Wyoming

Joe LeBlanc Junior Two-Time All-American

Michael Martinez Junior Two-Time NCAA West Regional Champion

Shane Onufer Junior Two-Time NCAA West Regional Champion

2010-11 Wrestling CowBoy Wrestling

Nov. 13 38th Annual Cowboy Open Laramie, Wyo. 9 a.m. (War Memorial Fieldhouse, Presented by UniWyo Federal Credit Union) Nov. 20 Omaha Open Omaha, Neb. All Day Nov. 21 NWCA All-Star Classic Fresno, Calif. 1 p.m. Dec. 4 Nebraska (Presented by Ford) Laramie, Wyo. 8 p.m. Dec. 16 Oregon State Casper, Wyo. 7 p.m. (Casper College-Erickson Thunderbird Gym, Presented by BlueCross BlueShield of Wyoming) Dec. 19 Reno Tournament of Champions Reno, Nev. All Day Jan. 7-8 31st Annual Virginia Duals Hampton, Va. All Day (Hampton Coliseum, minimum three duals, 16-team bracket, first-round opponent TBA) Jan. 14 Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Calif. TBA Jan. 16 Cal State Fullerton Fullerton, Calif. 2 p.m. Jan. 22 Utah Valley* Orem, Utah 7 p.m. Jan. 28 South Dakota State* Laramie, Wyo. 7 p.m. Jan. 30 North Dakota State* Laramie, Wyo. 1 p.m. Feb. 3 Air Force* Laramie, Wyo. 6:30 p.m. Feb. 9 Northern Colorado* Greeley, Colo. TBA Feb. 11 Oklahoma Norman, Okla. 6 p.m. Feb. 13 Oklahoma State Stillwater, Okla. 1 p.m. Feb. 20 Northern Iowa* Cedar Falls, Iowa 1 p.m. March 6 NCAA West Regional/WWC Championship Colorado Springs, Colo. All Day (Clune Arena) March 17-19 NCAA Championships Philadelphia, Pa. All Day (Wells Fargo Center) *denotes Western Wrestling Conference dual All times listed are Mountain Standard

2010-11 S c hedule UW home dual matches are held in the UniWyo Sports Complex

Wyoming Wrestling Media Information

Table of Contents Quick Facts University of Wyoming School Information 2010-11 Schedule / Team Photo Front Covers Campus Location: Laramie, Wyoming Media Information / Quick Facts 1 Founded: 1886 Nov. 13 38th Annual Cowboy Open Laramie, Wyo. 9 a.m. Season Outlook 2 Enrollment: 13,476 Weight Class / Roster Breakdown 3 (War Memorial Fieldhouse, Nickname: Cowboys, Pokes Cowboy Roster 4 Presented by UniWyo Federal Credit Union) Colors: Brown and Gold Head Coach Mark Branch 5 Home Arena: UniWyo Sports Complex (1,200) Branch / UW Coaching History 6 Nov. 20 Omaha Open Omaha, Neb. All Day Conference: Western Wrestling Conference Assistant Coaches 7 Nov. 21 NWCA All-Star Classic Fresno, Calif. 1 p.m. President: Tom Buchanan Coaches / Support Staff 8 Athletics Director: Tom Burman Dec. 4 Nebraska (Presented by Ford) Laramie, Wyo. 8 p.m. Student-Athlete Bios 9-20 Team Information Dec. 16 Oregon State Casper, Wyo. 7 p.m. Western Wrestling Conference 21 Head Coach: Mark Branch 2009-10 Season Recap 22-23 (Casper College-Erickson Thunderbird Gym, (Oklahoma State ’97) Cowboy All-Americans 24 Presented by BlueCross BlueShield of Wyoming) Head Coach’s Overall Record: 27-6, Third Season UW Hall of Fame 25 Career Record at School: Same Cowboy Conference Champions 26-27 Dec. 19 Reno Tournament of Champions Reno, Nev. All Day Office Phone: 307-766-5382 Wyoming Records 28 st Office Fax: 307-766-2346 Jan. 7-8 31 Annual Virginia Duals Hampton, Va. All Day Cowboy Letterwinners 29-31 Assistant Coaches: Travis Shufelt (Nebraska ‘05) Series Records / Cowboy Wrestling Club 32 (Hampton Coliseum, minimum three duals, 16-team bracket, first-round opponent TBA) Ethan Kyle (Oklahoma St. ‘07) UW Wrestling Facilities 33 Chris Pendleton Jan. 14 Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Calif. TBA Strength and Conditioning 34 2009-10 Dual Record: 12-3 Academic Support 35 Jan. 16 Cal State Fullerton Fullerton, Calif. 2 p.m. 2009-10 WWC Record (Finish): 6-0 (First) UW Traditions 36-37 Jan. 22 Utah Valley* Orem, Utah 7 p.m. 2010 West Regional Finish: First UW Athletics Facilities 38-39 Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 10/4 Jan. 28 South Dakota State* Laramie, Wyo. 7 p.m. The University of Wyoming 40-41 Returning All-Americans: One (Joe LeBlanc - 184, Fourth) Jan. 30 North Dakota State* Laramie, Wyo. 1 p.m. The State of Wyoming 42 Returning NCAA Qualifiers: Three Feb. 3 Air Force* Laramie, Wyo. 6:30 p.m. Laramie, Wyo. 43 (Michael Martinez-125, Shane Onufer-165, Joe LeBlanc-184) Feb. 9 Northern Colorado* Greeley, Colo. TBA NCAA Qualifiers Lost: One (Cory VomBaur - 133) Feb. 11 Oklahoma Norman, Okla. 6 p.m. Credits Media Relations Feb. 13 Oklahoma State Stillwater, Okla. 1 p.m. Wrestling Contact: Andy Chapman or Tim Harkins Thank you to Modern Printing of Laramie, Wyo., who served Office Phone: 307-766-2256 Feb. 20 Northern Iowa* Cedar Falls, Iowa 1 p.m. as the graphic designers of this 2010-11 Wyoming Wrestling Fax: 307-766-2346 March 6 NCAA West Regional/WWC Championship Colorado Springs, Colo. All Day publication. Mailing Address: Dept. 3414, 1000 E. University (Clune Arena) We thank the staff at the University of Wyoming Photo Ave, Laramie, WY, 82071 Service for their outstanding photographs throughout this media March 17-19 NCAA Championships Philadelphia, Pa. All Day Email: [email protected] guide. Also, thanks to Boronis Photography and the UW Media [email protected] (Wells Fargo Center) Relations staff for their photo contributions. Official Web Site: WyomingAthletics.com Thanks to the Wyoming Division of Tourism for the scenic *denotes Western Wrestling Conference dual photos of the state of Wyoming in this publication. All times listed are Mountain Standard This publication was written, edited and designed by UW home dual matches are held in the UniWyo Sports Complex Wyoming Media and Public Relations Assistant Aaron Voos, with Follow Cowboy Wrestling online at additional assistance from the UW Athletics Media and Public WyomingAthletics.com Relations Office. The one place for Wyoming Wrestling news releases, event Media Coverage recaps, schedule, roster, records, historical information, photos and biographical sketches of players and coaches is www.wyomingathletics. Media covering University of Wyoming wrestling events will com. Prospective student-athletes can submit their information to the be accommodated at the press/official scorers table on the north UW coaching staff at this site. side of the UniWyo Sports Complex. Credential requests should Launched in 1998, as the official University of Wyoming Athletics be made at least 24 hours prior to match time, and will be handled website, www.wyomingathletics.com has annually expanded in both by the UW Athletics Media Relations office. Media members will content and usership and boasts a graphic design that is appealing and be admitted with a pass at the UniWyo Sports Complex main user friendly for alumni, students, fans and media. Partnered with CBS entrance on the south side of the gymnasium. Head Coach Mark College Sports, Wyoming's home on the internet has become the one Branch and Cowboy wrestlers will be available for interviews source for all information on UW's 17 NCAA scholarship sports. approximately 10-15 minutes following home matches. CBScollegesports.com is the most–trafficked college sports Web Requests for interviews during the week with UW coaches or site, and its network of 215 official athletic sites for top colleges and wrestlers should be scheduled in advance through the UW Media universities make it the number one online source for college sports original broadband content. Relations Office,(307) 766-2256 or via email at [email protected].

UW Olympic Sport Sponsors Thanks to the following sponsors for their support of Wyoming Cowboy Wrestling:

Wyoming Wrestling Wyoming Wrestling 1 Season Outlook 2010-11 Wyoming Cowboy Wrestling Outlook Often, after a successful year, college teams must reload to make Looking at the rest of the lineup: redshirt freshman Cox should up for the loss of key contributors who have left by way of graduation. entertain UW fans at 125, several guys will factor in at 141, sophomore In 2010-11, the Wyoming Cowboy Wrestling team has not Belleville or senior Cole Dallaserra are solid options at 149, Patrick only replaced their missing components from last year’s squad, but Martinez could turn heads at 165 as a redshirt freshman, junior Dallas they have increased their inventory at nearly every weight class and Hintz or sophomore Michael Poulos should fill in nicely at 174, Helbig expectations continue to rise even higher for the resurgent program. is poised to have a breakout sophomore year at 197 and senior Bubba The Pokes return 10 letterwinners this season, two-time All- McLaughlin will be a threat at heavyweight. American Joe LeBlanc, NCAA qualifiers Michael Martinez and Shane As is customary with Branch’s coaching philosophy, the UW Onufer, and they show a deep roster which includes 11 true freshmen, head man hopes not to have to rely on any true freshmen at any of five redshirt freshmen and multiple transfers. the ten weight classes, giving them the benefit of a redshirt year. Several of the newcomers have the ability to come in and make However several first-year Pokes, such as Mike Hamel (141), Brandon an immediate impact for the UW team. Youngsters such as Jimmy Richardson (149/157) and Zach Zehner (133) will push the older Belleville, Tyler Cox, L.J. Helbig and Patrick Martinez could step onto incumbents at their slots. the national stage this year. When looking at UW’s 2010-11 schedule, a variety of wrestling Mark Branch is in his third year as head coach of a Wyoming styles and competitive surroundings will face the Cowboy Wrestling team that concluded last season by winning its first-ever NCAA West program this coming season. Regional Team Championship, defending its regular-season dual title Keeping with the approach that a high-level of competition will in the Western Wrestling Conference and earning a No. 25 national best prepare the Pokes for the 2011 postseason, Branch has slated a ranking in the National Wrestling Coaches Association/USA Today good mix of tournaments and duals which will challenge his team. poll. Wyoming had an overall season record of 12-3, 6-0 in the WWC. Wyoming will host four duals in Laramie, one of which will be the “We have a lot of unknown variables on our team this year, but I Cornhuskers from Nebraska on Dec. 4, as well as a neutral-site match- feel really good about our potential,” observed Branch. “We’ve got to up against Oregon State in Casper on Dec. 16. take those unknowns that we have and continue to surprise people. UW will also put on their annual home tournament, the Cowboy “When we started this thing two years ago, our priorities were Open on Nov. 13, and is scheduled to dual both Oklahoma and to get the program set in the right direction and establish the way that Oklahoma State on the road in mid-February. the program would be run. We wanted to create fan interest, not only Rounding out their body of work, the Cowboys will participate in within the Wyoming community, but around the national wrestling the prestigious Virginia Duals, Jan. 7-8, as well as nationally renowned community, as well. open tournaments in both Omaha and Reno, Nov. 20 and Dec. 19, “Those are all things that we have accomplished. We have respectively. earned respect from coaches and sports writers around the country “We try to change our schedule up every year so we can expose who are noticing us, but from the very beginning we have talked about our athletes to as many competitive environments as possible,” stated moving to a different level. Branch. “By attending the Virginia Duals this year we will hit some “We want to challenge to bring home trophies from the national teams from the East, and between our home events and the dual with tournament, so when you are talking about that kind of success it is not Oregon State in Casper, our local fans will get to see some top-notch going to happen overnight. There is no doubt that we have raised the wrestling. bar and stepped up to another level, but last year is last year and we “Then, wrestling two Top-10 teams on the road in February will can celebrate it, but we want more.” present the type of atmosphere that we need to prepare for conference A fair amount of success and national recognition during the past and NCAAs.” few years has resulted in preseason team rankings for the Cowboy The Cowboys will have a chance to qualify for the NCAA Wrestling program this year. National Tournament by earning automatic bids at the West Regional Four national, wrestling-specific media organizations have Tournament and WWC Championship, March 6, 2010, in Colorado recently released their preseason lists of the top-25 teams at the Springs, Colo. NCAA DI level, and the Pokes were included in each of those rankings. This year’s NCAA Wrestling Championships will be held March InterMat has the Pokes in a tie for 17th, Amateur Wrestling News 17-19 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pa. ranked Wyoming at No. 22, WIN Magazine placed the Cowboys in a “With our schedule this season, we have the opportunity to go three-way tie for 21st, while The Open Mat web site has UW at No. 22. head-to-head with some of the best schools in the country,” Branch “That is about where I thought we would be to begin this year,” said. “That will show us where we stand and we’ll see if some of the shared Branch. “Rankings are for the fans at this point, so from a fan new faces in our lineup are up to the challenge.” standpoint it’s good to see Wyoming in the Top 25. UW’s head man concluded by saying, “We’ve got to go out and “We have had to work long and hard to get noticed the last earn our place this season, and we certainly don’t want it to be around couple years, and it’s nice to be on the radar from the beginning. I 20th. That is not what we are shooting for. We are aiming higher. think that will help us out. “We want to get into the Top 10 instead of the Top 25, and even “The fact that we’ve earned some respect is good, but now we better. To do that we have stressed the fact that we can’t go to the need to go out and earn a different kind of respect at a higher level. NCAA Tournament and pat ourselves on the back, like that’s a goal We are not just wanting to be in the rankings, we want to be right up that we’ve set for ourselves and that we are happy with that. there with the big boys.” “Probably the biggest disappointment from last season is that Despite the fact that UW returns the majority of its contributors we did not go to that next level, by sending more guys to the NCAA from last season, the Cowboys’ lineup will have a new look this Tournament and performing better at that event. We brought back one season due to some prominent weight changes and the infusion of All-American, and I thought we had the potential to do better than that. several newcomers. “This year, we’ve tried to drive home the idea that becoming an LeBlanc will anchor the Pokes at 184 pounds where his quest for NCAA qualifier should be a given, just a part of the season, not the a national championship will continue in earnest. He is picked in the highlight of the season. If we can sell that frame of mind, you’ll see us preseason polls as the No. 2 wrestler in the nation at that weight, an make the next jump real quick.” unacceptable spot for the driven UW junior. Both Michael Martinez and Onufer, each two-time West Regional champions and two-time NCAA qualifiers, will be making weight class changes this season. Martinez will start the year by moving up a weight class from 125 to 133 pounds, while Onufer will go in the opposite direction and will move down from 165 to 157 pounds. Martinez wrestled his first two seasons at 125, while Onufer has dropped down from 174 as a freshman and 165 as a sophomore.

2 Wyoming Wrestling Weight Class/Roster Breakdown

Weight Class Breakdown 184 - Two-time All-American Joe LeBlanc is back with the goal of winning a national title during his junior year, and he 125 - The Pokes will look to Tyler Cox at this weight to solidifies the upper weights. Anything less than an NCAA title will begin the season, with two-time NCAA qualifier and NCAA West not satisfy LeBlanc, and he will lead the Pokes with his example. Regional champion, junior Michael Martinez, making a jump up to Junior Joe O’Farrell, as well as freshmen Tommy Thoman and 133. Cox wrestles an exciting style and if he can keep his weight Shane Woods are all possibilities here. Both Thoman and Woods up he could provide the front end of a valuable 1-2 punch for the should redshirt. Wyoming lineup. The option remains for Martinez to return to this weight if need be. 197 - Wyoming’s two-year starter at this weight, junior Alfonso Hernandez, had off-season back surgery and will miss 133 - UW lost Cory VomBaur, a four-time NCAA qualifier at most of the season. That leaves an opening that sophomore L.J. this weight to graduation, but the addition of Martinez in this slot Helbig is poised to slide into. Helbig helped the team at 197 and could translate into more team points. Martinez will be the back heavyweight last season, but should benefit from going at this end of two strong weight classes for the Cowboys and his health more natural weight consistently. O’Farrell and true freshman should benefit from the move to a more natural body weight. Leland Pfeifer are also listed at 197. Pfeifer will likely redshirt. Wyoming has much depth at this weight, as sophomore Kasey Garnhart is a valuable option and redshirt freshman Jake Hwt. - UW’s team drastically improves if senior Bubba Eitzen shows promise. Freshman Zach Zehner will likely redshirt, McLaughlin is in the lineup at heavyweight. He is a physical but his talent will be tough to keep off of the mat in the future. force to be reckoned with and possesses all the tools of a true Senior transfer Shane Doughman will look to help the Cowboys heavyweight. However, McLaughlin has yet to be a consistent out in any way he can in the practice room. presence in this spot, as last year he missed time due to academic issues. His ability to fill the big man spot in the lineup could be a 141 - There are a lot of options for the UW coaching staff key to Wyoming’s team success this year. If McLaughlin needs here, beginning with junior Chase Smith, who has two years of a break, any one of the Cowboy 197-pounders could wrestle up starting experience. Smith will be pushed by transfers McCade against smaller opponent heavyweights. Ford and Conrad Snell, as well as redshirt freshman Kyle Komata, who has improved vastly. Ford is leaning toward taking his redshirt season. The wild card at this weight could be true freshman Mike Hamel. As with most true freshmen, the first choice for Hamel Cowboys by Weight might be a redshirt season, however his desire to contribute immediately might earn him some mat time if it is in the best interest of all involved. 125 - Tyler Cox, Michael Martinez 133 - Shane Doughman, Jake Eitzen, Kasey Garnhart, 149 - Senior Cole Dallaserra and sophomore Jimmy Belleville M. Martinez, Zach Zehner give the Pokes two very strong options at this weight. Dallaserra 141 - Eitzen, McCade Ford, Mike Hamel, Kyle Komata, has three years of starting experience, ranging from 141 to 157, Chase Smith, Conrad Snell while Belleville is coming down a weight class after providing UW 149 - Jimmy Belleville, Cole Dallaserra, Brandon with some excitement last year as a true freshman starter at 157. Richardson, C. Smith The competition should be fierce for the starting role, as both Cowboys have good upsides. 157 - Dakota Friesth, Andy McCulley, Shane Onufer, Freshman Brandon Richardson will likely use his redshirt season, Richardson, Trevor Sterling, Robert Stroh and Smith could always wrestle up at this weight if necessary. 165 - Patrick Martinez, Onufer, Joe Raygor 174 - Dallas Hintz, P. Martinez, Michael Poulos 157 - Two-time NCAA qualifier and NCAA West Regional 184 - Joe LeBlanc, Joe O’Farrell, Tommy Thoman, champion junior Shane Onufer will make the move down to Shane Woods 157 this year. Onufer spent his first two years at 174 and 165, 197 - L.J. Helbig, Alfonso Hernandez, O’Farrell, Leland respectively, but has certified at this weight class and feels that he Pfeifer can make a deep NCAA Tournament run here. Behind Onufer are four true freshmen who are on track Hwt - Matthew McLaughlin, Pfeifer to use their redshirt seasons: Dakota Friesth, Andy McCulley, Trevor Sterling and Robert Stroh. All have bright futures, but * Some wrestlers listed at multiple potential weights McCulley has immediately impressed and could push for mat time. Richardson could also factor in at this weight. Cowboys by Year 165 - Talented redshirt freshman Patrick Martinez will be first in line to fill Onufer’s shoes at this weight, and he is looking like a Seniors (3) - Cole Dallaserra, Shane Doughman, capable contributor. Martinez is anxious to show off the fruits of Matthew McLaughlin his redshirt season, and UW’s coaching staff is confident that he Juniors (8) - McCade Ford, Alfonso Hernandez, Dallas can get the job done. Hintz, Joe LeBlanc, Michael Martinez, Joe O’Farrell, Behind Martinez is true freshman Joe Raygor, who will look to Shane Onufer, Chase Smith use his redshirt year, and there is the possibility that Onufer could move back up into this weight class. Sophomores (4) - Jimmy Belleville, Kasey Garnhart, L.J. Helbig, Michael Poulos 174 - Junior Dallas Hintz and sophomore Michael Poulos Redshirt Freshmen (5) - Tyler Cox, Jake Eitzen, Kyle will be the two headliners competing for the starting job at this Komata, Patrick Martinez, Conrad Snell weight class. Hintz has seen limited action in each of the last two Freshmen (11) - Dakota Friesth, Mike Hamel, Andy years, while Poulos missed all of last season while rehabbing a McCulley, Leland Pfeifer, Joe Raygor, Brandon foot injury. Both are eager to prove how they can contribute to Richardson, Trevor Sterling, Robert Stroh, Tommy the team if given an opportunity. Martinez could factor into the Thoman, Shane Woods, Zach Zehner equation here as well.

