The Wyoming Cowboy Wrestlers will compete at home for the first time in more than a month as they take on two conference opponents this weekend. 

Tomorrow at 7 p.m. the wrestlers will host the South Dakota State Jackrabbits (1-9-1, 0-2 WWC), and Sunday at 1 p.m. they will host North Dakota State Bison (7-2, 1-1 WWC). Both duals are in the UniWyo Sports Complex.

Wyoming is coming off their first conference match up of the season where they defeated Utah Valley last weekend by a score of 23-15. The Cowboys earned the close dual win with strong performances from several wrestlers. Included in those performances was a dual-ending match 5-4 decision from senior Cole Dallaserra at 149-pounds over Josh Wilson.

“It feels good to finally be home,” Dallaserra said. “Since Christmas break we’ve been on the road traveling every weekend so it’s good to not have to worry about traveling, get a good week of preparation and focus on getting ourselves ready for these two conference duals this weekend.”

Dallaserra is ranked 20^th in the first release of the NCAA Coach’s Panel Rankings, which are a part of determining qualifiers for the 2011 NCAA Division 1 Wrestling Championships. The rankings were released on Jan. 18.

Four other wrestlers are ranked in the Coaches Panel including Michael Martinez, ranked 22^nd at 125 pounds; Tyler Cox, ranked 27^th at 133 pounds; Shane Onufer, ranked sixth at 165 pounds; and Joe LeBlanc, ranked fifth at 184 pounds. 

Martinez will face the only ranked wrestler for NDSU on Sunday in 18^th ranked Trent Sprenkle. SDSU has no ranked wrestlers.

Onufer is still undefeated in his 2010-11 campaign, posting a record of 21-0. Eleven of those wins have come in duals, and four have come over ranked opponents.

LeBlanc has a record of 15-1 this season with a dual record of 10-1 and a 5-1 record against ranked opponents. 

Head coach Mark Branch has stressed since he arrived in Laramie three years ago that everything leads up to the NCAA championships in March, and his wrestlers echo this goal. 

Dallaserra added that one goal is the conference championship, but they always work for their ultimate goal at the end of the year.

 “These are conference matchups this weekend, but our season all year long we’re preparing for March,” Dallaserra said. 

“That’s what we have our eyes set on. Our preparation in these duals and stuff this is this is the time of year that’s preparing us for March. Every day we’re coming in here we’re going through our training cycle we’re pushing hard, we’re getting better we’re learning each and every week. We’re learning each weekend from our matches, trying to better ourselves and prepare ourselves to peak at the right moment come March.”

According to Wyoming Athletics, the Cowboy grapplers have never lost to the Jackrabbits in the eleven contests, and they have a record of 7-4 all-time against the Bison.

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