GUNNISON, Colo. – Western State Colorado University wrestling will host their first duals of the season in Paul Wright Gym this week against a pair of ranked opponents. The Mountaineers host No. 13 CSU-Pueblo on Thursday before welcoming No. 2 University of Nebraska Kearney to Paul Wright. Both duals begin at 7 p.m.
 
Thursday's dual against CSU-Pueblo (7-4, 2-1 RMAC) is an Operation Red event. All fans are encouraged to wear red and Western wrestling will be distributing free t-shirts to the first 500 fans through the gate.
 
Friday is Fear the Beard night against UNK (13-5, 2-1 MIAA). Fans are encouraged to wear beards, fake or real, to the 7 p.m. dual. 100 free beards will be given to the first students entering the gym. Prizes will be awarded for the best real and fake beards.
 
Western (5-4, 1-1 RMAC) enters the duals after defeating Colorado School of Mines 40-0 last Saturday. It was the first shutout for Western wrestling since defeating New Mexico Highlands University 38-0 on Feb. 12, 2013.
 
Ronald Wardleigh is the lone Mountaineer ranked in the top-12 of his weight class. The 125-pounder is ranked third in Division II. Wardleigh has lost only one match this season at 125 pounds.
 
The CSU-Pueblo Thunderwolves come into the dual after losing 22-12 to No. 9 University of Central Oklahoma.
 
The Thunderwolves have three wrestlers currently ranked nationally. At 165 pounds, JaCobi Jones is ranked fourth, while Kyle Bateman is ninth at 174 pounds and JaVaughn Perkins is ranked sixth at 184 pounds.
 
Western defeated CSU-Pueblo 25-16 last season.
 
UNK is also coming off a loss to No. 9 UCO. The Lopers lost to the Bronchos 22-16 last Friday.
 
UNK has 6-of-10 starting wrestlers ranked nationally. At 133 pounds, Bryce Shoemaker is ranked second, while Jacob Wasser is ranked sixth at 141 pounds, Dustin McCauley is ranked second at 157 pounds, Calvin Ochs is ranked sixth at 174 pounds, Zach Stodden is ranked eighth at 184 pounds and Kevin Barrett is ranked fourth at 285 pounds.
 
The Mountaineers lost last season's duals against UNK, but defeated the Lopers 25-24 in 2015.
 
Fans unable to make the duals in Gunnison can follow live online by clicking the links above.

Probable Lineup

Wt.        Wrestler                           Yr.         Hometown / Previous School                            Overall (Falls)   RMAC (Falls)
125         #3 Ronald Wardleigh    Sr.         Plain City, Utah / Fremont HS                                         17-4 (10)               2-0 (0)
 
133         Tyler Hanenberg            Fr.         Colorado Springs, Colo. / Air Academy HS                   8-8 (4)                 1-1 (0)
 
141         Seth Rich                         RFr.        Syracuse, Utah / Syracuse HS                                  10-11 (0)               1-1 (0)
 
149         Ian Steen                          Jr.          Graham, Wash. / Graham-Kapowsin HS                      4-2 (2)                 1-1 (0)
 
157         Shawn Beiriger               Jr.          Del Norte, Colo. / Del Norte HS                                      13-7 (2)                2-0 (0)
 
165         Travis Bradford               Jr.          Houston, Texas / Saint Thomas HS                                13-5 (1)                2-0 (0)
 
174         Brandon Supernaw      So.         Colorado Springs, Colo. / Doherty HS                           18-7 (3)                1-1 (0)
 
184         Konnor Schmidt            RFr.        Fort Collins, Colo. / Rocky Mountain HS                      19-5 (3)                2-0 (0)
 
197         Mick Dougharity            Sr.         Damascus, Ore. / Oregon State                                      13-8 (6)                0-0 (0)
Or           Ben Price                         RFr.        Boise, Idaho                                                                   7-7 (1)                 2-0 (0)
 
HWT      Michael Henry                Fr.         Graham, Wash. / Graham Kapowsin HS                     13-10 (4)               1-1 (0)