Wyoming Wrestling Wyoming Wrestling 3 Team Roster

2010-11 Wyoming Cowboy Wrestling Roster

Name Year Weight Hometown (Last School) Jimmy Belleville Sophomore 149 Tumwater, Wash. (Black Hills HS) Tyler Cox RS Freshman 125 Gillette, Wyo. (Campbell County HS) Cole Dallaserra Senior 149 Butte, Mont. (Butte HS) Shane Doughman Senior 133 Spring, Texas (Blinn College, Texas) Jake Eitzen RS Freshman 133 /141 Estes Park, Colo. (Estes Park HS) McCade Ford Junior 141 Payson, Utah (Northwest College, Wyo.) Dakota Friesth Freshman 157 Adel, Iowa (Adel-DeSoto-Minburn HS) Kasey Garnhart Sophomore 133 Ten Sleep, Wyo. (Riverside HS) Mike Hamel Freshman 141 Gilbert, Ariz. (Mesquite HS) Lee (L.J.) Helbig Sophomore 197 Mason, Mich. (Mason HS) Alfonso Hernandez Junior 197 Blackfoot, Idaho (Blackfoot HS) Dallas Hintz Junior 174 Ephrata, Wash. (Ephrata HS) Kyle Komata RS Freshman 141 Woodinville, Wash. (Woodinville HS) Joe LeBlanc Junior 184 Meeker, Colo. (Meeker HS) Michael Martinez Junior 125/133 Pagosa Springs, Colo. (Pagosa Springs HS) Patrick Martinez RS Freshman 165/174 Hemet, Calif. (Temecula Valley HS) Andy McCulley Freshman 157 Rock Springs, Wyo. (Rock Springs HS) Matthew (Bubba) McLaughlin Senior Hwt. Murphysboro, Ill. (Rend Lake College, Ill.) Joe O’Farrell Junior 184/197 Greeley, Colo. (University HS) Shane Onufer Junior 157/165 Auburn, Wash. (Auburn HS) Leland Pfeifer Freshman 197/Hwt. Hulett, Wyo. (Hulett HS) Michael Poulos Sophomore 174 Laramie, Wyo. (Laramie HS) Joe Raygor Freshman 165 St. Croix Falls, Wis. (St. Croix Falls HS) Brandon Richardson Freshman 149/157 Rathdrum, Idaho (Lakeland HS) Chase Smith Junior 141 Enumclaw, Wash. (Enumclaw HS) Conrad Snell RS Freshman 141 Poway, Calif. (UC Davis) Trevor Sterling Freshman 157 Altus, Okla. (Altus HS) Robert Stroh Freshman 157 Harlem, Mont. (Chinook HS) Tommy Thoman Freshman 184 Green River, Wyo. (Green River HS) Shane Woods Freshman 184 Tuttle, Okla. (Tuttle HS) Zach Zehner Freshman 133 Tomahawk, Wis. (Tomahawk HS)

Note: RS identifies a student-athlete that has used their redshirt year the previous season.

Head Coach: Mark Branch (Oklahoma State ‘97), Third Season

Assistant Coaches: Travis Shufelt (Nebraska ‘05), Third Season Ethan Kyle (Oklahoma State ‘07), Second Season Chris Pendleton, First Season

Cowboy Wrestling Club Coach: Alex Rieder Student Managers: Tyler Davis, Paolo Ornelaz

4 Wyoming Wrestling Head Coach Mark Branch Head Coach (Oklahoma State ‘97) Third Year at Wyoming (27-6, 11-0 WWC)

Mark Branch enters his third season as the leader of the Wyoming Cowboy Wrestling team in 2010-11 and the program has shown dramatic signs of improvement under his direction. UW enters the season ranked as high as No. 17 in various preseason polls. The Pokes are the odds-on- favorite to again win the Western Wrestling Conference, and they have the potential to make a dramatic jump in the standings at the NCAA Tournament. In 2009-10, Branch directed the Cowboy wrestlers to the West Regional team title over the 24-time defending champion Northern Iowa Panthers. The come-from-behind championship is Wyoming’s first-ever West Regional team title and UW’s first tournament conference championship since 1992. Wyoming had a successful dual season in 2009-10, winning the Western Wrestling Conference regular-season dual title for the second straight year with an overall season record to 12-3 and a WWC record of 6-0. The Pokes beat both Nebraska and Northern Iowa, and ended the regular season ranked No. 25 in the nation in the National Wrestling Coaches’ Association/USA Today Coaches’ poll. In each of his first two seasons at Wyoming, Branch had four individual wrestlers qualify for the NCAA Championships. Joe LeBlanc earned All-America honors as a sophomore by finishing fourth at the 2010 NCAA Championships at 184 pounds. As a freshman in 2009, he placed fifth at the NCAAs in the same weight class, becoming the first freshman in Wyoming wrestling history to earn All-America honors. Wyoming has not lost a WWC dual since Mark Branch took over as head coach. The Pokes are 11-0 during those two years. Branch was named the 2010 West Region Coach of the Year by D1CollegeWrestling.net and during the spring of 2010 he signed a contract extension to remain at UW through 2013. Following his first season at Wyoming in 2009, Branch was named WWC Coach of the Year, the West Region Coach of the Year by D1CW and the Top Rookie Coach in the nation by Amateur Wrestling News. “Mark (Branch) has done an excellent job of building an entire program, while at the same time exciting our fan base and building support around the state of Wyoming,” said UW Athletics Director Tom Burman. “And he has built our wrestling program into a successful one in a relatively short period of time.” In his first season, Branch led Wyoming to a share of the 2009 WWC regular season title with a perfect 5-0 dual record in league matches. The Cowboys posted a 15-3 overall dual mark in 2008-09. Branch also oversaw a squad that earned nine all-WWC honors in 2008-09, the most of any WWC member institution. He was nominated by his peers to be a part of the 2009 National Wrestling Coaches Association Leadership Academy Class. On July 14, 2008, Mark Branch was selected as the 14th head coach in the rich history of the University of Wyoming Wrestling program. Branch came to Wyoming from Oklahoma State University where he was the Associate Head Wrestling Coach for six years, as well as a four-time NCAA finalist as a student-athlete. He was a part of five NCAA team championships as a coach and student-athlete at OSU. As a college wrestler, Branch was a member of OSU’s 1994 NCAA Championship team, and served on the coaching staff for OSU’s 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 NCAA titles. As a student-athlete at OSU, Branch was a four-time NCAA All-American (1994-97), four-time NCAA National Finalist (1994-97), two-time NCAA National Champion at 167 pounds (1994 and ‘97) and a two-time National Freestyle All-American (1998 and ‘99). In 1997, he was named the Big XII Athlete of the Year, OSU Student-Athlete of the Year and the top graduating senior for OSU Wrestling. He was a four-time NWCA Academic All-American, received an NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship Award and a Big XII Post-Graduate Scholarship Award. As a member of the OSU coaching staff, Branch was named the National Wrestling Coaches’ Association (NWCA) Assistant Coach of the Year in 2004. He helped coach OSU to seven Big XII Championships, four NCAA Championships and three Dual Team Championships. He was named the Associate Head Coach at OSU in 2002 and served as an assistant coach for five years prior to that. He coached 57 All-Americans and 16 NCAA Champions. He provided the Cowboys from Stillwater with personal and team instruction including technique training, weight training, conditioning and nutrition. He was instrumental in the recruiting of student-athletes to Stillwater, as well as organizing fundraising projects, promotional strategies and assisting in public relations functions with student-athletes. “For me, this is the realization of my goal to become an NCAA head coach,” said Branch. “I’m from a competitive background, and I was looking for a place where I could build a nationally-competitive program. I believe there The Branch Family: (L to R) Mason, Maggie, Susan and Mark

Wyoming Wrestling Wyoming Wrestling 5 Head Coach/UW Coaching History

is a great deal of support from the Athletic Department and the University as a whole at Wyoming. Wyoming is the right program for me and the right fit for my family. I appreciate the confidence that Tom Burman and Matt Whisenant (UW Deputy Athletics Director) have shown in me to get the job done.” Branch has been a freestyle wrestling coach for the Gator Club in New Orleans, La., since 1997 where he provides personal instruction and training in freestyle wrestling. His teams have participated at various World Team training camps. He has coached at the U.S. Nationals and World/Olympic Team Trials. Branch earned his bachelor of science degree in secondary education from Oklahoma State in 1997 and earned his master of science degree in athletic administration from OSU in 2000. “I wouldn’t be in this position if it weren’t for the opportunities I was given at my alma mater, Oklahoma State,” said Branch. “I learned from John Smith (Head Wrestling Coach at OSU and six-time World Champion) and was fortunate to be part of a college wrestling program where I consistently coached and developed All-Americans, National Champions and Olympians. Now I’m excited to build on the great tradition of Wyoming Cowboy wrestling.” A native of Newkirk, Okla., he and his wife Susan have a daughter, Maggie Belle (9), and a son, Mason Layne (6).

Mark Branch’s Coaching Philosophy “My team is expected to believe in me and what I am telling them. We train for a specific reason and that is to improve throughout the year, learn from both wins and losses and be at our best in March. I teach my guys to be technically sound. I want the team to be in good physical condition heading into the season. As our season progresses, we will focus on skill and technique while making constant strides in improving our physical strength and conditioning. It’s important to keep mental focus all year. We want to be in peak condition at the right time, and that is at the end of the season. “I expect my student-athletes to emphasize getting their degree and becoming a better wrestler and person. I demand a lot out of those areas. There are academic standards that we hold the team to internally and we demand that they excel in the classroom. “As a program we will reach out, connect with former wrestlers and alumni, make sure they are around and a part of this program. We want their support any way we can get it. It will strengthen us to have the current wrestlers realize that the tradition here at Wyoming goes way back and those guys are still around. I’ve asked them to help with training opportunities outside of what I can provide via the Cowboy Wrestling Club.”

Mark Branch is the 14th head coach in the history of Wyoming Cowboy Wrestling.

Wyoming Wrestling Coaching History

Head Coach Dual Record Years Grover Titus 0-1 (.000) 1922 (1) James Lynch 2-1-3 (.333) 1923-25 (3) Jack Lynch 5-4 (.555) 1926-27, 1933 (3) Tony Bennett 0-2 (.000) 1930 (1) Clarence Raisch 2-4 (.333) 1931-32 (2) Lloyd Grow 0-8 (.000) 1934-36 (3) Everett Lantz 141-75-9 (.626) 1937-43, ‘47-52, ‘54-65 (25) Harry Magnus* 1-3 (.250) 1946 (1) Glenn Magnus** 6-3 (.666) 1953 (1) Joe McDaniel 71-59-4 (.514) 1966-73 (8) Joe Dowler 105-62-3 (.618) 1974-87 (14) Scott Bliss 16-10 (.615) 1988-89 (2) As head coach, Joe Dowler led the Steven Suder 127-136-2 (.483) 1990-2008 (19) Cowboys to three conference titles. He is pictured after his team won Mark Branch 27-6-0 (.818) 2009-Present (2) the 1985 WAC Championship. Totals 503-374-21

There was no Wrestling at Wyoming from 1944-45 due to World War II. *Harry Mangus was acting head coach in 1946 while Everett Lantz served in the United States Navy. **Glenn Mangus served as head coach in 1953 while Everett Lantz was on a year sabbatical leave.

6 Wyoming Wrestling Cowboy Coaching Staff Travis Shufelt Assistant Coach (Nebraska ‘05) Third Year (Fifth with Wyoming program)

Travis Shufelt begins his third year as a full-time assistant coach with the Wyoming Cowboys in 2010-11. From 2006-08 he served as a volunteer assistant coach for two years. Shufelt was a stellar collegiate wrestler at the University of Nebraska from 2000-05. He was an All-American as a junior and a team captain as a senior. At 149 pounds, Shufelt was a four-time National Qualifier and a two-time Big 12 runner-up. He placed seventh at the NCAA Tournament in 2004 and earned All-America honors. As a junior, he was the Las Vegas Invite Champion and was the outstanding wrestler at the Virginia Duals. He has served as an instructor and clinician at camps throughout the United States, teaching fundamentals of the sport. Shufelt earned his bachelors of science degree in community health education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in August of 2005. Shufelt also had an impressive prep career at Oconto High School in Oconto, Wis. He collected three state championships and has the record for most wins in a career and a season. Shufelt was the team MVP, Wrestler of the Year, and First Team All-Conference his freshman through senior years. Born September 22, 1981, in Green Bay, Wis., Travis is one of two children of Dennis and Debi Shufelt. He is married to the former Jenny Routheau and they have a baby girl, Tatum Ruth, born July 14, 2010.

Ethan Kyle Assistant Coach (Oklahoma State ‘07) First Year (Second with Wyoming program)

Ethan Kyle is entering his first year as a full-time assistant coach with the wrestling program at the University of Wyoming. Last season, he served as the head coach for the Cowboy Wrestling Club and as a volunteer assistant coach for the UW team. Kyle wrestled collegiately at 133/141 for the Oklahoma State Cowboys from 2003-07 under, then OSU assistant coach and current UW head coach, Mark Branch. He was a member of OSU’s four national championship teams from 2003-06 and was a team captain in 2007 as a senior. Kyle took fourth place at the Big XII tournament as a junior and was an Olympic Team training partner in 2004. Excelling in the classroom, he was a four-time member of the Big XII Honor Roll and was the Most Outstanding Wrestling Academics Senior at OSU in 2007. He earned his bachelors of science degree in physical education from Oklahoma State in 2007, and is currently taking classes at UW towards a master’s degree in kinesiology and health. Kyle is annually a summer camp clinician at events nationwide and was a Gator Club Freestyle coach from 2008-09. As a prep student-athlete in St. Charles, Mo., at Francis Howell High School, he was a three-time Missouri State Champion, a High School All- American (Wrestling USA), a Junior National All-American in Greco and a Cadet National All-American, both Freestyle and Greco. Kyle is 26 years old and was born on November 29, 1983, in St. Louis, Mo. His parents are Ed and Tina Kyle, and he has two siblings, an older brother Alex and an older sister Amanda.

Wyoming Wrestling Wyoming Wrestling 7 Cowboy Coaching Staff/Support Staff Chris Pendleton Cowboy Wrestling Club Head Coach Volunteer Assistant Coach First Year at Wyoming

Chris Pendleton is entering his first year as an assistant with the wrestling program at the University of Wyoming. He will serve as the head coach for the Cowboy Wrestling Club and as a volunteer assistant coach for the UW team. Pendleton is a two-time NCAA Champion and three-time All-American, who brought instant name recognition to the UW Wrestling program when Wyoming head coach Mark Branch announced that he would be joining the UW staff on July 1, 2010. “Chris has an outstanding wrestling pedigree and will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our upper weights,” Branch said. “He is one of the best technicians in the country, and he has a passion for coaching. He has trained with some of the best wrestlers in the country, and has coached some very successful athletes. I know he will do great things with our team.” A Lemoore, Calif., product, Pendleton won NCAA titles at 174 pounds in 2004 and 2005 and was a three-time collegiate All- American (2003-05) while competing for the Oklahoma State Cowboys. He was a member of the OSU squad from 2001-05 while Branch was the associate head coach for the program. Pendleton defeated future two-time NCAA champion and Dan Hodge Trophy winner Ben Askren of Missouri for both of his titles. He was a leader on three Oklahoma State NCAA championship teams (2003-05), compiled a 118-12 record (91% winning percentage) as a collegian and was a 2006 USA National Team member. He was a two-time Big 12 individual champion, claiming titles in 2003 and 2005. Pendleton also won the 145-pound California State Championship in his senior year at Lemoore High School. Pendleton served as a volunteer assistant coach for OSU in 2009-10. He is the son of Bill Pendleton and Lisa Cervantes. He has two younger brothers, Willy and Jacob. Chris was born January 21, 1982.

UW Athletics Mission Statement

The mission of the University of Wyoming Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is to provide an environment in which student-athletes complete their undergraduate college education and achieve athletics success at the highest possible level. As Wyoming’s only four-year University, we are committed to offering a first-class competitive athletics program at the NCAA Division IA level that promotes the values of the state and assists in carrying out the overall University of Wyoming mission.

Cowboy Tough - The Tradition Continues

The University of Wyoming has had its share of wrestling sucess; 25 All-Americans, 164 conference champions and 21 conference team championships. The 2010 postseason marked the 36th consecutive year a Cowboy wrestler has competed at the NCAA Championships. Since 1974, the Wyoming Cowboy wrestling program has sent 153 participants to the highest stage of collegiate competition.

Cowboy Wrestling Support Staff

Tom Buchanan Tom Burman Andy Chapman Tyler Davis UW President UW Athletics Director Media Relations Student Manager

Rodney Floyd Tim Harkins Rob Hartman Jon Lenze Academic Coordinator Media Relations Strength & Conditioning Athletic Trainer

Jill Malloy Paolo Ornelaz Alex Rieder Matt Whisenant Office Assoc. Student Manager Cowboy Wrestling Club Deputy A.D.

8 Wyoming Wrestling The Cowboys

Jimmy Belleville Tyler Cox Sophomore - 149 pounds Redshirt Freshman - 125 pounds Tumwater, Wash. Gillette, Wyo. Black Hills High School Campbell County High School

2010-11: In his second year with 2010-11: As just a redshirt the program, Jimmy Belleville will be freshman, Cox will enter the season returning to 149 pounds after being as the starter at 125 pounds for the thrust into a starting role last year to Cowboys. He steps into the lead role fill a team need at 157. Despite an up after the incumbent for the last two and down first season, the experience seasons, junior Michael Martinez, will helped to accelerate his wrestling begin the year at 133. maturity and Belleville will benefit from that this year. Cox, from Gillette, Wyo., features an exciting style with a He is an exciting wrestler to watch, who likes to throw wide array of big moves, which will be fun for UW fans to watch. opponents to their back and he is developing into a young leader He brings instant enthusiasm to the team and should create on the mat for the Pokes. momentum at the start of events. When paired with Martinez at There is a lot of talent on the Cowboy team at the middle 133, he gives the team a solid 1-2 punch. weights and Belleville will be pushed for a starting position by One concern for Cox could be maintaining his weight for the multiple teammates. He and senior Cole Dallaserra will be the long college season, after competing at lighter weights during his likely candidates for that top spot. stellar junior career. Belleville comes to Wyoming from Washington state, one of He is one of six Wyoming squad members who have five Cowboys on the roster from that area. remained in their home state to wrestle collegiately. 2009-10: After taking his redshirt off part way through the 2009-10: With Martinez solidly in place at 125, Cox redshirted season, Belleville was on the cusp at the end of the year of making in his initial year with the Cowboy program. In open events, he it to the NCAA Tournament. His freshman season ended at the racked up a 20-4 record, with five pins, three technical falls and NCAA West Regional, where he placed third in the 157-pound five major decisions. weight class by beating 2010 All-American Justin Gaethje from He was named Outstanding Wrestler in the amateur division Northern Colorado. of the Cowboy Open. In addition to that win, he placed first at the Belleville began the season at 149 pounds and wrestled Northwest Wyoming event and the Utah Valley Open, where he open events at that weight, as well as 157, before jumping into was also the OW. the Cowboy starting lineup on Jan. 15. In that dual, he narrowly High School: A four-time Wyoming state champion at lost to Gaethje (6-4), but in his next match, two days later against Campbell County High School, he has a career high school record Nebraska, Belleville got a huge pin for his team against Tyler of 161-2, undefeated as a sophomore and junior. Cox won the 4A Koehn. Two weeks later, he recorded a fall against Northern state title at 112 pounds his last three years and earned the top Iowa’s Tyson Reiner, propelling the Pokes to another huge dual spot at 103 pounds as a freshman. victory. He is a two-time FILA World Team member and wrestled His overall season record was 31-8, with nine pins. Belleville in the Junior World Championships in Beijing in 2007. Cox won was 6-4 in the Western Wrestling Conference and placed first at the 110-pound division at the High School National Wrestling the Northwest Wyoming tournament, as well as the Utah Valley Championships in 2008. Open. He was second at the Cowboy Open (amateur). Heavily recruited, Cox chose UW over Minnesota and High School: Jimmy attended Black Hills High School in multiple other schools. He also lettered in football as a sophomore Tumwater, Wash., where he is a four-time state champion. He and junior. left high school with a record of 166-8, 42-2 as a senior. As a He was the 2009 Wyoming Sports Hall of Fame Athlete of the freshman his state title was at 103 pounds, 125 as a sophomore, Year. 145 as a junior and his senior year he won at 160 pounds. Personal: Tyler is one of three children of Richard and Jodie Belleville was the Freestyle Junior National runner-up in 2008. Cox. His older sister is Kristy and his older brother is Brandon. Personal: Jimmy is a social science major at UW. He was born Dec. 15, 1990 in Glendale, Ariz. Tyler is a criminal justice major at UW.

