Campbell coach Scotti Sentes has chip on shoulder ahead of Wyoming matchup: 'I want to dominate them'

Fighting Camels, Cowboys clash at Friday's 'Battle in the Barn,' live from Deerwood Ranch on UFC FIGHT PASS.

Campbell University started the 2023-24 NCAA wrestling season in spectacular fashion, earning a comfortable win over Army West Point in the "Battle at Liberty" before claiming a pair of individual titles at Virginia Tech's Southeast Open. But after suffering a stinging loss to No. 9-ranked Nebraska this past week, Fighting Camels head coach Scotti Sentes isn't looking to make any excuses for the result.

"We set up our schedule in a way where we can learn something about ourselves, and we want to hit those top guys," Sentes said. "Nebraska in some polls are No. 4. They're top-10 in every poll, so that's a team we can go out and hopefully expose some of our weaknesses so we can get to work and fix those weaknesses, and that's what we saw: We saw Nebraska expose some of our weaknesses, and so we've got to get back on the horse, I guess you could say, and get back to work."

If the goal is to get back on the horse, the Fighting Camels couldn't have chosen a more appropriate location for their next appearance. The team travels to Wyoming, where the Deerwood Ranch Wild Horse EcoSanctuary plays host to a very special dual between Campbell University and the University of Wyoming Cowboys that streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS in the latest installment of CFFC Match Day.

While the Fighting Camels volunteered to open their season at a military base, Sentes credits Wyoming coach Mark Branch for helping arrange what is sure to be an equally incredible scene in this outing.

"Coach Branch, he's really ahead of the curve in terms of trying to have some unique events," Sentes said. "I don't remember exactly how it started, but something was said that it would be cool if we wrestled in a barn or did it on a ranch, and he jumped straight on it and made it happen, so we're excited to be a part of it. 

"I think it's important to compete under the bright lights, and we put ourselves in some opportunities to do that, and we're thankful that Wyoming has allowed us to come out there and compete and put on a show with them. That's what we want to do: We want to put on a show, put points on the board, and make an entertaining package for people to watch."

Wyoming has raced out to a quick start, as well, already 3-0 on the year after a pair of wins this past weekend. Sentes knows that the Cowboys are both bolstered by those results and also driven to shine on the big stage provided by UFC FIGHT PASS and expects them to provide a stern test. But after an admittedly frustrating outing against Nebraska, Sentes believes his own team is coming in with a bit of an attitude this time around.

"I know they're hungry," Sentes said of his opponents. "This is a special case where you have a team coming off of two great wins and they want to keep that ball rolling, and you've got another team that's got a chip on their shoulder, and I'll say in any competition, I want to be on the side with the chip on their shoulder, so I expect fireworks. I expect both teams to go out there and throw monkey wrenches and throw the kitchen sink, and it should be a good time, and no better stage to do it than UFC FIGHT PASS in a barn."

Ultimately, both teams are looking to use the experience of the "Battle in the Barn" to help improve their squads as they build to the 2024 NCAA Championships, which take place in March in Kansas City. But each step along the way helps pave that foundation, and Sentes believes an impressive win is a necessity in Friday's dual.

"Man, I want to dominate," Sentes said. "I want to dominate them. I don't want to just win matches. I want to see our guys scoring bonus points, getting pins, going for big moves, and we've got a couple of surprises that I think will turn some heads. We'll have some new blood out there. I won't get too deep into it, but just be ready for a show. That's all I can say."