoming roster, calling it “the best team we've had in several years.” 

Branch also said this year’s is “one of the most talented teams I’ve coached here.”

Sitting at 2-2 one month into the season, Branch is not deterred and will not be hitting the panic button. 

“We may take some lumps, and we may lose some matches that we shouldn't have, just like we saw this (past) weekend, but I definitely have confidence that these experiences are going to help my team compete in the Big 12 and compete in March,” Branch said. “And, you know, it is tough, but I think we can be right there, competitive and in the thick of things.”

At NCAAs in Philadelphia, Branch did not shy away from having high hopes there as well. 

“I think you know our big push is that we can have multiple All-Americans this year, Branch said. “And think we have the guys that are capable of doing that. Obviously, we need to stay healthy and keep developing, but I think we can take the majority of our team to the NCAA tournament. And I think that we have the opportunity to put several guys, two or three guys, at least, on the stand.”

The Big Three Cowboys

For Branch, a trio of Cowboys have stood out — and have emerged as leaders in the room — so far this young season. Their efforts will likely play a big role in righting the ship after the back-to-back Big 12 losses: Volk, a junior and returning All-American; sophomore Novak, who was an impressive 24-14 last year as a true freshman in an ultra-tough weight within the Big 12; and Willochell, a returning NCAA qualifier who has come out strong in this his first year in a new room after transferring in from Edinboro. 

According to FloWrestling’s latest national rankings, all three are rated among the top 21 in their respective weights. All three are also returning NCAA qualifiers, too. 

Branch had this to say of the three pillars of this young but diverse roster — which has student-athletes who hail from 18 different states: 

“Jore (Volk) has a really exceptional work ethic,” Branch said of his light weight. “He's become so much more focused and disciplined with each season that he's had. I mean, as a true freshman, that was something that he was lacking. He was super young, competing as a true freshman, and he really didn't know how to navigate the ins and outs and the week-by-week of Division I wrestling. And that’s something that he became much better at last year, and then this year, he has even solidified that.”

At the other end of the roster, Branch was complimentary of the growth he has seen from Novak, his 197-pounder, who now enters his true sophomore campaign. 

“Joey Novak really came on strong at the end of the year and then showed a lot of maturity over the summer and fall because I think maybe his success surprised him,” Branch said. “I think he was probably selling himself a little short last year, and then he probably realized, once the season was over, he was (probably) like, ‘Holy cow, I was right there, you know, I was right there, competing against the best.”

Branch said he has seen more motivation, maturity, and an increase in toughness from Novak in the room — including some extra workouts and stadium running with his teammate and primary training partner, Neitenbach. 

As for a middleweight who has impressed Branch so far, Willochell earned Branch’s praise for his efforts in Oklahoma last weekend. 

“The two duals we had this weekend, returning NCAA qualifier Gabe Willochell really stands out in his two matches,” Branch said. “He definitely let one slip away at OU, but he probably wrestled the best I've ever seen him wrestle against Oklahoma State.

“And it was the little things that he doesn't always have in practice, and that's kind of a rare thing because I don't know that he has that discipline sometimes in the practice room, but he's listening, he's paying attention, and he's applying it to his competition. He was doing the little things (like) hustling back to the center and not letting his opponent rest or relax. He kept good pressure on the whole time; he chain-wrestled well.”

Peaking In March

Regardless of what the record says after just one month of the 2024-25 season, the wrestlers (and the fans) in Laramie have plenty of reason for optimism and excitement. 

Not only do the Cowboys have some excellent duals, invitationals, and tournaments on the horizon, but they also tend to reserve their best wrestling for the postseason — when the stakes are the highest and the results matter most. 

During the 2024 Big 12 Championships, for instance, Wyoming finished tied for seventh after seven of the 10 Cowboys either outperformed or finished at their projected seed at the conference tournament in Tulsa. Volk was the most impressive of that group, winning his first Big 12 title as the #5 seed at 125 pounds.

“I looked at our Big 12 Tournament last year. We, as a team, placed higher than our seeds, and I think it was like a 15-point differential, and the next, the next highest team was like three or four points in the positive,” Branch said. “So, you know, we outperformed where we were supposed to. 

“… I want to continue that train, but I also want us to be placed higher when we get there. I don't want to be in the basement fighting our way out. We are a team that can be up there getting some respectable seeds and making our path to the end a little easier.” 

Catch Mark Branch and the Wyoming Cowboys in home duals this season live on Flowrestling.