Wyoming Wrestling Wyoming Wrestling 9 The Cowboys

Cole Dallaserra Jake Eitzen Senior - 149 pounds Redshirt Freshman Butte, Mont. 133/141 pounds Butte High School Estes Park, Colo. Estes Park High School 2010-11: Dallaserra is one of two seniors who will compete for the Pokes 2010-11: Eitzen will start the year this year and he is the returning starter at on the shelf due to a knee injury, but 149 pounds. He has been in the starting when he returns to the mat he could lineup for UW in each of his first three be a factor on the UW team as just a years, hopefully saving his best for last. redshirt freshman at either 133 or 141 A tough, hard-working competitor, pounds. Dallaserra put in a good summer of work prior to his senior season, He matured last year and gained confidence to go along with but needs to be mentally strong if he wants his final collegiate year to be memorable. He is a good team leader and a positive example in his talent. Jake is starting to feel comfortable with the style he will many ways. wrestle. He brings a lot to the team with his great attitude and is Cole will benefit from some added team depth at his weight the squad’s SAAC representative. and he will be pushed, which should bring out his best. Last year’s Eitzen is one of four Colorado wrestlers on UW’s roster. 157-pound starter, sophomore Jimmy Belleville, will challenge 2009-10: Eitzen used his redshirt season and got better as Dallaserra at 149 pounds. the year progressed. He competed unattached and had a record He has a career record of 59-33 with 15 wins by way of fall. of 14-7, with four falls. Jake placed second at the UNK Loper 2009-10: Dallaserra pushed through an injury-hampered junior Open as well as the Utah Valley Open, and third at the UNC Open. season as UW’s starter at 149 pounds and still managed a 20-12 record High School: Eitzen is a Colorado state champion from Estes with five falls. He moved up a weight class from the previous year. Park High School. Including his state title as a junior, he placed Cole started the year strong by finishing first at the Cowboy all four times at the state tournament, runner-up as a freshman, Open, then got big wins for his team in the home duals against third as a senior and sixth as a sophomore. His record as a senior Oklahoma State and Utah Valley. At the Reno Tournament of was 44-2 and he ended high school with a Colorado state record Champions, Dallaserra pinned No. 20-ranked Nick Stabile of North for most career wins, 162. Eitzen was the 2008 Colorado State Carolina. Freestyle and Greco-Roman champion. A good student, he was Unfulfilled at the end of the season, Cole placed fourth at the NCAA West Regional. named Academic All-State as a junior and senior, as well as an He earned the top academic honor in the league for his work in NHSGA Academic All-American. Eitzen was also a three-year the classroom, being named to the WWC All-Academic team. letterwinner on the Estes Park H.S. football team. He chose to 2008-09: Dallaserra had a successful second season as the attend UW over several other colleges, including Oregon State. starter for the Pokes at 141 pounds. Despite health issues with his Personal: Jacob Michael Eitzen was born on June 5, 1991 knee at the end of the season he placed third at the West Regional in Overland Park, Kan. His father is Mike, mother is Kris and he Tournament and garnered Third Team All-WWC honors. has one younger brother, Zach. Mike Eitzen played baseball and His overall record was 24-13, 6-2 in the WWC and 11-7 in rugby at the University of Wyoming in the mid-80’s. Jake is a duals. That record included seven pins and six major decisions. He marketing major at UW. placed second at the Cowboy Open. A good student, he was named to the WWC Coaches’ Honor Roll. 2007-08: Dallaserra performed as hoped in his redshirt freshman season and started duals at both 141 and 149 pounds. McCade Ford He finished the season as the starter at 149 and had an overall Junior - 141 pounds record of 15-8 record with three pins. Payson, Utah Dallaserra placed third at the West Regional Tournament and earned Third Team All-WWC honors. He won the Freshmen of Northwest College, Wyo. the Year team award, as well as the Cowboy-up team award. Cole placed sixth at the Reno Tournament of Champions and had a good 2010-11: McCade Ford transferred dual meet record, 5-3. to UW from Northwest College in 2006-07: Dallaserra used the year as his redshirt season. In Powell, Wyo., and will be a junior this open matches he finished with a record of 3-1. year. He may choose to use his redshirt High School: Dallaserra was a four-time Montana state season to improve and be at his best at champion wrestler at Butte High School and the team captain his this level. senior season. He posted an impressive 140-13 career record He has shown a lot of promise to and his team captured the Montana State Championship in 2003. the UW coaching staff at 141 pounds and is a quick learner. Ford Dallaserra also played football his junior and senior years. put in a summer’s worth of hard work prior to the season and he Personal: Born October 24, 1987 in Butte, Mont., Cole is could give the Pokes big things in the future. the only son of Jim and Peggy Dallaserra. His college major is He is one of 14 new guys to the program. rangeland ecology and watershed management. 2008-10: Ford wrestled the past two years for the Northwest College Trappers under head coach Jim Zeigler. During those seasons, Ford was a two-time NJCAA All-American at 141 pounds, placing eighth in 2009 and fifth in 2010. No stranger to UW’s home mats, he wrestled in both Northwest’s dual against the Cowboys last November, as well as the 2008 and 2009 Cowboy Opens in Laramie. Ford placed fourth at the Cowboy Open as a freshman in the Amateur Division and second as a sophomore. High School: Ford hails from Payson, Utah where he was a Utah High School State Champion in 2008 at Payson High School. Personal: McCade’s parents are Shayne and Robbie Ford and he has two siblings, a brother named Cole and a sister named Ciara. His field of study at UW is sociology.

10 Wyoming Wrestling The Cowboys

Dakota Friesth Kasey Garnhart Freshman - 157 pounds Sophomore - 133 pounds Adel, Iowa Ten Sleep, Wyo. Adel-DeSoto-Minburn High School Riverside High School

2010-11: Dakota Friesth 2010-11: Garnhart gained a lot of (pronounced: FREE-is-th) has been experience last year and is a valuable a pleasant recruiting surprise for the team member who will definitely see Pokes out of Iowa. He is a good pick mat time as a sophomore, maybe at a up out of a rare recruiting area for the couple different weights. program. A natural 133-pounder, he is a hard Friesth liked what he saw when he worker who never complains. When put visited UW and has found a place on the team as a hard-working into the lineup, he will compete against anyone and give a tough, competitor. As with most freshmen, he will likely redshirt as he hard-fought match. develops the confidence that he belongs in an elite group. Friesth Garnhart inspires the team, even in losses, and has shown has shown early on that he has the ability to wrestle with anyone in the UW coaching staff a lot, earning their respect. He has a the country and he could be an impact guy in the future for UW. compact and powerful body type, which has proven to give Dakota is one of 11 incoming freshman and he will wrestle at opponents a difficult time. 157 pounds this year. Kasey is one of six Wyoming natives on the roster. High School: Friesth attended Adel-DeSoto-Minburn High 2009-10: In his redshirt freshman year, Garnhart competed School where he placed fifth at the state tournament as both a at three different weight classes for the Pokes; 133, 141 and 149 junior and senior. His high school record during those two years pounds. When asked to step into the lineup above his natural was 81-10 and he was conference champion as a senior. He was weight, he competed hard at the higher weights and helped the an Honor Roll student all four years and also played soccer as a team succeed, including winning the 2010 WWC Regular Season senior. Dual team title. Personal: Dakota was born in Ames, Iowa, on Nov. 5, 1991. Garnhart’s overall record was 17-15 and he had two wins by He is one of five children of Greg Friesth and Charlotte Jensen. fall. He placed third at the Northwest Wyoming Open and a very His siblings are Brittany, Casey, Even and Anna. Dakota is respectable fifth at Reno. studying criminal justice at UW. 2008-09: Garnhart used his redshirt year and was 17-10 wrestling unattached at 133 pounds. He had two pins and two major decisions. His highest tournament finish was third at the Cowboy Open. High School: Garnhart is a four-time Wyoming state Mike Hamel champion. He was also named All-State, All-Conference and Freshman - 141 pounds was his team’s captain for all four years at Riverside High Gilbert, Ariz. School. Kasey won the Rocky Mountain Nationals High School Mesquite High School Tournament and was the 2005 Wyoming Cadet Champion. Garnhart also was a two-time football captain and an All-State 2010-11: Hamel comes to the UW football player. He excelled in the classroom by being named to team from Gilbert, Ariz., but he grew up the National Honor Society and the National Honor Roll. Garnhart in Gillette, Wyo., and is familiar with the was a member of the Student Council all four years, treasurer of program. the FCCLA and the Vice President of FFA. He is hungry to compete at 141 Personal: Kasey was born on August 15, 1989, in Casper, pounds for the Pokes and gives the Wyo. He is the son of Rick and Janie Garnhart, and has an older team some options, but won’t be rushed sister, Kelsey. Kasey is majoring in social sciences at UW. onto the collegiate level and should be able to redshirt this season. Hamel has an outgoing personality, loves the sport of wrestling and will be a tough competitor for UW for the next several years. Wyoming fans will enjoy watching him develop. He is one of the eleven incoming freshmen to the program. High School: After placing fifth as a freshman and third as a sophomore, Hamel was the 2009 Arizona State 5A High School Champion at 130 pounds for Mesquite High School as a junior. He then went on to go undefeated as a senior and win his second state title as a senior, this time at 140 pounds. Hamel was an Arizona National Team member in 2008 and was an All-State selection as a sophomore, junior and senior. Personal: Michael was born in Gillette, Wyo., on August 12, 1992. His mother is Gina Gagich and his father is Wyoming’s All-Time Pins leader Mike Hamel. The elder Hamel lettered at UW from 1983-86, was a two-time WAC champion and had 61 career pins. Michael is a communications major at UW.

Wyoming Wrestling Wyoming Wrestling 11 The Cowboys

Lee (L.J.) Helbig Alfonso Hernandez Sophomore - 197 pounds Junior - 197 pounds Mason, Mich. Blackfoot, Idaho Mason High School Blackfoot High School

2010-11: As a sophomore, Helbig is 2010-11: Hernandez started his first on track to be the Cowboys’ starter at 197 two seasons at 197 pounds for the Pokes, pounds. He is a versatile, strong athlete but he will begin this year on the sidelines who should see lots of mat time due to as he works to rehab his back following two-year starter Alfonso Hernandez being off-season surgery. out with a back injury. The UW coaching staff is not going L.J. made a name for himself in to rush him back into the lineup and he still has a redshirt year available. The the program by filling in at heavyweight last year, so this could be a focus this season will be to get him healthy. Fonz has battled for the coming-out party at 197 for him and it will be interesting to see how team over the last two years and all involved want to make sure he he does. finishes his career on a high note. He will likely have to wait a year to 2009-10: During his redshirt freshman year, Helbig competed challenge for a conference title and an NCAA berth. at both 197 pounds and heavyweight, but it was his contributions Alfonso is a mature collegiate wrestler with a two-year record of at the big-man weight class after the first of the year that made his 45-34 and four total falls. season a memorable one. 2009-10: Hernandez started for his second straight year and Entering the final matches at the 2010 NCAA West Regional saw action as a sophomore at both 197 and heavyweight. He in the heavyweight division, the Pokes trailed the Northern Iowa continued to improve and his overall season record was 22-16. Panthers by a half point. The Panther’s Christian Brantley won his The 2010 NCAA West Regional was bittersweet for Hernandez. match, but so did UW’s Helbig, only Helbig pinned his opponent He entered the event seeded No. 2 at 197, but suffered a shocking which gave Wyoming the necessary bonus points to jump in front loss in the opening round. Alfonso battled back in the consolation of UNI to end the night, sealing the team title for Wyoming. Helbig bracket with his first pin of the season, then followed that up with his placed third at the event. second win by fall of the year. Having seen his chances of qualifying L.J. finished the year with a 20-15 record, five of those wins for nationals go south in the first round, a frustrated Hernandez then came by way of fall. He started the season by placing first at the beat No. 3 seed Dustin Bauman (UNI) by decision, 9-3. He placed Northwest Wyoming Open at 197. Helbig had three dual wins at third with the win and won the tournament’s Most Pins award. Those back-draw wins and the bonus points he scored were heavyweight, helping his team fill a void, and he had an overall vital to the Pokes winning the 2010 West Regional team title. record of 6-3 against Western Wrestling Conference opponents. Hernandez also played a big part in UW winning the 2010 Western South Dakota State’s Tyler Sorenson was ranked No. 10 in the Wrestling Conference Regular Season Dual team title. country at 197 when he faced Helbig in Reno. Helbig would beat He placed third at the Cowboy Open and sixth at Reno. Sorenson, 6-5. Named to the WWC All-Academic team, Hernandez posted a He was a huge factor in helping his team win the 2010 West perfect 4.0 GPA in the spring of 2010. Regional team title, as well as the 2010 WWC Regular Season Dual 2008-09: A raw talent, Hernandez was immediately thrust into team title. the Cowboy line-up at 197 pounds as a true freshman. He placed 2008-09: Helbig was impressive at 184 pounds as a redshirt third at the West Regional tournament, earning Third Team All-WWC freshman, going 22-8 in open events. He posted six wins by fall and honors, and forced a true second place match for a trip to the NCAA three by major decision. Tournament, losing in a The highlight of the year for Helbig was when he won the competitive effort. amateur division at the Cowboy Open, with three wins by fall and His overall record one by major decision. He also placed second at the Utah Valley was 23-19, 8-8 in duals Open and fourth at the Omaha Open. and 3-4 in the WWC. High School: Helbig was a two-time Michigan State Hernandez recorded two Champion, going undefeated both his senior and freshman seasons pins, four major decisions at Mason High School. and got a key win for the Cowboys against Cal State He was a NHSCA Sr. Fullerton (6-3) to help All-American and took secure a team dual win. first place at the NHSCA He was diligent in National Championships the classroom at UW, in Myrtle Beach S.C., as being named to the WWC well as being named a Coaches’ Honor Roll. two-time Mid-Michigan High School: Dream Team selection. Hernandez was a two-time Prior to his senior year, Idaho state champion, Helbig was ranked #1 in once at 189 and once at the state of Michigan and 215. He placed fifth as a #14 in the nation at 189 sophomore and took third pounds. He helped lead at the Junior Nationals Mason to back-to-back in Virginia Beach, Va. state championships, the Hernandez was a NHSCA first time in school history. Jr. All-American. As a senior, Alfonso was ranked as high as sixth in the nation by Intermat.com and collected 106 wins in his high school Personal: Helbig career. He only began wrestling as a freshman. Hernandez was a was born on July 28, 1989 four-time letterwinner in wrestling, three-time letterwinner in track in Lansing, Mich. He has and a two-time letterwinner in football at Blackfoot High School. He an older sister, Brianna, graduated with a 3.7 GPA, was a member of the National Honor and his parents are Dave Society and was Student Body Activity Manager. and Leesa. L.J. is a social Personal: Alfonso was born on Nov. 24, 1989. He is the son of science major at UW. He Alfonso Hernandez and Lori Galvan. He married his wife Stephanie has a cochlear implant in on Aug. 16, 2008, in Blackfoot, Idaho. They are the proud parents of his left ear to assist with a a son, Aiden, born on February 22, 2009. Hernandez is majoring in hearing problem. kinesiology and health promotion at UW.

12 Wyoming Wrestling The Cowboys

Dallas Hintz Kyle Komata Junior - 174 pounds Redshirt Freshman - 141 pounds Moses Lake, Wash. Woodinville, Wash. Ephrata High School Woodinville High School

2010-11: Hintz is a junior at 2010-11: Komata has overcome 174 pounds, a weight class where long odds to create a spot for himself the Cowboy team is making some on the Cowboy roster. He has worked adjustments this season. He has hard and stuck through the transition to an opportunity to be a starter for the college wrestling last year. Pokes and shown some signs of He could challenge for mat time as being right there. Dallas will need to a redshirt freshman at 141 pounds, after develop some consistency in order to make the most out of his putting in a good summer of consistent work. Komata is one of the opportunity this year. most improved Cowboy wrestlers over the last year. This will be his fourth year in the program and there has never Kyle belongs to a deep, talented group at his weight class been a question about his work ethic, as he works his tail off. Hintz and he should benefit from the competition. He is one of five will get a chance this season to prove himself on the mat. Cowboy wrestlers from the state of Washington. He is a very big, bulky 174-pound wrestler who has 2009-10: Komata redshirted and adjusted to wrestling at competed in, and won, body building competitions during the the college level while competing at 133 and 141 pounds in open off-season. Hintz is one of five Washington state wrestlers on the tournaments. Kyle put some bulk on his frame and tried to soak Cowboy roster. up as much as he could from the UW coaching staff. His career record is 29-18 with three falls. Dallas has always He compiled a record of 9-8, with one fall and three major been a team player who helps the UW squad when called upon. decisions. 2009-10: Hintz started one dual for Wyoming at 174 pounds High School: Komata was undefeated as a high school and had an overall record of 16-9, with two pins and three major senior en route to a Washington 4A state title at 125 pounds. decisions. He placed third at the state tournament as a junior, and was He placed first at the Northwest Wyoming Open to start the a two-time league and regional champion. His senior year he year. Other notable tournament finishes came when he placed was captain of the Woodinville High School squad. Komata third at the UNK Loper Open, as well as third at the Utah Valley was also the 2008 Northwest Regional Freestyle Champion and Open. Outstanding Wrestler. 2008-09: As a redshirt freshman, Hintz showed his versatility Personal: Kyle is by wrestling for the Cowboys at three weight classes: 165, 174 the eldest son of Dean and 184 pounds. He competed in four dual matches, going 3-1, and Jan Komata. His including a good win at 165 against WWC foe Northern Colorado, younger brother is Kevin. which helped the team in a close dual. His overall record was 13-9 Kyle‘s birthday is Jan. 8, and he had one decision by fall. 1991 and he was born in 2007-08: Hintz made the most of his redshirt year, recording Edmonds, Wash. His field a 16-9 record in open matches, including three pins and two major of study at UW is business decisions at 157 pounds. He won the Cowboy Open Amateur administration. Division and placed second at the Utah Valley Open. Dallas was fourth at the FILA Greco-Roman National Championships. High School: Hintz was a three-time state runner-up and four-time Washington state placer at Ephrata High School. He was a three-time regional champion and four-time district champion. Hintz was selected team captain twice and lettered all four years. He was named to the honor roll all four years of high school. Personal: Born May 11, 1989 in Moses Lake, Wash. He is the son of Kirsten and Gilbert Hintz. He has two younger siblings, Kendahl and Justine. Hintz is majoring in agricultural business at UW.

