JACKS FALL SHORT AGAINST COWBOYS

Sunday, January 18

Laramie, Wyo.

2 p.m.

South Dakota State University

Wyoming

A wrestler in a blue singlet, Cale Seaton, holds a headlock against a wrestler in a white singlet during a wrestling match

Photo by: Inertia Sports Media/Dave Eggen

1/18/2026 4:14:00 PM | Wrestling

LARAMIE, Wyo. - The Jackrabbits fell short against Wyoming on Sunday afternoon as the Cowboys upset the Jacks, 24-18.

The dual started at 125 pounds, where No. 22 Brady Roark took on Sefton Douglass. Roark dominated the match from start to finish, scoring an escape and a reversal in the second and third periods before picking up the ride time point, securing a 4-0 decision and giving the Jacks a 3-0 lead.

Cale Seaton faced off with a tough opponent at 133 pounds, taking on No. 28 Luke Willochell. The crafty Willochell was able to score on a slide-by in the first and picked up multiple near-fall swipes on his way to a 15-0 tech fall, putting the Cowboys up 5-3.

Julian Tagg returned to the mat at 141 pounds as he faced off with John Alden. Tagg scored in all three periods and finally caught Alden in the third, pinning his shoulders to the mat with 12 seconds left in the match for the six-point victory. Tagg's win put the Jackrabbits back ahead, 9-5.

The Jacks struggled in the middleweights of the dual, which ultimately ended up being the turning point of the match. The Cowboys were able to string together wins at 149, 157 and 165 pounds, picking up a few upsets along the way.

Colin Dupill filled in for Alek Martin at 149 against No. 18 Gabe Willochell. The other Willochell brought the funk against Dupill and scored a 9-2 decision, cutting the Jackrabbit lead to 1.

In one of three ranked matchups during the dual, No. 18 Cael Swensen faced off with No. 32 Jared Hill. After three periods, the score was tied 1-1 with each wrestler having a stall warning against them. Swensen was the aggressor in sudden victory, but Hill used that against him, turning a double leg attempt into a throw and putting Swensen on his back for the pin. Heading into the break, Wyoming had gotten its first lead, 14-9.

At 165 pounds, No. 27 Marcus Espinoza-Owens found himself in a tough matchup with Sloan Swan. Espinoza-Owens was the aggressor throughout the match but a late neutral danger takedown for Swan stole the match and increased the Cowboy's lead, 17-9.

The Jacks got back on track at 174 pounds as No. 18 Moses Espinoza-Owens took on No. 29 Riley Davis. After a scoreless first, Moses got to his offense in the second and third, racking up two takedowns for the 8-2 decision win over Davis, cutting the Cowboy lead to 17-12.

Brock Fettig faced a tough task at 184 pounds, taking on No. 12 Eddie Neitenbach. Fettig hung in there with Neitenbach throughout the match but gave up the deciding takedown with 20 seconds left, securing the decision for Neitenbach.

No. 7 Bennett Berge faced off with Gunner Henry at 197 pounds, with the Jacks needing bonus points in the last two matches to stave off the upset. After a scoreless first, Berge was able to score in the second and third periods before eventually putting Henry on his back for the pin, giving the Jacks a lifeline heading into heavyweights, down 18-20.

In a clash of styles, No. 19 Luke Rasmussen took on No. 9 Christian Carroll. Carroll dominated the first period, scoring three takedowns before Rasmussen chose the top position in the second. Rasmussen rolled all around the mat with Carroll in the second, riding out the top-10 wrestler, but was unable to score any points. Carroll chose neutral for the third period and went back to work, racking up two more takedowns and securing the major decision and the dual for the Cowboys, 24-18.

NOTES:

Bennett Berge notched his second pin of the weekend.
Moses Espinoza-Owens took out his fifth ranked opponent of the season, while improving to 10-0 in duals.
Brady Roark improves to 9-0 in duals

UP NEXT
The Jacks return home next week as they host Cal Baptist inside of First Bank & Trust Arena, Friday night at 6 p.m.

RESULTS:
#10 SDSU 18, Wyoming 24
125| #22 Brady Roark (SDSU) dec. Sefton Douglass (WYO), 4-0; 3-0 SDSU
133| #28 Luke Willochell (WYO) TF Cale Seaton (SDSU), 15-0; 3-5 WYO
141| #22 Julian Tagg (SDSU) pins John Alden (WYO), 6:48; 9-5 SDSU
149| #18 Gabe Willochell (WYO) dec. Colin Dupill (SDSU), 9-2; 9-8 SDSU
157 |#32 Jared Hill (WYO) pins #18 Cael Swensen (SDSU); 7:01; 9-14 WYO
165| Sloan Swan (WYO) dec. #27 Marcus Espinoza-Owens (SDSU), 4-1; 9-17 WYO
174| #18 Moses Espinoza-Owens (SDSU) dec. 29 Riley Davis (WYO), 8-2; 12-17 WYO
184| #12 Eddie Neitenbach (WYO) dec. Brock Fettig (SDSU), 4-1; 12-20 WYO
197| #7 Bennett Berge (SDSU) pins Gunner Henry (WYO), 5:34; 18-20 WYO
285| #9 Christian Carroll (WYO) MD #19 Luke Rasmussen (SDSU), 16-4; 18-24 WYO