Takedown Report

Wyoming Upsets No. 10 South Dakota State, 24-18

LARAMIE, Wyoming (1/18/26) – The University of Wyoming wrestling team has curiously resided just on the outside looking in of the NWCA Coaches’ Poll. Even though the Cowboys have scored more points against No. 1 Penn State than any other team this season and their only losses have come to top 10 teams, the Pokes were still not viewed as one of the 25 best teams in the country.
That’ll change following Sunday. Wyoming defeated No. 10 South Dakota State, 24-18, inside the UniWyo Sports Complex, marking its first victory over a top 10 team in eight years. “That’s a really good team,” head coach Mark Branch said. “To be able to pull off that win says a lot about our guys and our team. We had a lot of big moments in that dual. And to beat a team like that, you have to have big moments.”
No. 32 Jared Hill (157) provided one of those big moments. He pinned No. 17 Cael Swensen in overtime, which vaulted Wyoming ahead, 14-9. It was a lead the Pokes never relinquished. “That was super gutsy,” Branch said. “It was kill or be killed. If Jared doesn’t do what he did, he goes to his back. Jared went for it, and that was a huge momentum swing. It got the crowd on their feet and was huge heading into halftime.”
Sloan Swan (165) showcased some guts, as well. He had been struggling this season, but he logged one of the biggest wins of his career coming out of halftime. Swan utilized a late takedown to upset No. 27 Marcus Espinoza-Owens via decision, 4-1. “Having Jared go out there against a really tough guy and get a win, that was huge,” Swan said. “You can feel the energy rise, and it pumped me up.”
The lead Swan gave the Cowboys needed a little extra help, and without No. 4 … more at … https://gowyo.com/news/2026/1/18/wrestling-upsets-no-10-south-dakota-state-24-18.aspx

January 22, 2026 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | ncaa-football, sports