Wyoming Wrestling Wyoming Wrestling 13 The Cowboys

2008-09: LeBlanc exploded onto the college wrestling scene and became the first-ever freshman All-American in the history of Joe LeBlanc Wyoming wrestling by placing fifth in the 184-pound weight class at Junior - 184 pounds the 2009 NCAA Championships. Meeker, Colo. He was the first All-American in 13 years for UW’s wrestling Meeker High School program and the 24th in school history. During his tournament run, LeBlanc beat four seeded (top-12) opponents, one by major decision 2010-11: LeBlanc is a two-time and one by fall, in addition to winning two bouts against opponents All-American and two-time West Regional he had lost to earlier this season. champion at 184 pounds who enters his Over the course of the season, LeBlanc had seven wins over junior season ranked No. 2 in most polls, National Wrestling Coaches Association top-20 ranked opponents: Due to his winning attitude, he is No. 7 Vince Jones (Nebraska), No. 15 Alex Dolly (Northern Iowa), unquestionably a threat to win a national No. 12 Jordan Blanton (Illinois), No. 9 David Craig (Lehigh), No. 17 title in 2011 and his goals consist of Chris Honeycutt (Edinboro), No. 6 Josh Patterson (Binghamton) and nothing less than that. An extremely hard worker on the mat, in the Jones again when he was ranked No. 10. weight room and in the class room, LeBlanc is a team leader for the LeBlanc earned a spot into the NCAA Championships by Pokes who continues to improve under the guidance of head coach winning the 184-pound West Regional title. He posted a 45-8 overall Mark Branch. record, which included a 15-2 mark in dual action and 7-0 against He is the reigning Western Wrestling Conference Wrestler of the WWC opponents. He won three tournament titles in 2008-09 and Year, and his two-year career record is 84-14 with 19 pins, 18 major scored a team-high 68 team points in duals. decisions and 17 technical falls. His 45 wins tied for third-place on UW’s Single-Season Victories LeBlanc had off-season foot surgery to repair a broken bone, list with Wes Gasner, who had 45 wins during the 1983-84 season. but should not miss any mat time due to quick, successful rehab. LeBlanc had two double-digit winning streaks during the season 2009-10: Proving that the success of his freshman year was no (10 and 11). He tallied 14 major decisions, five technical falls and fluke, LeBlanc had a dominant sophomore year in a variety of areas. seven pins. Seven of his eight losses came to opponents ranked in He earned his second All-America honor on the wrestling mat the top-10. after placing fourth at the 2010 NCAA Championships. LeBlanc A winner of numerous awards, he was named the WWC moved one step up the podium and improved on his finish from Freshman of the Year, was voted to the Amateur Wrestling News his first year, after placing fifth in 2009. He became the 25th All- All-Rookie First Team, was D1CollegeWrestling.net’s West Region American (top-eight finisher) in school history and the fifth two-time Freshman of the Year and earned a spot on their national All- All-American in UW Wrestling history. Freshman Team. He was named the WWC Wrestler of the Week on At the national tournament, he made waves in quite possibly Dec.9 for taking third at the Las Vegas Invite. the deepest weight class by beating the No. 2 seed John Dergo from LeBlanc added nearly 20 pounds to his frame from the previous Illinois in the quarterfinals and narrowly losing in the semifinals to the year and showed that 184 was a natural weight for him. eventual national champion, Max Askren from Missouri. 2007-08: LeBlanc was one of 10 Cowboys who used his In addition to his afore-mentioned finish at nationals, he was the redshirt year. Competing as an individual, he had a record of 8-6, 2010 Western Wrestling Conference Wrestler of the Year. He won with four pins and three major decisions. LeBlanc wrestled at 165 his second NCAA West Regional Championship at 184 pounds and pounds most of the year. He won the Utah Valley Open and made led the Pokes to the 2010 West Regional team title, as well as the the semifinals at the Kearney Open. 2010 WWC Regular Season High School: LeBlanc was a three-time Colorado state Dual team title. champion and the state tournament’s 2006 Most Outstanding LeBlanc’s season Wrestler. His wrestling team won three state titles. He was a junior record was 39-6 with 28 All-American wrestler, an all-state football player, all-conference bonus point margins. Twelve baseball player and was on the honor roll for three years while at of his wins came by fall, 12 Meeker. His overall record while at Meeker was 130-23 and he by way of technical fall and recorded 90 pins. four by major decision. He Personal: Born June 7, 1989 in Meeker, Colo. He is the son of earned a team-best 69 points the late Dr. Randy LeBlanc and Sharon LeBlanc. His stepfather was in 15 duals, an average of the late Bren Sullivan. Joe has five siblings, Barny, Isaac, Andrea, 4.6. Nicole and Tara. He married Amanda (Gillan) on May 5, 2009, and LeBlanc’s season the couple welcomed a baby boy (Tyson) on Dec. 15 of that same record placed him in a tie year. LeBlanc is a kinesiology and health promotion major at UW. for eighth on UW’s single- season victories list with Mike Hamel (1984-85). On the season, Joe LeBlanc beat six top-20 opponents, including No. 2 Dergo, No. 3 Mike Pucillo (Ohio State) and No. 5 Clayton Foster (Oklahoma State). He was named the Outstanding Wrestler for both the Cowboy Open and the NCAA West Regional, winning titles at both. LeBlanc also performed well at multiple other large events, taking second at the Body Bar Classic, and third in both Las Vegas and Reno. He was DICollegeWrestling.net ‘s West Region Wrestler of the Year. Giving an equal amount of effort off the mat, LeBlanc was recognized by the National Wrestling Coaches Association on its annual Division I All-Academic team and he then rounded out his resume with a distinction from the National Strength and Conditioning Association, awarded its annual All-American Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year award. His grade-point-average during the fall of ‘09 was 4.0 and he earned WWC Coaches’ Honor Roll recognition for his academic work during the season. LeBlanc was named the 2009-10 UW Student-Athlete Advisory Committee’s Male Athlete of the Year and he gained good experience in the summer prior to the season when he wrestled at the FILA Junior World Team Trials.

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Martinez had a 15-3 dual record and scored 58 team points in Michael Martinez those matches for UW. He had 12 major decisions, three wins by Junior - 125/133 pounds technical fall and two pins. Martinez scored an upset win at the NWCA National Duals Pagosa Springs, Colo. over Boise State’s Brian Owen (5-3), who was then ranked No. Pagosa Springs High School 18. To win his league title, Martinez beat UNCo’s Tony Mustari by decision in the finals after splitting their two previous regular 2010-11: After becoming a staple season meetings. in Wyoming’s lineup the last two years He placed second at the Cowboy Open and Omaha Open, at 125 pounds, Martinez will start his and took fifth at Reno. Martinez was named to the Amateur junior year at 133. The move to a more Wrestling News All-Rookie Fourth Team and was twice awarded natural weight class should be a good WWC Wrestler of the Week. move for him, as well as the team, and 2007-08: Martinez took an Olympic redshirt during this will provide opportunity for his hard- season to compete for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. He working attitude to be even more effective because of how he’ll trained in Colorado Springs at the Olympic Training Center all out-train and out-work anyone in the country at that weight. year. Martinez won the Rocky Mountain Regional. He wrestled UW’s coaching staff is anxious to see how the two-time internationally, in addition to qualifying for and competing in the NCAA West Regional Champion and two-time NCAA qualifier Olympic Trials. competes at 133, and Michael is looking forward to the challenge. 2006-07: Martinez redshirted in ‘06-07. In his open matches, Martinez continues to be highly motivated and is on a quest he went 20-8 recording three major decisions, one technical fall to become a NCAA champion. He is a very mature, focused, and one pin. Martinez took fifth at the U.S. Open. He won the Bob coachable wrestler. Smith Open and took second at the Glen Brand Open. He has amassed a career record of 71-20 in only two short 2004-06: Martinez did not wrestle collegiately. years, with two falls to his credit. High School: Martinez wrestled four years at Pagosa Martinez enters his junior year ranked in the top-20 by several Springs High School from 2000-04, was a two-time state champion preseason publications at both 125 and 133 pounds. and was a state placer each of those years. He won state as 2009-10: During his sophomore season, Martinez posted a a senior at 119 pounds, took first as a junior at 112, third as a 33-9 record, with two technical falls and 10 major decisions. He sophomore at 112 and fourth his freshman year at 103. Martinez won his second straight NCAA West Regional title at 125 pounds also lettered in football. and participated in his second straight NCAA Championships. Personal: Born February 10, 1986 in Durango, Colo. He is His example on the mat helped lead the Pokes to the 2010 one of four children of Joseph and Barbara Martinez. Michael has West Regional team title, as well as the 2010 Western Wrestling two brothers and one sister, all older. He is a rangeland ecology Conference Regular Season Dual team title. and watershed management major at UW. Martinez had an 8-1 record against WWC opponents and he was 11-2 in duals, scoring 43 points. He finished first at the Cowboy Open, second at the Body Bar Classic, as well as fourth at both Las Vegas and Reno. Michael defeated five top-20 foes, the highest ranked of which was No. 5 James Nicholson of Old Dominion, Nicholson’s only loss during the season heading into the NCAA Championships. He defeated WWC-rival Ben Kjar from Utah Valley two different times while Kjar was ranked No. 9. At the NCAA Championships, Martinez won his opener over Aaron Kalil from Navy and then lost in his second go-around versus Jarrod Garnett from Virginia Tech. He then clawed his way back through the 125-pound consolation bracket with two wins against Garrett Frey from Princeton and the No. 9 seed Jarrod Patterson (Oklahoma), only to lose his third match of the day to All-American and No. 4 seed Anthony Robles (Arizona State) and have to leave the event just one victory shy of All- American status. In the summer prior to the season, Martinez participated in the Senior World Team Trials. He was named the WWC Wrestler of the Week on Nov. 17. 2008-09: Martinez was an NCAA Qualifier and West Regional/WWC champion as a redshirt freshman. He won his opening round match at the NCAA Tournament over No. 17 ranked Marcus Orozco of UC Davis and finished the season 38-11, which tied him for ninth all-time at UW with Reese Andy (1995-96).

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Patrick Martinez Matthew McLaughlin Redshirt Freshman - 165 pounds Senior - Heavyweight Hemet, Calif. Murphysboro, Ill. Temecula Valley High School Rend Lake College, Ill.

2010-11: Patrick Martinez is a 5’ 2010-11: Matthew (Bubba) 10” product of Hemet, Calif., whom the McLaughlin is one of only two seniors UW coaches think highly of. Entering his who will compete for UW this season. redshirt freshman year, Martinez is the He is Wyoming’s only true heavyweight leading candidate to start for Wyoming at at 6’3” and in excess of 275 pounds, and 165 pounds, a spot previously occupied by he needs to stay in the lineup to help his NCAA qualifier Shane Onufer. team this year. He dedicated this past summer to the program and to wrestling, Bubba works hard and has shown signs in all areas of and has made the important adjustment of moving from California to Wyoming. excelling, but needs to be consistent in all areas of his life in order Martinez is a force to be reckoned with and will be a bright spot in to make the most of his last season of competition. The Cowboys the lineup for the next four years. will depend on him at the back end of their lineup and he will need 2009-10: Patrick used his redshirt season in his first year at UW to be on his game at all times. and in open tournaments he was sometimes dominant. His record was McLaughlin is a two-time All-American at the junior college 17-3 while competing at 165 and 174 pounds. He had one technical level and is motivated to have the same success at the Division I fall and five major decisions. level. Martinez placed either first or second in every tournament he 2009-10: In his first season at UW after transferring from entered. He won his weight class at the Northwest Wyoming Open and Rend Lake College, Bubba was the Cowboy heavyweight during the Northern Colorado Open, and was second at the Cowboy Open, the first part of the season. He had an 11-9 record before being the UNK Loper Open and the Utah Valley Open. declared academically ineligible in early January. In the summer prior to starting college, he placed at Junior Prior to that point he had two wins by fall, placed second at Nationals in both Freestyle (4th) and Greco (7th). the Cowboy Open and sixth at the Body Bar Classic. Martinez was the 160-pound California state High School: After he lost his eligibility, he competed in one open champion as a senior and place-winner (sixth) as a junior in arguably tournament, going 3-0 with two pins and winning the Utah Valley one of the most difficult state high school events in the nation. He is a two-time Freestyle and Greco Roman State Champion, as well Open. as a place-winner at the Reno Tournament of Champions. His high Rend Lake College: McLaughlin attended junior college for school team, Temecula Valley, won the CIF championship four two years in Rend Lake, Ill., where he was a back-to-back NJCAA straight years and the Southern Section Masters championship those All-American heavyweight. He placed sixth at the National Junior same years. Martinez was a California Triple Crown winner in 2007 College Athletic Association wrestling championships as both a and the California FILA Greco Roman state champion. Many other freshman and sophomore for the Rend Lake College Warriors. schools recruited him, but he chose UW over the likes of Missouri and High School: McLaughlin graduated from Murphysboro High Maryland. School in 2007. There he was a two-sport letterwinner in both Personal: Patrick is the son of Anthony Martinez and Barbara football and wrestling. As a senior he placed third at the Illinois Morlan. His birthday is April 5, 1990. Martinez is a social science State Wrestling Championships. McLaughlin was also a two- major at UW. time All-Conference and All-South Region wrestler. In football he played both offense and defense, earning All-Conference honors twice on both sides of the ball. Defensive tackle was his best Andy McCulley position, where he was Honorable Mention All-State and All-South Freshman - 157 pounds Region. Personal: Rock Springs, Wyo. Born Sept. Rock Springs High School 12, 1988 in Murphysboro, 2010-11: McCulley will likely redshirt Ill. Matthew is in his first year with the UW program to the son of John gain maturity, but is such a diamond at 157 and Charlotte pounds that the UW coaches feel fortunate McLaughlin. He to have signed him last fall before other has two sisters, programs got wind of his talent. Out of Rock Springs, McCulley Laura and continues the tradition of the best high school wrestlers out of the state Morgan. His of Wyoming coming to UW every year. He is a great asset and could major at UW quickly make his way into the lineup. is rangeland He is one of eleven incoming freshmen and one of six ecology and homegrown UW wrestlers with Wyoming roots. watershed High School: At Rock Springs High School, McCulley was the management. Wyoming 4A State Champion in 2008 at 130 pounds as a sophomore and then again in 2010 as a senior at 152 pounds. As a junior in 2009, he was injured at the state tournament competing at 145 pounds. McCulley is a three-time 4A West Regional Champion. In 2008 he was the Wyoming USA Wrestling Triple Crown winner, as well as a Cadet All-American by placing fourth at USA Wrestling Nationals. McCulley was on the honor roll each year at Rock Springs H.S. Personal: Andy is one of two sons of Mark and Nikki McCulley. He was born on May 7, 1992. His younger brother’s name is Zachary. His grandfather, father and two uncles all wrestled at the collegiate level. Andy is an elementary education major at UW.

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2009-10: In his sophomore year, Onufer was a major part of Joe O’Farrell the Wyoming team that won the 2010 NCAA West Regional team Junior - 184/197 pounds title, as well as the 2010 WWC Regular Season Dual team title. He posted an overall record of 28-7 at 165 pounds, 9-0 in Greeley, Colo. the WWC and 10-3 in duals. Onufer scored 48 team dual points University High School and for the season had eight pins, one technical fall, as well as 10 major decisions. He was also clearly dominant at his weight class 2010-11: O’Farrell has been a within the league. He won five of six dual matches by bonus-point consistently hard worker for the team margin (two pins, two major decisions and a tech fall). over the last three years, is dependable In addition to his second NCAA West Regional title, Onufer and gives options and depth at the upper also placed first at the Cowboy Open, third at the Las Vegas weights. Invite and fifth at the Body Bar Classic. In Las Vegas he knocked He is fully recovered from a foot injury which held him out of last season and he off two-time All-American and No. 6 ranked Andy Rendos from has shown that he has the potential to produce for the team at either Bucknell twice. 184 or 197 pounds. At the 2010 NCAA Tournament, Onufer earned the No. 8 O’Farrell could work his way into challenging for a spot and more seed, but ended his season with a disappointing 1-2 record at the mat time during his junior season. He is a long, versatile wrestler who event. can move up or down in weight as needed. He was a two-time WWC Wrestler of the Week during the Joe is a great student and leads the team by example in that year and missed nearly a month of the season in late December category. and early January with a knee injury. 2009-10: O’Farrell missed much of his sophomore season 2008-09: Onufer after suffering a foot injury in December. In the three open events qualified for the NCAA he competed in prior to that injury, Joe was 8-5 at 197 pounds with Tournament and won two pins and three major decisions. He placed third at the Northern the 174-pound title at Colorado Open. the West Regional/WWC For maintaining his strong academics, O’Farrell was named a Tournament as a redshirt Scholar-Athlete by the Mountain West Conference, since UW is a freshman. member institution in other sports, and he was listed on the Western Wrestling Conference Coaches’ Honor Roll for the second straight year. He went 2-2 at the 2008-09: During his redshirt freshman season, O’Farrell had an NCAA Tournament and overall record of 6-10 while competing in tournaments at 184 pounds. beat tough opponents He recorded three wins by fall and one major decision. from Virginia Tech and A very good student, O’Farrell was named to the WWC Coaches’ Penn. Onufer finished Honor Roll. the year with a season 2007-08: Similar to nine of his teammates, O’Farrell used his record of 44-11. That redshirt year in ‘07-08. He wrestled open tournaments at 184 pounds mark tied him for fifth on and had a 1-6 record. UW’s All-Time Single High School: O’Farrell was a four-time letter winner in wrestling Season Victories list with and football. He was a three-time All-Conference selection and Wes Gasner (1982-83). recorded a 36-5 record his senior year as the state runner-up. O’Farrell He also finished also excelled in the classroom. He was a three-time Academic All- with 14 pins during the State selection, spent three years on the honor roll and two years in season, putting himself 10th on the UW All-Time Single Season the National Honors Society. He was an FBLA National Qualifier and Pins list. Onufer tallied five major decisions and two technical Student Council President his senior year. Personal: Born June 13, 1989 in Denver, Colo. He is the son falls. He did not lose to a WWC opponent all season, going 8-0, of Cecil and Vince O’Farrell. He has one sister, Kathleen, and two and was 14-4 in dual matches. Onufer opened the season with 15 brothers, Rory and Liam. O’Farrell is a finance major at UW. straight wins. Amateur Wrestling News included him on their All-Rookie Fourth Team and he was named WWC Wrestler of the Week, Nov. 18, after winning the Cowboy Open. Other tournament finishes Shane Onufer of note for Onufer included placing third at Reno, fourth in Omaha Junior - 157/165 pounds and seventh in Las Vegas. Auburn, Wash. 2007-08: Onufer turned heads during his redshirt year with Auburn High School an overall record of 15-2, including seven pins and five major decisions. He is one of 10 UW wrestlers that used the season to 2010-11: Shane Onufer has been redshirt. Shane won the Cowboy Open (Amateur Division), took one of the Cowboys’ top performers over third at the Kaufman Brand Tournament in Omaha, was second the last two years and has shown UW at the Utah Valley Open and won the Glen Brand Tournament in fans what he is capable of. He is a two- Omaha. time NCAA West Regional champion High School: Onufer was a two-time Washington state and two-time NCAA Tournament champion and was a Cadet Freestyle and Greco-Roman Nationals qualifier. All-American, placing third in both. Shane was undefeated his Onufer will compete at 157 or 165 pounds this year, after senior season and won the Rocky Mountain Regional and the going at 174 and 165 the past two seasons, respectively. The Tri-State Tournament. He also pinned his way through the state move down in weight could be the needed boost for him to make tournament his senior year. Shane was runner-up at state his a run at the NCAA Tournament. He has the necessary physical sophomore year and fourth as a freshman. Onufer also lettered tools, but will need to be a dominant, mental warrior to go to the twice in olympic weightlifting. next level. Personal: Born June 29, 1989 in Tacoma, Wash. He is the Onufer has a career record of 72-18 with 22 falls, and is son of Tatiana Grace and Craig Onufer. His father Craig, wrestled 17-0 against Western Wrestling Conference opponents (including at South Dakota State and earned All-American honors there. NCAA West Regional results). Shane has one sister, Michalle. He is a communication major at He is part of UW’s northwest contingent, one of five Cowboys UW and is an intern in the Athletics Media and Public Relations from Washington state. office for the 2010-11 school year.

