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Incoming Wyoming Cowboys find success at Junior Freestyle Nationals

Posted at 6:14 PM, Jul 19, 2018
and last updated 2018-07-19 20:14:26-04

(UW Athletics release)

LARAMIE, Wyo. – The Wyoming Wrestling Regional Training Center (WWRTC) is coming off a big weekend with four incoming Cowboys competing in the USA Wrestling Junior Freestyle Nationals in Fargo, N.D. Incoming freshman Tate Samuelson highlighted the group finishing fourth with an impressive 8-2 record. The four grapplers combined for 19 wins at the tournament.

“It is the toughest tournament in the country in that age group with the number of wrestlers competing,” UW head coach Mark Branch said. “I saw a lot of good things from the guys and some things we can develop when practice starts. “

The quartet of wrestlers represented their home states in the event, but have been training in Laramie for the last month.

Samuelson, a native of Castle Rock, Colo., defeated numerous ranked wrestlers on his way to the fourth place finish. He opened the tournament with three-straight victories at 182 pounds.

Chase Zollman, a native of Poway, Calif., was 5-2 on the weekend wrestling at 138 pounds. Jacob Greenwood, a native of Livermore, Colo., went 4-2 for the tournament competing at 152 pounds. Gillette native Trevor Jefferies wrestled at 145 pounds and finished the weekend sporting a 2-2 record.

“After this weekend I’m excited to get these guys in the room full time and work on some things I saw over the weekend,” Branch said. “It was a great experience that will help them in the future.”
Wyoming finished 17th in last season’s NCAA Championship, which was the highest under head coach Mark Branch.