Four Wyoming Wrestlers Earn Academic All-Big 12 Honors

The Big 12 Conference has recognized four University of Wyoming wrestlers for their academic excellence by naming them to the 2025 Academic All-Big 12 Winter Sports Team.

Warren Carr, Mason Ding, Ethan Ducca, and Garrett Ricks earned the distinction based on their strong performance in the classroom and consistent participation in competition.

To qualify for the Academic All-Big 12 Team, student-athletes must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.2 or higher—or achieve that GPA over the most recent two semesters—and compete in at least 20 percent of their team’s contests. Seniors with at least two years of participation on the team are only required to meet the GPA threshold.

The recognition comes after a competitive season for the Cowboys, who finished with a 12-6 overall record and a 6-3 mark in conference duals. Wyoming placed 10th at the Big 12 Wrestling Championships and 22nd at the NCAA Championships.

Program Adds Four Recruits for 2025–26

In addition to the academic accolades, head coach Mark Branch has announced the addition of four new athletes to the Wyoming wrestling program for the 2025–26 season. The incoming class includes two junior college transfers, one four-year transfer, and one high school standout.

• Christian Carroll, a transfer from Iowa State, brings experience at the 197-pound weight class. Carroll went 5-5 last fall, including notable victories over Big 12 champion Wyatt Voelker (Northern Iowa) and NCAA qualifier Nik Stemmet (Stanford).

• Sefton Douglass, a Lyman, Wyoming native, joins from Western Wyoming Community College, where he was the NJCAA national runner-up at 125 pounds. A four-time high school state champion, Douglass is expected to compete at 125 pounds and has three years of eligibility remaining.

• Cody Phelps, originally from Pinedale, Wyoming, arrives after redshirting at Michigan State. He previously earned a national title at 133 pounds as a sophomore at Western Wyoming and placed third as a freshman. Phelps will compete at 133 and has two years of eligibility left.

• Owen Hull, from Grants Pass, Oregon, is a two-time 6A state champion and will wrestle at 165 pounds. Branch praised Hull’s toughness and consistency, adding depth to Wyoming’s middle weights.

With input from 7220 Sports and University of Wyoming Athletics.