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Leland Pfeifer Michael Poulos Freshman Sophomore - 174 pounds 197 pounds/Heavyweight Laramie, Wyo. Hulett, Wyo. Laramie High School Hulett High School 2010-11: Cowboy fans can expect 2010-11: Leland Pfeifer will wrestle to see Poulos in the lineup during his at 197 pounds or heavyweight for sophomore year at 174 pounds. He has UW during his freshman year. He is a had a long road back from a foot injury Wyoming native from Hulett that will add which kept him out of last season, but he depth in the upper classes. is by far one of the most consistent and Pfeifer is a homegrown talent that hardest working guys in the program. is grateful for the opportunity to wrestle for the Cowboys. He is Michael spent this last summer wrestling and training every familiar with the program and wants to be here. day to make up for lost time. He wants to step out there and wear Leland is a raw, pure athlete who will be in a learning phase the gold singlet and wrestle for the Cowboys. in what will likely be his redshirt season. He loves to battle, but Poulos is a great student who represents the UW program needs to back that up with technique. well. He is one of six squad members from the state of Wyoming. Pfeifer is one of eleven incoming freshmen and one of six 2009-10: Expected to wrestle at 184 pounds for UW during Wyoming natives on the UW roster. his redshirt freshman year, Poulos was slowed by a foot injury High School: Pfeifer was a three-time Wyoming High School which kept him off the competition mat for the entire season. State Champion. He wrestled for Hulett High School at the 2A Solid in the classroom, he was named to the Western level and won his state championship bracket as a senior, junior Wrestling Conference Coaches’ Honor Roll. and sophomore at 215 pounds. He finished third as a freshman at 2008-09: Poulos redshirted, giving him the benefit of a year 189 pounds. of training. He competed unattached at multiple tournaments and A multi-sport athlete, Pfeifer was also named All-State for had a record of 15-17. Of those 15 wins, six were by way of fall. three years in football and was a Wyoming State Champion in the High School: Poulos is a four-time letterwinner in wrestling shot put for Hulett’s track and field team. and won the Wyoming state and Conference championships Personal: The son of Bill and Jeani Pfeifer, Leland was born his senior year at 189 pounds. He also won the conference on Jan. 13, 1992 in Gillette, Wyo. He has one sister, Mariel. His championship his junior season and tallied 107 wins in his four- college major at UW is geology. year career at Laramie High School. Poulos was a three-time letterwinner in football, including being named to the all-state and all-conference first teams his senior season. Michael also excelled in the classroom by carrying Joe Raygor a 4.0 GPA and graduated number one in his class. He received Freshman - 165 pounds the Presidential Scholarship to UW and he was a member of the St. Croix Falls, Wis. National Honor Society. St. Croix Falls High School Personal: Poulos was born on May 1, 1990. He is the son of John and Temple Poulos. Michael’s field of study at UW is 2010-11: Joe Raygor is one of kinesiology and health promotion. two Cowboy freshmen from the state of Wisconsin, Zach Zehner the other, and he will look to go at 165 pounds this year. Brandon Richardson He will take advantage of the Freshman - 149/157 pounds opportunity to redshirt in his first year Rathdrum, Idaho with the UW program as he adjusts to the college level. His focus Lakeland High School at the start of his career has been getting his weight under control and learning that discipline. 2010-11: Brandon Richardson, Raygor’s stocky build could create match-up problems for his 5’10”, hails from Rathdrum, Idaho and opponents and he should have ample opportunities to compete in should wrestle for the Cowboys at 149 open events, which will speed up the learning experience. or 157 pounds. He has immediately He is one of the eleven freshmen for the Cowboys. impressed the UW coaches, is talented High School: Raygor was a two-time high school state and enthusiastic, and has a bright champion for St. Croix Falls in Wisconsin. After going undefeated collegiate future in front of him. and winning the D2 state crown at 171 pounds both his junior and Brandon will most likely redshirt in his first year at UW and he senior season, he holds his school’s all-time record for most wins is one the eleven freshmen on the Wyoming team. on the mat with a mark of 167-9. High School: Richardson was an Idaho 4A High School A 2009 National Folkstyle Champion and runner-up at the State Champion in 2007 as a freshman at Lakeland High School 2009 FILA Nationals, Raygor was also a three-time All-American and then again this past spring as a senior at 152 pounds. He was in both Greco-Roman and Freestyle. He competed in football and a USA Wrestling National Champion in 2008, the 4A State runner- weightlifting for St. Croix Falls, and was named all-conference four up as a junior in 2009 and the 2008 Tri-State Champion. Brandon times on the gridiron, three times on defense and once on offense. won his regional weight class four times. Personal: Joe was born on Feb. 1, 1992. He is one of two Richardson served as Lakeland Student Council Vice sons of Jerry and Marie Raygor. His older brother’s name is President in 2007-08 and was an honor roll student each year of Dustin. Joe is a secondary education/social studies major at UW. high school. He also played soccer for Lakeland H.S., lettering twice. Personal: Brandon’s parents are Pete and Cindy Richardson, and his birth date is Jan. 3, 1992. He has one older brother, Ashton. His major at UW is kinesiology and health promotion.

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Chase Smith Conrad Snell Junior - 141 pounds Redshirt Freshman - 141 pounds Enumclaw. Wash. Poway, Calif. Enumclaw High School UC Davis Temecula Valley High School 2010-11: Smith is a two-year starter for the Pokes and is in his fourth year with 2010-11: A late addition to the the program. He has seen mat time at both Cowboy team, Conrad Snell is a redshirt 141 and 149 pounds, but will stick with 141 during his junior season. freshman transfer that the coaches Chase will look to get over the are still learning about. He came to hump after somewhat of an up and down UW because UC Davis dropped their roller-coaster ride during his previous two wrestling program. seasons. It would be a huge benefit to the Cowboy team if he could Snell will compete at 141 pounds and he gives the team produce the results that he knows he is capable of. some valuable options and depth there. With a redshirt year Smith will experience a much deeper practice room at his weight already under his belt he will jump right into the mix and is ready to class this year and he will be pushed. He has welcomed the challenge, compete maturity wise. but will have to step up his game. This year will be a big test as the Conrad is one of two wrestlers from the state of California, environment around Smith changes. He has a career record of 42-39, with six wins by fall and is one of Patrick Martinez is the other, and UW’s coaching staff is confident five Cowboys that call Washington state home. in his background since he came from good junior program that 2009-10: After spending his first season at 149 pounds, Smith they are familiar with. earned a spot in the Cowboys’ starting lineup at 141 as a sophomore. 2009-10 (UC Davis): As a true freshman, Snell used his His record was 20-16 with two pins, three technical falls and three major redshirt season in 2009-10 as a member of the UC Davis Aggies’ decisions. He did wrestle two duals at 149 pounds for the Pokes. squad. He had a 3-2 tournament record wrestling unattached at It was a tale of two seasons for Smith, as he started the year 149 pounds. with a bang and then struggled coming down the stretch. He won the High School: In high school, Snell was a member of the Cornell/Body Bar Classic in November and had a record of 18-6 prior to the start of the new year. 2009 California State Team Champions from Poway High School. At the Cornell event, he had bonus-point wins in four of his five He finished second at the 2009 California State Championships matches, with two pins, a technical fall victory and a win by major and was a First Team All-League and All-Section honoree. Snell decision. Smith’s finals opponent was Chase Skonieczny from Kent had a 72-12 varsity record in high school, and was a 2009 Junior State, whom he stuck in the first period at 2:33 to put an exclamation Freestyle State Champion and All-American, placing eighth at point on his day. nationals. Smith did get big dual match wins for the Cowboys against Nebraska Personal: Conrad was born in Colorado Springs, Colo. His and Utah Valley, but those would be his final two wins of the season. parents are Michael and Ginger Snell. He has two sisters, Casey Smith was the starter for UW at 149 pounds as a 2008-09: and Chase. Conrad is a mathematics major at UW. redshirt freshman. He had a record of 22-23, with seven wins by major decision, four by fall and two by technical fall. Smith had one of the biggest upsets of the year on the team to his credit, pinning No. 5-ranked David Jauregui of West Virginia at the Las Vegas Invite. Trevor Sterling 2007-08: Smith was one of 10 Cowboys who redshirted in ‘07- Freshman - 157 pounds 08. He had a good first year and in open tournaments he posted a Altus, Okla. 17-9 record, with three pins and three major decisions. Chase placed second at the Utah Valley Open. Smith competed at 141 pounds. Altus High School High School: Smith was a Washington state champion, his team’s captain and named Outstanding Varsity Wrestler his senior year 2010-11: As a freshman, Sterling at Enumclaw High School. He was named First Team All-League all will wrestle open tournaments at 157 four years of high school, as well as the league champion for those four pounds. He will use his redshirt season years. He was a three-time regional champion. Smith was a two-time and should benefit from an extended 40 win club member and a three-time Pacific Coast Champion. He transition period. finished his high school career with a 135-11 record, was a member of the 2005 Greco All-American Team and was an academic state Sterling has not been involved in champion in 2005. the sport of wrestling long, but does Personal: Born May 24, 1989 in Enumclaw, Wash. He is the son have a good background and a good base. He knows how to work of Mike and Connie Smith. Chase is majoring in communication at UW. hard. Trevor will need to adjust to the major life change of living in Wyoming and the academic demands that come with college. Sterling is one of eleven UW freshmen and is one of two freshmen coming out of Oklahoma, Shane Woods is the other. High School: Sterling attended Altus High School where he was an Oklahoma 5A State Finalist as a senior, earning All-State honors. He was a three-time district champion and a regional runner-up as a senior. His Altus team was also state runner-up, as well as three-time district champions. He was captain of his high school wrestling team in both his junior and senior seasons. Sterling also lettered in football for three years and in track as a senior. On the football field he was an All-District safety and running back his senior year, as well as team captain in his final season. He was an Honor Roll student, was involved in Student Council and was named an All-American Scholar. Personal: Trevor was born in San Diego, Calif., on March 25, 1992. His parents are George and Lorriane Woodhouse. His two siblings are Diquon and Tisay. Trevor’s field of study at UW is criminal justice.

Wyoming Wrestling Wyoming Wrestling 19 The Cowboys

Robert Stroh Shane Woods Freshman - 157 pounds Freshman - 184 pounds Harlem, Mont. Tuttle, Okla. Chinook High School Tuttle High School

2010-11: Stroh comes to UW from 2010-11: Woods was recruited Montana, across state lines to the north. hard by the Cowboys out of Tuttle, He will fit into the Cowboys’ depth chart Okla., and his talent has been apparent at 157 pounds and will probably use his during his brief time with the Wyoming redshirt season as a true freshman. program. Robert is a tough, raw wrestler He tore his ACL during his senior who was not well known to a lot of other season of high school after signing college programs, so the UW coaches feel good about getting him with the Pokes and the way he has handled the surgery and here. He will need to adjust to the collegiate level of wrestling and subsequent rehab has impressed UW’s coaching staff. will need to absorb as much coaching as possible, but Stroh has Woods has been cleared to compete at 184 pounds, but he hit the ground running and is working hard, which bodes well. will likely use his redshirt year, as the focus is to make sure he Stroh is one of eleven UW freshmen and is one of two squad heals properly. members out of Montana, Cole Dallaserra is the other. He spent much of this past summer in Laramie. His High School: Stroh won three wrestling state championships background and work ethic say a lot about the type of impact in Montana at Chinook High School. His senior year he was wrestler he could be at UW. undefeated at 39-0 en route to a Class ‘C’ state title at 160 High School: Shane Woods wrestled in high school at pounds. As a junior, Stroh won state at 152 pounds and he took Tuttle H.S., in Tuttle, Okla. There he was 30-0 as a senior, won the title at 145 pounds as a sophomore. He was runner-up as a his second state crown at 215 pounds and led his team to their freshman at 135. second straight team title. All that despite tearing his ACL late in Robert was named the 2009 Outstanding Montana High the season. School Wrestler for the Northern Division. He placed third at As a junior, he was a Oklahoma State 4A High School the 2010 Reno World Championships and was the 2008 Rocky Champion in 2009 at 215 pounds with a 40-3 mark. He led his Mountain Nationals Triple Crown Winner. Stroh lettered four times team to a state title that same season and placed third individually in football for Chinook H.S. and twice in track. at the Midwest Classic in Kansas City. As a sophomore, Woods Personal: Robert is the son of Robin and Lisa Stroh. He was placed third at the state tournament in the 160-pound weight class. born on Feb. 4, 1992. His brother is Benjamin and his sister is Personal: Shane was born on March 6, 1991 in Chickasha, Rebecca. Robert is a mechanical engineering major at UW. Okla. His parents are Jason and Dana Woods. He has one older brother, Jason Woods II. Shane is undecided on a college major at UW. Tommy Thoman Freshman - 184 pounds Zach Zehner Green River, Wyo. Freshman - 133 pounds Green River High School Tomahawk, Wis. Tomahawk High School 2010-11: Tommy Thoman, a Green River, Wyo. product, is expected to wrestle collegiately at 184 pounds. He 2010-11: Zehner is a product of will redshirt in his freshman year and Tomahawk, Wis., who will compete hopes to gain experience wrestling in at 133 pounds for the Cowboys as a open tournaments. freshman. He was very successful in Thoman is a native, in-state guy high school and now has a strong desire who is fullfilling a dream of wrestling for the Brown and Gold. He to wrestle at UW, which was evident in should benefit from being at the same weight as two-time All- the recruiting process. American Joe LeBlanc, as well as talented, fellow freshman Shane Zehner has untouched potential and is described as a Woods. The competition level at that weight class within UW’s scrapper on the mat. He has a long ways to go with technique, but practice room will push Thoman to a higher level. is taking that learning in stride as he builds a base for future years. If he continues to hang in, battle and work hard, Thoman will He will likely redshirt in his first year of college. help the Cowboy team. High School: Zehner was a Wisconsin State D2 High School Tommy is one of eleven incoming freshmen and one of six Champion at 125 pounds in 2009 and then again at 130 pounds Wyoming high school wrestlers on the UW roster. in 2010. Wrestling for Tomahawk H.S., Zehner was a two-time High School: Thoman is a three-time state place winner for Regional and Sectional Champion, as well as First Team All- Green River High School at the Wyoming 4A Tournament. As a Conference as a sophomore, junior and senior. senior, Thoman was runner-up at 189 pounds. He also placed He was a member of the Wisconsin National Dual Team, was third during his junior year in the 171-pound weight class and fifth the Freestyle State Champion in 2009 and was runner-up at the as a sophomore at 152. 2009 Junior National Tournament. Personal: Tommy’s birthdate is Feb. 28, 1992 and he is the In addition to four years as a wrestling letterman, Zehner also youngest of three children of Dick and Sue Thoman. He has one lettered four years in track and field and once in football. brother, Ben, and two sisters, Dixie Thoman and Josette Polk. Personal: Born on May 11, 1991, Zach is the son of Jeff Tommy is an electrical engineering major at the University of Zehner and Julie Winger. He has five siblings; Rachael, Kersten, Wyoming. Alyssa, Lander and Lucy. Zach is an elementary education major at UW.

20 Wyoming Wrestling Western Wrestling Conference Western Wrestling Conference On a High Note Entering Fifth Year

Coming off its best season, the Western Wrestling Conference, In the near future, the goal of the an NCAA Division I wrestling-only alliance, will begin its fifth year league is to replace the West Regional of competition in 2010-11. with the conference tournament, which Charter members of the Western Wrestling Conference would then serve as the NCAA qualifier. include: the United States Air Force Academy, North Dakota State The 2011 NCAA West Regional will be University, the University of Northern Colorado, the University held on Sunday, March 6 at Clune Arena of Northern Iowa, South Dakota State University, Utah Valley on the Air Force Academy grounds in University and the University of Wyoming. Colorado Springs, Colo. The WWC had a breakout year in 2009-10, with three league The WWC recognizes student-athletes wrestlers earning All-American honors. The conference has on both a weekly and full-season basis. now had six All-Americans in its first four years of existence. In Individual awards include: Wrestler of 2010, Wyoming’s Joe LeBlanc (184) placed fourth at the NCAA the Week; All-Conference teams; an Tournament, Northern Colorado’s Justin Gaethje (157) finished Academic All-Conference team; and seventh and Northern Iowa’s Jarion Beets (174) was eighth. All Wrestler, Newcomer and Coach of the three of those wrestlers will return in 2010-11, as Beets and Year awards. The league also crowns a Gaethje are seniors, and LeBlanc is a junior. team champion following the conclusion During the 2009 NCAA Championships, LeBlanc finished fifth of the regular-season conference at 184 pounds, while UNI’s Moza Fay was sixth at 165 pounds and competition and the postseason fifth at that same weight in 2008. tournament. In all, 17 wrestlers from the WWC qualified for the 2010 The governance of the Western NCAA Division I Wrestling National Championships, 14 via Wrestling Conference remains primarily automatic slots and three at-large selections. The WWC had four with the member institutions. Scheduling competitors who were seeded in the top-12 of their brackets. At of contests, assignment of officials and 125 pounds, Wyoming’s Michael Martinez was the No. 11 seed, certain media relations functions remain while Utah Valley’s Ben Kjar had the final seeded position, No. 12. with member institutions. In the 165-pound weight class, UW’s Shane Onufer was the No. With league members spread out over 8 seed and his teammate, LeBlanc, was in the No. 7 slot at 184 six states and two time zones, schools are pounds. required to compete against four league The 2010 NCAA West Regional served as the conference schools in dual action to be eligible for the tournament for the fourth straight season. The tournament was regular-season conference championship. held in Frost Arena on the South Dakota State University campus Schools are encouraged to schedule as in Brookings, S.D. In the team race, Wyoming came from behind many conference schools as possible. and won the West Regional team title by a half point over the A major benefit of having a league 24-time defending champion Northern Iowa Panthers. It was that is geographically spread out so far UW’s first-ever West Regional team title. The Cowboys also won is the added exposure – both in terms of the league’s regular-season dual title with an undefeated 6-0 media and recruiting - in new destinations. record. Wyoming and Northern Iowa tied for the regular-season The conference affiliation also generates championship in 2009, and UNI was tops in the league after both much interest within the seven schools’ the 2007 and 2008 seasons. substantial alumni base, which numbers The league’s three major postseason awards in 2010 were nearly 800,000 combined. given to Wyoming’s LeBlanc for Wrestler of the Year, Cole North Dakota State, Northern VonOhlen from Air Force as Freshman of the Year and Northern Colorado and South Dakota State have Iowa’s Brad Penrith as Coach of the Year after his final season. all made the move from Division II to Division I since joining the WWC. UVU moved directly from Junior College (NJCAA) Athletics to NCAA Division I and completed its reclassification during the 2009-10 season.

Wyoming last hosted the West Regional Tournament in 2006 and is scheduled to do so again in 2013.

Wyoming Wrestling Wyoming Wrestling 21 2009-10 Season Recap

Final 2009-10 Wyoming Cowboy Individual Records Name # Dual * vs. Pins Technical Major Career (Weight Wrestled) Overall Tourn. WWC (Points) Ranked (Fastest) Falls Decisions (Weights Wrestled) Jimmy Belleville (149) 8-1 8-1 - - - 4 (1:14) - 1 31-8 / 9 falls (149/57) Jimmy Belleville (157) 23-7 18-3 6-4 5-4 (22) 0-1 5 (1:03) - 2 Tyler Cox (125) 20-4 20-4 - - - 5 (3:38) 3 5 Redshirted Cole Dallaserra (149) 20-12 13-8 4-4 7-4 (24) 1-3 5 (1:41) 1 2 59-33 / 15 falls (141/49/57) Tyler Davis (157) 3-2 3-2 - - - - - 1 25-18 / 3 falls (157/65) Tyler Davis (165) 1-0 - - 1-0 (4) - - - 1 Jake Eitzen (133) 14-7 14-7 - - - 4 (2:13) 2 - Redshirted Kasey Garnhart (133) 17-12 15-9 1-0 2-3 (6) 0-3 2 (2:47) - 1 17-15 / 2 falls (133/41/49) Kasey Garnhart (141) 0-2 - 0-1 0-2 - - - - Kasey Garnhart (149) 0-1 - 0-1 0-1 - - - - Lee (LJ) Helbig (197) 15-9 13-8 2-0 2-1 (9) 1-0 4 (2:48) - 3 20-15 / 5 falls (197/Hwt) Lee (LJ) Helbig (Hwt) 5-6 2-1 4-3 3-5 (12) 0-3 1 (4:59) - - Alfonso Hernandez (197) 21-14 14-9 6-2 7-5 (24) 0-3 2 (2:36) 1 3 45-34 / 4 falls (197/Hwt) Alfonso Hernandez (Hwt) 1-2 - 1-1 1-2 (3) 0-1 - - - Dallas Hintz (174) 16-9 16-8 - 0-1 0-1 2 (2:24) - 3 29-18 / 3 falls (165/74/84) Eric Jones (157) 6-7 6-7 - - 0-1 2 (4:01) - - 6-7 / 2 falls (157) Mikah Kadera (157) 12-16 12-10 - 0-6 0-1 1 (4:49) - 1 25-25 / 5 falls (157/65) Kyle Komata (133) 7-6 7-6 - - - - - 3 Redshirted Kyle Komata (141) 2-2 2-2 - - - 1 (3:29) - - Joe LeBlanc (184) 39-6 25-5 9-0 14-1 (69) 6-5 12 (0:40) 12 4 84-14 / 19 falls (184) Michael Martinez (125) 33-9 22-7 8-1 11-2 (43) 5-8 - 2 10 71-20 / 2 falls (125) Patrick Martinez (165) 6-1 6-1 - - - - - 2 Redshirted Patrick Martinez (174) 11-2 11-2 - - - - 1 3 Matthew McLaughlin (Hwt) 14-9 ^ 12-7 - 2-2 (9) 0-2 4 (1:15) - 1 14-9 / 4 falls (Hwt) Joe O’Farrell (197) 8-5 8-5 - - - 2 (2:53) - 3 14-15 / 5 falls (184/97) Shane Onufer (165) 28-7 18-4 9-0 10-3 (48) 2-5 8 (1:30) 1 10 72-18 / 22 falls (165/74) Michael Poulos (184) ------Injured Alex Rieder (165) 0-3 0-2 - 0-1 0-1 - - - 37-44 / 14 falls (157/65/74) Alex Rieder (174) 5-8 5-4 0-1 0-4 0-1 - 1 3 Brock Smith (174) 21-12 14-9 6-2 7-3 (25) 0-5 1 (3:51) 1 5 40-19 / 3 falls (157/74) Chase Smith (141) 20-14 15-8 1-5 5-6 (16) 0-2 2 (2:33) 3 3 42-39 / 6 falls (141/49) Chase Smith (149) 0-2 - 0-1 0-2 - - - - Cory VomBaur (133) 14-7 6-5 6-1 8-2 (32) 0-3 1 (6:19) - 2 81-56 / 2 falls (133/41) Cory VomBaur (141) 4-3 3-2 0-1 1-1 (3) - - - - Colton Zier (141) 2-6 2-6 - - - - 1 - 2-7 (141/49) Colton Zier (149) 0-1 - - 0-1 - - - -

Totals 369-214 284-152 63-28 85-62 68 29 71

* record vs. ranked opponents is based on Intermat DI Top-20 rankings at the time of the match # WWC record indicates dual matches against league schools, as well as West Regional results ^ McLaughlin’s offficial record for 2009-10 is 11-9, due to his academic ineligibility for the spring ‘10 semester. 2009-10 Wyoming Cowboy Wrestling Schedule/Results Date Opponent / Event Location Time/Result Nov. 13 Northwest College Laramie, Wyo. W, 24-13 Nov. 14 37th Annual Cowboy Open Laramie, Wyo. No Team Scoring Nov. 21 Body Bar Classic Ithaca, N.Y. 4th of 12 Nov. 22 Sprawl & Brawl Binghamton, N.Y. vs. No. 24 Michigan State L, 20-13 vs. West Virginia W, 19-18 Dec. 4-5 Las Vegas Invitational Primm, Nev. 10th of 42 Dec. 18 Stanford Palo Alto, Calif. W, 25-9 Dec. 20 Reno Tournament of Champions Reno, Nev. 7th of 25 Jan. 5 North Carolina State Laramie, Wyo. W, 26-15 Jan. 7 No. 24 Oregon State Corvallis, Ore. L, 28-8 Jan. 15 Northern Colorado* Laramie, Wyo. W, 33-6 Jan. 17 No. 25 Nebraska Lincoln, Neb. W, 29-10 Jan. 29 No. 4 Oklahoma State# Laramie, Wyo. L, 31-3 Jan. 30 Utah Valley* Laramie, Wyo. W, 37-3 Northern Iowa* W, 26-12 Feb. 5 South Dakota State* Brookings, S.D. W, 34-9 Feb. 7 North Dakota State* Fargo, N.D. W, 25-15 Feb. 12 Cal State Fullerton Laramie, Wyo. W, 28-13 Feb. 18 Air Force* Colorado Springs., Colo. W, 22-13 March 6 NCAA West Regional/WWC Championship Brookings, S.D. 1st of 7 March 18-20 NCAA Championships Omaha, Neb. 33rd of 78

Home events in BOLD, *denotes Western Wrestling Conference dual, #denotes match held in the Arena-Auditorium

22 Wyoming Wrestling 2009-10 Season Recap

West Regional/WWC Championship Recap 2010 NCAA Championships Recap March 6, 2010, Brookings, S.D. March 18-20, 2010, Omaha, Neb.

Final team scores Wyoming Cowboy Results: 1. Wyoming 75 2. Northern Iowa 74.5 125 lbs - No. 11 seed Michael Martinez (3-2) 3. North Dakota 44.5 W - vs. Aaron Kalil (Navy), by decision, 4. Utah Valley 43.5 6-2 (Thurs.) 5. Air Force 37.5 L - vs. Jarrod Garnett (Virginia Tech), by 6. South Dakota 29.5 decision, 5-2 (Thurs.) 7. Northern Colorado 18.5 W - vs. Garrett Frey (Princeton), by decision, 7-3 (Fri.) Cowboys with Top–Three Finishes W - vs. No. 9 seed Jarrod Patterson 125 - Michael Martinez First Place (Oklahoma), by decision, 6-3 (Fri.) 133 - Cory VomBaur Second Place L - vs. No. 4 seed Anthony Robles 157 - Jimmy Belleville Third Place (Arizona State), by major decision, 10-1 (Fri.) 165 - Shane Onufer First Place 184 - Joe LeBlanc First Place 133 lbs - Cory VomBaur (0-2) 197 - Alfonzo Hernandez Third Place L - vs. Matthew Fisk (Lehigh), by Hwt. - LJ Helbig Third Place decision, 2-1 (Thurs.) L - vs. Justin Paulsen (Stanford), by Wyoming NCAA Selections technical fall (NF, 5:18), 17-1 (Thurs.) 125 - Michael Martinez (Automatic Bid, Two-Time Qualifier) 165 lbs - No. 8 seed Shane Onufer (1-2) 133 - Cory VomBaur L - vs. Tyler Grayson (Central Michigan), (At-Large Bid, Four-Time Qualifier) by major decision, 14-4 (Thurs.) 165 - Shane Onufer W - vs. Edwin Hojilla (UNC Greensboro), (Automatic Bid, Two-Time Qualifier) by decision, 6-3 (Thurs.) 184 - Joe LeBlanc L - vs. Josh Asper (Maryland), by major (Automatic Bid, Two-Time Qualifier) decision, 9-1 (Fri.)

184 lbs - No. 7 seed Joe LeBlanc Shane Onufer (4-2, Fourth Place, All-American) W - vs. Josh Ihnen (Nebraska), by decision, 7-5 (Thurs.) W - vs. Jason McCroskey (Chatanooga), by decision, 5-1 (Thurs.) W - vs. No. 2 seed John Dergo (Illinois), by SV decision, 10-8 (Fri.) L - vs. No. 6 seed Max Askren (Missouri), by SV decision, 9-7 (Fri.) W - vs. No. 5 seed Clayton Foster (Oklahoma State), by decision, 8-3 (Sat.) L - vs. No. 4 seed Michael Cannon (American), by decision, 7-2 (Sat.)

Joe LeBlanc

Michael Martinez

Wyoming Wrestling Wyoming Wrestling 23 All-Americans

Brent Voorhees Wyoming Cowboy All-Americans

Bob Mason - 1950, 1951 Junior, 167 pounds, 4th place Senior, 167 pounds, 4th place

Dick Ballinger - 1958, 1959, 1960 (NCAA Champion) Sophomore, 167 pounds, 2nd place Bob Mason Junior, 167 pounds, 4th place Senior, 167 pounds, NCAA Champion Dick Ballinger

Jerry Frude - 1959, 1960 Dave Hansen Junior, 147 pounds, 2nd place Senior, 147 pounds, 2nd place

Herb Karcher - 1959 Senior, 123 pounds, 4th place

Dave Hansen - 1960 Sophomore, 123 pounds, 3rd place Joe LeBlanc

Allen Frude - 1966 Senior, 152 pounds, 5th place Ray Sanchez Don Miller - 1967 Junior, 167 pounds, 6th place Joe DeCamillis Craig Walters Ray Sanchez - 1967 Sophomore, 115 pounds, 4th place

Dan Silbaugh - 1970 Senior, 142 pounds, 6th place Herb Karcher

Steven Suder - 1979 Senior, 150 pounds, 8th place

Wes Gasner - 1983 Junior, 150 pounds, 6th place

Joe DeCamillis - 1988 Senior, 167 pounds, 8th place Steven Suder Craig Walters - 1988 Sophomore, 126 pounds, 4th place Don Miller Allen Frude Dave Myers - 1992 Senior, 158 pounds, 8th place

Reese Andy - 1994, 1995, 1996 Wes Gasner Sophomore, 177 pounds, 2nd place Junior, 177 pounds, 6th place Senior, 177 pounds, 2nd place

Reese Andy Brent Voorhees - 1996 Senior, 150 pounds, 7th place

Brandon Alderman - 1996 Junior, 158 pounds, 6th place

Joe LeBlanc - 2009 Freshman, 184 pounds, 5th place Sophomore, 184 pounds, 4th place

Dave Myers

Jerry Frude Brandon Alderman Dan Silbaugh

24 Wyoming Wrestling UW Hall of Fame

University of Wyoming Athletics Hall of Fame Wrestling Inductees The University of Wyoming Athletics Hall of Fame was established in 1993, in order to honor individuals and teams who have brought honor and distinction to the Intercollegiate Athletics Department of UW over it’s long and storied history. A total of 111 individuals and ten teams have been inducted into the Hall of Fame since its inception in 1993. That total includes four Cowboy wrestlers, two wrestling coaches/administrators and one Wyoming Wrestling team. The inductees must fit into one of five categories: student-athlete, coach, team, athletics staff members or special achievement. Special achievement includes individuals who have contributed to the ideal of sports at the University. Each nominee must receive at least 75 percent of the committee’s vote to be eligible for induction.

Dick Ballinger (1958-60) - Class of 1993

Dick Ballinger is the only wrestler in University of Wyoming history to win an NCAA championship. A native of Cody, Wyoming, Ballinger won the 1960 NCAA Wrestling championship at 167-pounds. During his outstanding career he was named an All-American three times. He placed second in the 1958 NCAA Championships and fourth in the 1959 NCAA Championships. Ballinger guided Wyoming to a sixth place national team finish in 1959 and a Wyoming all-time best third place team finish in the 1960 NCAA Championships.

Dr. Everett D. Lantz (1937-65) - Class of 1994

Everett Lantz served Wyoming wrestling for 25 years as head coach, the longest tenure of any coach in the UW history. Over that period, Lantz compiled a 141-75-9 dual record, 11 Skyline Conference championships and two WAC titles. His teams won eight titles in a row from 1955 to 1962. He notched seven top 15 NCAA finishes, including a third place national showing in 1960. Lantz was named the NCAA Wrestling Coach of the Year in 1960. He coached six NCAA place winners, 10 three-time conference champions and 30 other conference weight class winners.

1959-60 team - Class of 2003

The 1959-60 Wyoming Cowboys became the first and only wrestling team in school history to finish in the top five at the NCAA Wrestling Championships. The Pokes won the Skyline Conference and finished the season with an 11-1 dual record. The team boasted five conference champions and seven Cowboys competed at the 1960 NCAA Wrestling Championships where UW came only 13 points away from the title, finishing third. Dick Ballinger won the National Championship at 167 pounds, Jerry Frude finished second at 147 pounds and Dave Hansen placed third at 123 pounds, all earning All-American honors. Wyoming head coach Everett Lantz earned 1960 NCAA Coach of the Year honors from the National American Wrestlers Association.

Reese Andy (1993-96) - Class of 2004

Reese Andy was a three-time NCAA All American. Wrestling at 177 pounds, he placed 2nd nationally in 1994, 6th in 1995 and 2nd in 1996. He was a three-time Western Athletic Conference champion and was named Outstanding Wrestler in the conference three straight years (1994-95-96). Andy’s overall record at Wyoming was 110-29, and he compiled a record of 38-4 in his senior season.

Joe Dowler (1973-87) - Class of 2005

In his 14 seasons as head wrestling coach at Wyoming, Joe Dowler led the Pokes to a 105-62-3 dual record while capturing four straight Mountain Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (MIWA) Championships, and three Western Athletic Conference titles. Dowler coached 35 conference champions, two NCAA placewinners, and two All-Americans at Wyoming. Named WAC Coach of the Year three times (1983, 1985 and 1986), he was a finalist for 1986 NCAA Wrestling Coach of the Year. Dowler was an Associate Athletics Director at UW from 1987-2001. Following his retirement, he initiated and coordinated the “W” Club for all UW athletic letterwinners.

Dave Myers (1989-92) - Class of 2008

Wyoming’s only four-time conference champion, Myers won Western Athletic Conference titles at three different weights and represented Wyoming at the NCAA Championships four times. He was named Outstanding Wrestler of the WAC Tournament in both 1991 and 1992. He led the Wyoming wrestling team to conference championships in 1990 and 1992. In his senior year (1992) he earned All America honors by finishing 8th at the NCAA Championships. He won 121 matches as a Cowboy, tied for fourth on Wyoming’s all-time victory list.

Jerry Frude (1959-60, 1962) - Class of 2010

Jerry Frude was a two-time All-America (1959 and 1960). In 1959 as a sophomore, he won the Mountain States/Skyline Conference title at 147 pounds and then went on to a second-place finish in the NCAA Championships, helping the Cowboys to a 6th-place team finish. He again finished second in the nation in the 147-pound weight class in 1960, while Wyoming finished third as a team. After sitting out a year in 1961, Frude re-joined the team in 1962 and was named co-captain. He won his second Skyline Conference championship at 147 pounds and won his first two matches at the NCAA Championships before falling to eventual national runner-up Kirk Pendleton of Lehigh. A native of Laramie, Frude was never pinned by an opponent during his college career. Wyoming’s wrestling teams finished 6th (1959), 3rd (1960), and 11th (1962) in the nation during Frude’s time at UW and won the Mountain States/Skyline Conference team championship each year (1959, 1960 and 1962).

Wyoming Wrestling Wyoming Wrestling 25 Conference Champions

Cowboy All-Time Conference Champions Rocky Mountain Conference Western Athletic Conference Year Name Weight Year Name Weight 1924 Arthur Zaring 125 1963 Dave Wight 157 1924 Francis LaNoue Light Hwt 1963,64 Dee Mickelson 167,177 1925 Lee Bettis 115 1963,64 Hugh Lowham 191, Hwt 1925 Zollie Wood 158 1964 Ron Johnson 123 1926 Arthur Zaring 125 1964 Gary Frank 147 1931 Wynne Clark 125 1966-68 Don Miller 167,177 1932 Edgar Hemenover 126 1967 Leon Mickelson 160 1970 Dan Silbaugh 142 Mountain States/Skyline Conference 1970 Larry Paul 190 1971 Dennis Alf 190 Year Name Weight 1938 Shogo Adachi 121 1974 Brad Warrick 134 1939-41 Merle Smith 121 1974,75 Jody Sloan 158,150 1941 Melvin Baldwin 128 1975,76 Jim Kysar 190 1941 Steve Hale 155 1979 Tom Wertz 177 1942,48 Harry Mangus 128 1979,80 Bob Bath Hwt 1948-51 Frank Stray 145 1980 Cody Westbrook 134 1948 Louis Holland 175 1980 Larry Deal 177 1949-51 George Kelly 123 1980,81 Jimmy London 142 1949,50 Bob Mason 165 1981-83 Chris Bell 126 1950 Robert Morris 136 1981,82 Lonnie Currier 158,150 1950,52 Dewey McConnell 175 1983 Tom Seamans 134 1952 Don Robinson 147 1983,84 Wes Gasner 150 1952,54 Bob Hockley 157,167 1983-85 Ron Whitman 158,167 1952 Bob Schildgen Hwt 1985 Bill Hodges 126 1953 Lee Ballinger 147 1985 Scott Rardin 134 1953 Bob McCullough 177 1985 Scott Chipperfield 150 1953 Richard Hockley 123 1985,86 Mike Hamel 158 1954-56 Bob Royce 123 1985,86 John Bragg 190 1954-56 Bob Bormuth 157 1986 Mike McNaney 142 1955 Henry Goldman 167 1955-57 Stan Wintermote 137 1956,57 Jesse Stokes 167,177 1957,59 Herb Karcher 123 1957,58 Pete Jones 147 1958,59 Dale Madden 130 1958-60 Dick Ballinger 167 1958,59 Carl Scott 137 1958 Fred Brownlee 157 1960 Dave Hansen 123 1960,62 Jerry Frude 147 1960 Lyle Brownlee 177 1960 Howard Colling Hwt 1961-63 Clair Argento 137 1962 Dave Wright 157 1962 Hugh Lowham 191

1970 Western Athletic Conference Champion Dan Silbaugh 1981-83 Western Athletic Conference Champion Chris Bell

26 Wyoming Wrestling Conference Champions

Cowboy All-Time Conference Champions Western Athletic Conference West Regional/Western Wrestling Conference Year Name Weight Year Name Weight 1986 Brian Wilson 167 2001 Steven Schenk 174 1986 Joe DeCamillis 177 2001 Craig Rumsey 197 1987 Bill Peters 150 2003-04 Levi Prevost 165 1986,88,90 Jon Cogdill Hwt 2004 Andrew Shuler 157 1988 Tawn Argeris 134 2004,07 Sam Wendland 184, 197 1988 Tobin Roitsch 150 2004,06 Dusty Hoffschneider Hwt 1988,89 Brian Hagen 190 2006-07 Carter Downing 149 1989 Mike Donovan 134 2006 Malcolm Havens 197 1989-92 Dave Myers 158,167,177 2006 Dan Clum 157 1990 Coley Turner 134 2009-10 Michael Martinez 125 1991,92 Mike Scott 158,167 2009 Cory VomBaur 133 1992 Jason Gregersen 134 2009-10 Shane Onufer 174, 165 1993 Pete Szymczak 167 2009-10 Joe LeBlanc 184 1993 Ryan Jibben 177 1994,95,97 Shilo Mathill 150 1994-96 Reese Andy 177 1995 Justin Martin 126 1995,97 Brandon Alderman 158,177 1995 Brad Alderman 167 1996 Tom Hickenlooper 126 1996 Jason Klohs 190 1998 Bryce Bochy 134 1998 Jeff Tufano 142 1999 Matt Winninger 157 1999 Brian Wood 165 1999 Abe Boomer Hwt

2004, 2007 West Regional Tournament Champion Sam Wendland

1992 Western Athletic Conference Champion 2004, 2006 West Regional Tournament Champion Jason Gregersen Dusty Hoffscheider

Wyoming Wrestling Wyoming Wrestling 27 Wyoming Records

The 2009-10 Cowboy team after their NCAA West Regional Championship.

UW Individual Records Wyoming’s Conference Championship Teams

Career Victories (21) Name Wins 1. Ron Whitman (1981-85) 140 Year Conference 1950 Mountain States Conference 2. Mike McNaney (1981-86) 138 1951 Mountain States Conference Mike Hamel (1982-86) 138 1952 Mountain States Conference 4. Joe DeCamillis (1982-86) 121 1953 Mountain States Conference 5. Chris Bell (1979-83) 114 1955 Mountain States Conference 6. Jimmy London (1976-81) 111 1956 Skyline Conference 7. Reese Andy (1992-96) 110 1957 Skyline Conference 8. Brad Steele (1999-03) 109 Brad Steele - Had 109 career wins 1958 Skyline Conference for the Cowboys at heavyweight 1959 Skyline Conference from 1999-2003. Career Pins 1960 Skyline Conference Name Pins 1961 Skyline Conference 1. Mike Hamel (1982-86) 61 1962 Skyline Conference 2. Mark Voloshin (1986-90) 42 1964 Western Athletic Conference 3. John Bragg (1981-86) 41 1983 Western Athletic Conference 4. Jimmy London (1976-81) 39 1985 Western Athletic Conference 5. Cody Westbrook (1975-80) 36 1986 Western Athletic Conference 6. Jim Kysor (1973-77) 35 1988 Western Athletic Conference Ron Whitman - Wyoming’s 7. Paul Reed (1974-77) 34 1990 Western Athletic Conference All-Time leader in career victories 8. Wes Gasner (1982-84) 33 1992 Western Athletic Conference and single-season wins. 2009 Western Wrestling Conference* 2010 WWC*/NCAA West Regional Single Season Victories Name Wins *indicates WWC regular season dual title 1. Ron Whitman (1984-85) 47 2. Mike McNaney (1985-86) 46 3. Wes Gasner (1983-84) 45 Wyoming’s Top 25 NCAA Team Finishes Joe LeBlanc (2008-09) 45 5. Wes Gasner (1982-83) 44 (15) Shane Onufer (2008-09) 44 7. Mike Hamel (1985-86) 40 Year NCAA Tournament Finish 8. Mike Hamel (1984-85) 39 1950 12th Joe LeBlanc (2009-10) 39 1951 13th 10. Reese Andy (1995-96) 38 1952 23rd Michael Martinez (2008-09) 38 1956 16th 1958 7th Single Season Pins 1959 6th Name Pins 1960 3rd 1. Bill Lingernfelser (1983-84) 21 1961 24th 2. Wes Gasner (1982-83) 19 1962 11th 3. Mike Hamel (1982-83) 18 1965 19th 4. Mike Hamel (1983-84) 16 1967 11th Mark Voloshin (1989-90) 16 1970 20th Brandon Alderman (1996-97) 16 1988 21st 7. Bill Hodges (1984-85) 15 1994 22nd Andy Bell (1984-85) 15 The 1955-56 Wyoming Cowboys 1996 15th Paul Reed (1984-85) 15 pose with their Skyline Conference Championship trophy. 10. Shane Onufer (2008-09) 14 28 Wyoming Wrestling Cowboy Letterwinners

Wyoming Cowboy All-Time Letterwinners

A Bjorn, Lyle, 1938 Dansie, Brandon, 1997-2000 G Adachi, James, 1938-40 Bochy, Bryce, 1994,96-98 Davies, Doyle, 1968 Gagich, Paul, 1992 Adams, Ted, 1969-70 Bond, Lee, 1935,36 Davis, Jon, 1959,60 Gamble, Ryan, 1974,75 Alderman, Brandon, 1995-97 Boomer, Henry, 1999 Davis, Tyler, 2009 Gardner, James, 1980,81 Alderman, Bradley, 1995-97 Bormuth, Robert, 1954-56 Dawson, Warren, 1960,61 Garnhart, Kasey, 2010 Alexander, Greg, 1990-91 Borszcz, John, 1962-64 Deal, Laurence, 1977-80 Gasner, Wesley, 1983,84 Alf, Dennis, 1969-71 Bouchard, Chris, 1997-99 DeCamillis, Joe, 1984-86,88 Gautz, James, 1961-63 Allen, Clark, 1947-50 Bradshaw, Jim, 1972 DeGering, Milton, 1939 Gifford, Brandon, 2007-08 Allen, Don, 1950 Bragg, John, 1982,83,85,86 Demos, Tom, 1947 Godbe, John, 1967,68 Allen, Ethan, 1942,43,47 Brakke, Chad, 1990-91 Desmond, Garrett, 2005, 07 Godbe, Ralph, 1963,64 Allen, Chester, 1943,48 Brownlee, Fred, 1956-58 Despain, D. Wayne, 1946-48 Godbehere, Dan, 1975-77,79 Allen, Arthur, 1943,48 Brownlee, Lyle, 1958-60 Dickson, Howard, 1938 Goldman, Henry, 1953-55 Allison, Paul, 1973-74 Bruner, Fred, 1936,37,38 Dinovo, Edward, 1971 Gonzales, Donald, 2000 Andy, Reese, 1993-96 Burns, P. Lindsay, 1978,80 Donati, Lance, 1976 Gonzales, Justin, 1999,2000 Antisdel, Monte, 1980 Bush, Brian, 1978 Donovan, Mike, 1989-92 Govens, Sidney, 1933 Argento, A. Clair, 1961-63 Butler, Ryan, 1992 Donovan, Todd, 1990 Grant, Cody, 2006-09 Argeris, Brett, 1988,89,91 Doughman, Troy, 1986,87 Grasmick, Dean, 1971 Argeris, Tawn, 1984,86-88 C Downing, Carter, 2005-08 Green, Gavin, 1990 Asay, Merrill, 1942 Campana, Ralph, 1987,88 Downing, Jack, 1959,61 Gregersen, Jason, 1992-95 Ashmore, Brian, 1982 Campbell, Ed, 1976 Duell, Barrett, 2004-07 Grieve, Larry, 1984 Atkins, John, 1966 Candelaria, Reynold, 2001,02 Dueweke, Lawrence, 1941 Griswold, Ken, 1974 Atwood, Jon, 1972, 73 Carroll, Gerald, 1951,54 Dye, Kyle, 2005,06 Grubb, Warren, 1965,66 Carroll, Neal, 1951 Gunter, Blake, 2003,04 B Caturia, Scott, 1962,64,65 E Gunter, Troy, 1991,94 Baker, Lloyd, 1937,39 Ceja, David, 1976 Eads, William, 1946

Baldwin, Dick, 1947,48 Chelesvig, Joseph, 1960-62 Eagleston, Stephen, 1970 H Baldwin, Melvin, 1941 Chipperfield, Scott, 1983,85 Eardley, Matt, 1978,79 Hagen, Bryan, 1988, 89 Ballinger, Richard, 1958-60 Chipperfield, Cody, 2008,09 Edington, David, 1967 Hale, Willard, 1941 Ballinger, Lee, 1951-53 Chisholm, J. Roderick, 1956,57 Etchemendy, Michael, 1987,88 Hale, Steve, 1941 Barkdoll, Robert, 1948 Christensen, Justin, 2000,01 Evans, Joseph, 1940-42 Halsey, Guy, 1935 Barrone, Dan, 2006-08 Clum, Danny, 2005,06 Hamblin, Spencer, 1942 Barry, Clarence, 1939 Coca, James, 1981 F Hamblin, Louis, 1947 Bath, Robert, 1977-80 Cogdill, William, 1989-92 Faczak, John, 2001 Hamel, Michael, 1983-86 Bath, Fredrick, 1982 Cogdill, Jon, 1986-88,90 Fanning, Robert, 1972,73 Hamrick, Corey, 1996-98,2000 Bayouth, Phil, 1973-75 Colling, O. Howard, 1959-61 Farr, F. Shelton, 1949,51 Hamrick, Mark, 1999-02 Beck, L. Mike, 1983,86,87 Coons, James, 1984 Federer, Dale, 1949-51 Hanks, Richard, 1957,58 Bell, Andrew, 1985,86 Cottrell, Ralph, 1932 Fetter, Alvis, 1955,56 Hansen, David, 1960-62 Bell, Gregory, 1986-89 Coxbill, Eric, 2008,09 Finnerty, Dean, 1985 Hara, George, 1984,86 Bell, Chris, 1980-83 Cramer, Gordon, 1967-69 Frank, Gary, 1964-66 Hardlicka, Forrest, 1972 Belleville, Jimmy, 2010 Currier, Lonnie, 1981,82,84,85 French, Herbert, 1958-60 Hart, Fred, 1938,39 Bernal, Bryan, 2006, 07 Frude, Allen, 1964-66 Hartman, Rick, 1968 Bernatow, William, 1963 D Frude, Jerry, 1959,60,62 Havens, Malcom, 2002,04-06 Birr, Michael, 1972 Dack, Gary, 2004-06 Fujikawa, Wright, 1967 Hede, Robert, 1977 Bjorn, Eugene, 1934,37 Dallaserra, Cole, 2008-10 Fuller, Elishia, 1942

Fuhrman, Dane, 2007-08

Wyoming Wrestling Wyoming Wrestling 29 Cowboy Letterwinners

Wyoming Cowboy All-Time Letterwinners Helbig, Lee, 2010 Jones, Peter, 1957,58 M N Hemenover, Edgar, 1932 Julian, Don, 1987,88 Madden, Dale, 1957-59 Nauta, Kirby, 1978 Herbertson, Elmer, 1953 Manchak, Joe, 1949,51 Nelson, Timothy, 1982,83 Hernandez, Alfonso, 2009,10 K Manguy, Harry, 1941,42,46,48 Nighswonger, Steven, 1981 Heslep, Larry, 1964-66 Kadera, Mikah, 2010 Marker, Charles, 1982,83 Nipper, Odwin, 1938,39 Hickenlooper, Tom, 1993-96 Karcher, Herbert, 1957-59 Marking, William, 1934 Nixon, Charles, 1964-66 Higby, Lawrence, 1947,49 Kelly, George, 1949-51 Martin, Bill, 1952,53 Northrup, Harold, 1939,40 Hill, Andy, 1990 Kessner, Kevin, 2001-04 Martin, Justin, 1992,93,95 Nowlen, Charles, 1948-50 Hill, Brad, 1990 Kester, Harold, 1938 Martinez, Michael, 2009,10 Nuss, Michael, 1975,76 Hill, Gary, 1969-71 Ken, Richard, 1953,54 Mason, Robert, 1949-51 Nussbacher, Karl, 1937 Himle, Wes, 1976 Kizzire, Lee, 1936 Mathill, Shilo, 1993-95,97 Hines, Jerry, 1962,63 Klohs, Jason, 1996,97 Matsch,William, 1980 O Hintz, Dallas, 2009,10 Kmetz, Gregory, 1975-78 McConnell, Dewey, 1950-52 Ogawa, Wataru, 1976 Hirasawa, Samuel, 1949,50,53 Knight, Frank, 1939,40 McConville, Mike, 1998 Onufer, Shane, 2009,10 Hirsch, Gary, 1997 Knopp, Gordon, 1985,87 McCrary, Delwin, 1959 Orchard, Mark, 1983 Hockley, Richard, 1953-55 Kuchera, Robert, 1969 McCullough, Robert, 1953 Owen, Jay, 1965-67 Hockley, Robert, 1952-54 Kujath, Dale, 1966-68 McCully, Torey, 1987 Hodges, William, 1981,84,85 Kvidahl, Gregory, 1979 McGinnis, Aaron, 1933 P Hoehn, Nathan, 1996,97 Kysar, James, 1974-76 McGinnis, Victor, 1936 Pachello, George, 1968 Hoel, Paul, 1934 McNaney, Michael, 1982,84-86 Palumbo, Jason, 1993,94 Hoenk, Mark, 1990 L McQuain, Martie, 1955,56 Parson, Jon, 1994 Hoffman, Scott, 1982 Lacey, Melvin, 1936 Meeker, Don, 1973-75 Partridge, Lloyd, 1946-48 Hoffschneider, Dusty, 2004-06 Lake, Troy, 1986,87 Metzler, Wesley, 1957-59 Partridge, Jay, 1943,46,47 Holland, Louis, 1942,48,49 Lam, Preston, 1932 Metzler, Michael, 1981-83 Paterson, Camron, 1997 Hooper, Ronald, 1933 Lampe, Brian, 1981 Meyer, Doyle, 1990 Patterson, David, 1981 Hoopes, Mikel, 2008,09 Lantz, George, 1972-74 Mickelson, Leon, 1965-68 Patton, John, 1979 Hornig, Ronald, 1967,68 Lantz, Everett, 1935,36 Mickelson, Wendell, 1964,68,69 Patton, Marshall, 1977 Hoskovec, William, 1950 LaValley, Jerry, 1978,79,81 Mickelson, F. Dee, 1962-64 Paull, Larry, 1970 Howie, Gerald, 1970-72 Lawrence, Shay, 2006 Miller, Charles, 1935 Paustian, Clarence, 1942 LeBlanc, Joe, 2009,10 Miller, M. Donald, 1965-68 Pavich, Preston, 2006 I Lechnir, Chris, 1977 Miyamoto, Tom, 1940-42 Peart, Melvin, 1941,47,48 Innes, Charles, 1947 Leonhardt, Bryce, 2003-06 Morris, Robert, 1950 Perea, Lawrence, 1988,89,91 Irvine, Duncan, 1987,88 Lieberman, Louis, 1938 Morris, Francis, 1951,522 Perry, Shawn, 1982,83,85 Lindley, Lane, 1974,75 Morrow, Kyle, 2007-08 Perue, Norman, 1962 J Lingenfelser, William, 1984 Mosier, Wilford, 1937 Peryam, Robert, 1939 Jackson, Daniel, 1986,87,89 Lockwood, Ronald, 1979 Muhlig, Dane, 1976 Peters, William, 1986-88 Jennings, Beau, 1971,72 London, James, 1977,78,80,81 Murray, Trevor, 2003,04 Peterson, Laurice, 1955 Jibben, Ryan, 1993 Lowe, David, 1977 Myers, Chris, 1992,93 Piret, Raymond, 1940 Johnson, Bryce, 1990 Lowham, Hugh, 1962-64 Myers, Dave, 1989-92 Plummer, Chad, 2001-02 Johnson, Craig, 1989-92 Lowham, Gary, 1965 Polette, Bruce, 1975 Johnson, Robert, 1937,38 Lucas, Richard, 1965 Pontarolo, Anthony, 2005 Johnson, Theros, 1999 Lutterman, Raymond, 1954 Porter, Lonnie, 1967 Jones, Ivan, 1949-51 Prevost, Josh, 2004

Prevost, Levi, 2001-04

30 Wyoming Wrestling Cowboy Letterwinners

Wyoming Cowboy All-Time Letterwinners

R Smith, Chase, 2009,10 V Smith, Darin, 1994,95 Rardin, Scott, 1984-86 Vigil, Michael, 1987

Smith, Fred, 1943 Ramirez, Nick, 2007 Vincent, Jerold, 1974

Smith, Grant, 1950 Reamer, Michael, 1982 Voloshin, Mark, 1987-90

Smith, Merle, 1939-41 Rebischke, James, 1978 VomBaur, Cory, 2007-10

Smith, Merle, 1981-83 Reed, Paul, 1975-77 Voorhees, Brent, 1993-96

Sneddon, James, 1969 Rieder, Alex, 2007,09,10

Snyder, Clifford, 1959 Roberts, David, 1943 W Sondgeroth, Clay, 2008 Robinson, Joseph, 1983 Walderhaus, E.K., 2002

Soriano, Paul, 1969-71 Robison, Donald, 1951-53 Walker, Christopher, 1998, 99

Stanko, Rudy, 1968,69 Roesler, Jason, 1992-94 Walters, Craig, 1987-90

Steele, Robert, 1973-75 Roitsch, Tobin, 1988,90,91 Warrick, Bradley, 1972-74

Steele, Brad, 2000-03 Roitsch, Stephen, 1991 Wasserburger, Jason, 2003,04

Still, Jason, 2005-08 Rollins, Wayne, 1946 Watt, James, 1991

Stiteler, Chester, 1932 Royce, Robert, 1954-56 Wells, Pearley, 1946

Stocking, Robert, 1969 Rumsey, Craig, 1998-01 Wendland, Sam, 2003-05, 07

Stokes, Jesse, 1955-57 Wert, Edward, 1935

Stone, David, 1963,65 S Wertz, Tom, 1976-79 Stone, Jack, 1969 Salas, Justin, 2002 Westbrook, Cody, 1976,79,80

Stratton, Herman, 1932-34 Sanchez, Arthur, 1965-67 Whitman, Ronald, 1982-85

Stray, Frank, 1948,50,51 Sanchez, Raymond, 1967,68 Wible, William, 1938,39

Strick, Howard, 1975 Scharbrough, Jacob, 2009 Wight, David, 1961-63

Suder, Steven, 1975-77,79 Schenk, David, 2000 Williams, Ted, 1970

Swanke, Ray, 1943 Schenk, Steven, 1999-01 Williams, Michael, 1987

Szymczak, Peter, 1992-95 Schildgen, Robert, 1950-52 Wilson, Bryan, 1985-87

Schmidt, Jay, 1975 Wilson, Kelly, 1978,79

Schmidt, Todd, 1983 T Winninger, Matt, 1997-99

Taylor, Randy, 1979,80 Schneider, Lanny, 1989,91 Winterholler, Philip, 1939

Taylor, Chad, 1986-89 Scott, Michael, 1991,92 Wintermote, Stanley, 1955-57

Terry, James, 1963 Scott, David, 1964 Wisniewski, John, 1989,92

Thayer, Donald, 1956,57 Scott, Carl, 1958-60 Wolfley, Ray, 1936

Thomas, Craig, 1953,54 Seamans, Tom, 1980-83 Wolfley, Blair, 1971

Thompson, Tom, 1966 Seipt, Henry, 1935,36 Wood, Brian, 1996,98-00

Thompson, Farold, 1939,40 Sell, Jeremy, 1997-00 Wright, Ronald, 1965,66

Thornton, Jim, 1980 Shatto, Tyson, 2003-06 Wyman, Shaymus, 1999,00

Tolman, Buzz, 1935 Sherrodd, Mark, 1991

Trujillo, Thad, 2000-03 Shuler, Andrew, 2003-04 Y Tufano, Jeffrey, 1997,98 Shuler, Patrick, 2003,05 York, Joe, 1965

Turco, Paul, 2000,01 Shumway, H. Smith, 1942,43

Turner, Coley, 1990 Silbaugh, Daniel, 1968-70 Z

Slevin, Chet, 2007 Zawacki, Steven, 1975

Sloan, Joe, 1973-75 Slotta, Larry, 1954

Smith, Brock, 2010

Wyoming Wrestling Wyoming Wrestling 31 All-Time Series Records/Cowboy Wrestling Club

Wyoming All-Time Series Records vs. 2010-11 Opponents

Opponent Meetings Wins Losses Ties First Meeting Last Meeting

Air Force Academy 46 34 12 0 1958 2010 Cal Poly 3 0 3 0 1968 1992 Cal-State Fullerton 12 7 5 0 1988 2010 Nebraska-Lincoln 42 14 28 0 1951 2010 North Dakota State 10 6 4 0 1990 2010 Northern Colorado 74 44 29 1 1932 2010 Northern Iowa 15 5 10 0 1960 2010 Oklahoma 15 0 13 2 1955 2001 Oklahoma State 13 0 12 1 1956 2010 Oregon State 23 6 17 0 1960 2010 South Dakota State 11 11 0 0 1954 2010 Utah Valley 6 5 1 0 2005 2010

*Plus a minimum of three Virginia Duals opponents, TBA.

The Cowboy Wrestling Club

What Is It? - “The Cowboy Wrestling Club is a non-profit organization designed to bring in top athletes and coaches to train in Laramie, Wyoming. The club will support our athletes in the off-season so that they can continue to excel throughout the year. With Laramie’s close proximity to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, we believe we have a unique opportunity to create a training ground competitive with any college program in the country. The benefits this club will have on our young student-athletes, our program, and the state of Wyoming wrestling cannot be measured. The sky is the limit on an opportunity like this and we are doing all we can do to get it off the ground. Our student-athletes and staff are already making an impact. Fund raising projects that are currently in place involve football game day workers, community service volunteers, the Cowboy Open tournament, and wrestling summer camps. Every dollar our student-athletes earn will go towards the Cowboy Wrestling Club. We have asked them to make sacrifices with the mindset that this will benefit them for years to come, and they have responded like champions. They take on the challenges of these extra duties with a happy heart, but we realize they cannot do it alone. We have to be careful not to sacrifice their academics or their training. That is where the support of our proud Cowboy fans factors so heavily. I do not want to put a limit on what we can accomplish with this concept, but I do realize for it to run properly it will take a group effort and a winning attitude. We hope you will be part of a very special time in Wyoming Wrestling history. I have told our student-athletes that we are taking Wyoming Wrestling to a place it’s never been before and I hope that you will be along for the ride!”

— Mark Branch Head Wrestling Coach, University of Wyoming

How Can You Help? - Contributions to the Cowboy Wrestling Club (CWC) are greatly appreciated. To donate, please send a check or money order made out to the Cowboy Wrestling Club. These donations will be 100% tax deductible minus the actual cost of the gift you will receive in exchange. The gift will be uniquely designed to display your affiliation and your support of the CWC. The CWC account is governed by a board of directors and the funds are exclusively used to finance athletes who desire to train in USA Wrestling or international events. Training expenses for club coaches who will be training for the Olympics with our young student- athletes will also be supported through the CWC. Questions? Contact Mark Branch at (307) 766-5382 or [email protected]

Benefits - Apparel that will signify membership in this exclusive club. - A monthly newsletter from the coaching staff updating the progress of the Cowboys. - Priority seating at home events and NCAA championships. - Pre or Post match socials with team and coaches at home events. - Invitations to observe team workouts.

32 Wyoming Wrestling Wrestling Facilities

University of Wyoming Wrestling Facilities

UniWyo Sports Complex: Home of Cowboy Wrestling duals. With a seating capacity of approximately 1,200, the UniWyo Sports Complex gives UW wrestlers an overwhelming home gym advantage. Wyoming fans make the UniWyo Sports Complex one of the loudest and most difficult places for opponents to compete in the country. Fan seating was updated in 2007 and the complex features a large matrix scoreboard. It is directly adjacent to the wrestling practice room and locker room.

Everett Lantz Wrestling Room: Remodeled in 2006, the Cowboy Wrestling practice room contains two mats, along with weight-training and cardio-training equipment. The climate-controlled room is between Wyoming’s locker room and competition gym, and is named for long-time UW head coach Everett Lantz.

Wyoming Locker Room: Remodeled in 2006, Wyoming’s Wrestling locker room has spacious team lockers and a sauna. It is directly connected to the team practice room.

Rochelle Athletics Center: Built in 2001, this facility boasts a Sports Medicine and Treatment Center, a Strength and Conditioning Center, an Academic and Counseling area with a computer lab, as well as large meeting rooms. All of these areas War Memorial Fieldhouse: Home of the annual Cowboy Open Tournament, are used extensively by this multi-use facility can accomodate up to 10 mats and has ample seating for fans. the Cowboy wrestlers.

Wyoming Wrestling Wyoming Wrestling 33 Strength and Conditioning

Cowboy Tough - Wrestling Strength and Conditioning

The sport of wrestling requires the attention and consideration of numerous variables when designing a comprehensive training program. In general, it requires that the athletes improve their strength levels and their ability to produce power, while maintaining a relatively low body weight. Wrestling also places various joints and their supporting musculature under abnormal stress, which if not properly prepared for, could result in injury. Athletic development at the University of Wyoming is a yearlong process with specific training goals for the various times of the year. After the competitive season, the athletes work to rehabilitate any injuries that may have occurred during the season, as well as regain any lost flexibility or mobility. As the preseason approaches, the emphasis switches towards sport specific strength and power development. In terms of the weight room, the competitive season is broken up into early season, and mid to late season. Although the two are similar in the specific goals of maintaining strength and power, the mid to late season portion of the competitive season reduces the amount of stress on the athlete’s body, ensuring that the efforts in the weight room are not inhibiting the athlete’s performance on the mat or in their weight management This process of athletic development extends beyond that of physical improvement. Through creative, competitive, strict, and intense training, intangibles such as work ethic, accountability, attitude, and leadership are also developed. These are all characteristics specific to that of a champion, and that is what we aim to be each competitive year.

Robert Hartman Cowboy Strength and Conditioning Coach

Wyoming Cowboy Wrestling National Strength and Conditioning Association Annual All-America Strength and Conditioning Awards

*Given to student-athletes for their dedication to strength and conditioning training. Must be nominated by a strength and conditioning coach to be eligible.

Joe LeBlanc - 2010 Alex Rieder - 2009 Bryce Leonhardt - 2006 Malcom Havens - 2006 Dusty Hoffschneider - 2006 Kevin Kessner - 2004 Brad Steele - 2003 Corey Hamrick - 2000 Matt Winninger - 1999

Recently graduated Cowboy wrestler Alex Rieder (above) was named an NSCA All-America Strength and Conditioning Athlete in 2009. Current Cowboy Joe LeBlanc (left) earned the same honor in 2010.

34 Wyoming Wrestling Academic Support/Awards

Office of Academic Support The Office of Academic Support provides assistance to UW student-athletes in a variety of areas, including academic development, career development, and personal growth and development.

Cowboy wrestlers meet with Academic Coordinator Rodney Floyd weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly to discuss their current classes and to cover academic success and career preparation topics. Frank pre-advises the wrestlers for their semester class schedules, ensuring that their classes apply directly to their degree program, in order to meet NCAA eligibility benchmarks and to guarantee that the student- athletes graduate from UW within five years. Student-athletes must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester, and they must take into consideration their practice and travel schedules when registering for classes. The Office of Academic Support helps student-athletes in this process.

A staff of nearly 40 tutors is also available to assist student-athletes. The tutors work with student-athletes to clarify problems the students may have with class material and, in some cases, to help the students develop study skills, note-taking strategies, and time management techniques. Freshmen student-athletes also meet weekly with an assigned mentor, who assists them with organization and with transitioning to the academic demands of college. Tutors and mentors are upperclassmen or graduate students with at least a 3.0 GPA, or individuals from the community who have already earned at least a Bachelor’s Degree.

The NCAA Student-Athlete Affairs and UW S.A.D.D.L.E. Cup program offers programming centered on career development and personal growth and development. Presentation and workshops include topics such as Drug/Alcohol Abuse, Sexual Responsibility, Money Management, Job Searching, and Cultural Diversity.

The Office of Academic Support provides UW student-athletes with resources to be successful in the classroom, to prepare for a career after athletics, and to make informed decisions about their personal behavior.

Wyoming Cowboy Wrestling Wyoming Cowboy Wrestling National/Regional Academic Award Winners Conference Academic Award Winners

Jason Gregersen 1992-1995 Mike Donovan 1992 Justin Martin 1992, 1993, 1995 Jason Gregersen 1992-1995 Tom Hickenlooper 1993-1996 Justin Martin 1992, 1993, 1995 Shilo Mathill 1994, 1995, 1997 Craig Puffer 1992 Darin Smith 1994, 1995 Tom Hickenlooper 1993-1996 Brad Alderman 1996, 1997 Shilo Mathill 1994-1997 Brandon Alderman 1996 Darin Smith 1994, 1995 Brandon Dansie 1998-2000 Brent Voorhees 1994 Corey Hamrick 1998, 2000 Brandon Alderman 1995, 1996 Jeremy Sell 1998-2000 Brad Alderman 1996, 1997 Jeff Tufano 1998 Wes Bartels 1996 Matt Winninger 1999 Brandon Dansie 1997-1999 Bryce Leonhardt 2004, 2005, 2006 Corey Hamrick 1997-1999 Joe LeBlanc 2010 Bryce Bochy 1998 Jeremy Sell 1998, 1999 List reflects awards given by the NWCA and CoSIDA. Matt Winninger 1999 *BOLD denotes Academic All-American or First Team All- Mark Hamrick 2001, 2002 Academic Kevin Kessner 2001-2003 Kelly McConville 2001 Levi Prevost 2001 Brad Steele 2003 Bryce Leonhardt 2003-2006 Dan Clum 2005 Nick Ramirez 2007 Cory VomBaur 2007-2010 Dane Fuhrman 2008, 2009 Brandon Gifford 2008 Cody Grant 2008, 2009 Cole Dallaserra 2009, 2010 Tyler Davis 2009, 2010 Alfonso Hernandez 2009, 2010 Both Alfonso Hernandez Joe O’Farrell 2009, 2010 (above) and Cory Joe LeBlanc 2010 VomBaur (below) Michael Poulos 2010 received Cowboy Joe Club endowed List reflects awards given by the WAC, MWC and WWC. scholarships in 2009-10. Hernandez is pictured with former UW head coach Joe Dowler and VomBaur with current UW head coach Mark Branch.

Wyoming Wrestling Wyoming Wrestling 35 UW Traditions Ragtime Cowboy Joe The familiar fight song of the University of Wyoming athletics teams is Ragtime Cowboy Joe. This song is performed by the band as UW teams enter the playing surface, following a score or big play, and to fire up the fans. The Cowboy and Cowgirl student-athletes traditionally sing this following each Wyoming victory.

RAGTIME COWBOY JOE “He always sings raggy music to the cattle as he swings back and forward in the saddle, on a horse - a pretty good horse! He’s got a syncopated gaiter, and you ought to hear the meter to the roar of his repeater; how they run - yes run! - when they hear that he’s ‘a-comin’, cause the western folks all know, he’s a high-falootin’, rootin, tootin’, son of a gun from ol’ Wyoming, Ragtime Cowboy, Talk about your Cowboy, Ragtime Cowboy Joe.”

The Stampede The Stampede is the official athletics fan club for University of Wyoming students. The Stampede is one BIG fan club for all 17 NCAA Division I sports at the University of Wyoming. The Stampede leads Wyoming fans in spirit, tradition and passion for Wyoming Athletics. Members of the Stampede receive multiple benefits, and as a student at UW, The Stampede is the best way to become involved in Wyoming Athletics.

Cowboy Nickname The nickname “Cowboys” was applied to Wyoming athletic teams as early as 1891 - two years before the first official football game. The story is that the Wyoming pick-up football team appealed to a 220 pound cowpuncher, Fred Bush, for help in a game against the Cheyenne Soldiers. Bush signed up for a course or two and came out for the team. When he trotted onto the field decked out in a checkered shirt and Cowboy hat, someone yelled, “Hey, look at the Cowboy!” Since many of the members of the team were also ex-cowboys, the name stuck. When women’s sports were added at UW, the nickname of Cowgirls was applied to those squads.

Cowboy Joe Pony Cowboy Joe IV, a fourth generation Wyoming mascot, trots around War Memorial Stadium after each Cowboy touchdown, a tradition which started in 1950 when the Farthing Family of Cheyenne made a generous donation of a young pony to become Wyoming’s mascot. Cowboy Joe also represents UW in parades around the region, appears in Tailgate Park on football game days and leads the band and team in the pre-game Cowboy Walk. This beautiful little pony is very popular with Cowboy & Cowgirl fans of all ages.

36 Wyoming Wrestling UW Traditions Spirit Squads The primary purpose of Wyoming’s Spirit Squads is to support the Cowboys and Cowgirls, and to serve as public relations ambassadors for the University of Wyoming. The UW cheer and pom squads work hard to get the crowd involved, lead cheers, entertain, and to boost the level of fan excitement and support to new extremes. In addition to their game-day involvement at UW Athletics’ contests, Wyoming Spirit Squad members also make numerous appearances at university activities, functions, programs, charitable and public events. Cowboy and Cowgirl sports are flying high and the Wyoming Spirit Squads are leading the way.

Pistol Pete Pistol Pete is a UW student mascot who works alongside the Wyoming Spirit Squads, encouraging the crowd and getting fans involved in the game.

Western Thunder Marching Band The University of Wyoming Marching Band - “Western Thunder” - features musicians from nearly every major on campus, who perform for thousands of football fans each year at home and road Cowboy football games. The Wyoming Pep Band plays at numerous other UW sporting events.

UW’s Logo - Steamboat One of the nation’s best, and most distinctive logos, the image on Wyoming’s uniforms depicts a cowboy riding a bucking horse. This symbol has been a part of the University of Wyoming Athletics Department since the early 1920’s, when UW Equipment Manger Deane Hunton obtained a photograph of a cowboy, Guy Holt, riding the world famous bucking horse Steamboat. Hunton had the photo made into a logo, which was then utilized by UW athletic teams. While there are differing opinions on exactly which horse and rider is depicted on all of UW’s athletic uniforms today, it is the symbol that is important. The Brown and Gold Colors bucking horse and rider represents the toughness, and the The story behind the colors of the University of Wyoming dates back never-say-die spirit that is Wyoming. A statue honoring the to 1895. In the spring of that year, the first ever UW Alumni Banquet symbol called ‘Fanning a Twister’, was erected at the north was held. Decorations for the banquet included Brown-Eyed Susans, a entrance of UW’s athletics facilities in 1991. flower native of Southeastern Wyoming. The Alumni were so impressed with the colors (brown and yellow) and the beauty of the flowers that they decided to select these colors as the official school colors at UW. Currently, the colors are described as brown and gold. Wyoming Wrestling Wyoming Wrestling 37 UW Facilities

ROAD | Arena-Auditorium | ORY ARM

| UniWyo Sports Complex | Louis S. Madrid Sports Complex

Memorial Track Tennis Courts

Glenn “Red” Jacoby Golf Course

Indoor Practice Facility

UniWyo Sports Complex

Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium

Tailgate Park

| Corbett Pool | | War Memorial Fieldhouse |

| Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium |

38 Wyoming Wrestling UW Facilities

| Rochelle Athletics Center |

| Louis S. Madrid Sports Complex |

ROAD ORY ARM

Louis S. Madrid Sports Complex

Memorial Track Tennis Courts

Glenn “Red” Jacoby Golf Course

| Glenn “Red” Jacoby Golf Course |

Indoor Practice Facility

UniWyo Sports Complex

Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium

| UW Tennis Courts | Tailgate Park | Indoor Practice Facility |

| Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium |

Wyoming Wrestling Wyoming Wrestling 39 UW Campus UW Campus Great people, great surroundings, and a great education...it's all here at the University of Wyoming.

| Physical Science Building | | Simpson Plaza |

| Half Acre Gymnasium |

| McWhinney Hall |

| College of Engineering |

| Old Main |

| Classroom Building | America’s Best In August of 2010, UW was named one of the nation's best institutions for undergraduate education, according “to the Princeton Review. The University of Wyoming is listed 17th among “America’s Best Public Colleges” in rankings released in 2009 by Forbes.com. Additionally, Forbes ranked UW fifth among its “America’s Best College Buys.” ”

| College of Education | 40 Wyoming Wrestling| American Heritage Center | UW Campus UW Campus Great people, great surroundings, and a great education...it's all here at the University of Wyoming.

| Simpson Plaza | | Arts & Sciences Building | | Half Acre Gymnasium |

Spend some time here and you’ll agree that much of UW’s character is shaped by this great “home on the range.” Laramie, the location of the main campus, is a safe, friendly community of 30,000 people. Nestled between the Laramie and Snowy Range mountains in southeastern Wyoming, it’s a beautiful, unspoiled place with a special life-style. The campus extends over 785 tree-shaded acres. There’s an attractive mix of modern and traditional structures; many were built with native Wyoming sandstone. It’s a place where the sun shines 320 days each year. It’s hard to be gloomy here. When you view it from 7,200 feet, you see things more clearly. But it’s not just a pretty place; it’s also a place that works. Up-to-date facilities support the learning and research mission that makes UW special. There are classrooms with state-of-the art computer technology, laboratories with the latest equipment, excellent libraries, computer systems with universal Internet access, and a long list of premier research facilities both on campus and in the surrounding area.

| Health Sciences Building |

| Coe Library |

| Washakie Center | ”

Wyoming Wrestling Wyoming Wrestling 41 Wyoming...Like No Place on Earth

| The Tetons and Snake River | They say it’s beauty is like no other, and you fall in love with its people.

Wyoming, it is like no place on earth. Within it’s boundaries is America’s first and largest national park, Yellowstone. The unbounding beauty there includes “Old Faithful” geyser and Yellowstone Lake, the world’s largest high- mountain lake. There is Yellowstone Falls, so awe- inspiring, it’ll take your breath away. There are over 260 different species of animals and birds located there.

Wyoming’s wonders seem to be unending. There is Grand Teton National Park, whose centerpiece is the spectacular Teton Mountain Range. There is Devil’s Tower, America’s first national monument. There is the world’s largest mineral hot springs located in Thermopolis. There is the beauty of Ten Sleep Canyon and a hundred | Devil's Tower National Monument | other places.

For breathtaking beauty, Wyoming is unmatched. Its reputation brings millions of visitors to its borders each year. Plus, some of the best skiing in America can be found in Wyoming. Tourists and sportsmen can’t wait to get here to enjoy the clean mountain air and limitless outdoor attractions.

The history of the great American West can be heard | | whistling through the trees of Wyoming. Wyoming had Yellowstone Falls an historic place in the taming of the West in the late 1800’s. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid were two of Wyoming’s most famous citizens during the era of lawlessness. There remain plenty of reminders of an age that will live forever in American lore.

People are Wyoming’s strongest resource. These folks are down to earth, friendly and helpful. And, oh how proud they are of their Cowboys and Cowgirls. Wyoming has some of the best fans in America. As their only four-year university, Wyoming folks are tremendously supportive of their teams.

Yet, as down to earth as they are, many Wyomingites are on the cutting edge of politics, entertainment and business. Among some of the most famous are: former Vice President of the United States Dick Cheney; Dr. Jerry Buss, owner of the Los Angeles Lakers; Dean Conger, former chief photographer of the National Geographic Society; Curt Gowdy, the most decorated national sportscaster in history; Alan Simpson, former United States Senator; Gerry Spence, attorney and television personality; and General Pete Schoomaker, former U.S. Army Chief of Staff.

For great people, great scenery and a great education, there is no place quite like Wyoming.

Photos on this Page: We wish to thank the Wyoming Division of Tourism for the photos featured on this page. (Top) The Tetons and Snake River. (Middle Top) Devil's Tower National Monument. (Middle Bottom) Yellowstone Falls. (Bottom) Old Faithful. | Old Faithful |

42 Wyoming Wrestling Laramie...the Clear Choice

One of the best things about Laramie is its location between two beautiful mountain ranges. It’s a place of blue skies and clean air. Much of the area surrounding Laramie is public National Forest land. That means great access! You can head for the nearby mountains and find yourself on a hiking, biking or skiing trail within 15 minutes. There’s also nearby rock climbing at the impressive Vedauwoo formations. You can be downhill skiing in the Snowy Range within 45 minutes. Laramie is convenient to the world-class skiing offered in Steamboat Springs and other Colorado resorts.

For a different kind of fun, you can be in Denver within two and a half hours. There is an amazing array of culture throughout the area, plus the tremendous sports heritage of the Rockies, Broncos, Nuggets and Avalanche.

With its colorful Western heritage, cultural activities and outstanding outdoor recreation, the Laramie area offers a unique flavor that delights visitors from all over the world.

Things to Check Out In Laramie:

✓ Rappel down a rock face at Vedauwoo ✓ Ski, mountain bike or hike the trails at Happy Jack ✓ Snowboard the slopes at the Snowy Range Ski Area ✓ Catch a trophy fish at Lake Hattie

Wyoming Wrestling Wyoming Wrestling 43