GUNNISON, Colo. – For Western Colorado University Wrestling, dual season starts tomorrow. On Friday, Western takes to the mat against Cloud County Community College at 4:00 p.m. In a busy weekend, Western comes back to the mat under the lights against #2-ranked University of Nebraska-Kearney at 7:30 p.m.

After wrestling one tournament at the University of Wyoming, Western returns to Paul Wright Gym to host their first duals of the season.

Picked to finish second in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Preseason Poll, Western enters the weekend with two wrestlers ranked in the top three of NCAA DII. RMAC Preseason Wrestler of the Year, Brandon Supernaw is currently the ranked first at 174 pounds while teammate Konnor Schmidt is the 2^nd-ranked wrestler at 197 pounds.

With both depth and new faces in the lineup, Western will display a fresh look to start the weekend.

When Western faces-off with Cloud County Community College they will see a familiar face in Head Coach Cody Cole. No stranger to Paul Wright Gym, Cole is a Western alum back to test his #25 ranked NJCAA T Bird squad against the Mountaineers.

The big test for the Mountaineers comes Saturday against Nebraska-Kearney. The Lopers were picked second in the DII Wrestling Coaches Association preseason poll. Powered by four returning All-Americans, Nebraska-Kearney boasts three wrestlers ranked in the top three. Josh Portillo is ranked third at 125 pounds, Matt Malcom is ranked first at 157 pounds, while both Calvin Ochs (165) and Jarrod Hinrichs (285) are ranked third.

With Western's ranked wrestlers at other weights, fans can expect fireworks up and down the lineup for both teams.  

Western's expected lineup for the weekend is:
                125 - Trenton Piatt
                133 - Cody Fatzinger                                                                                                        
                141 - Jason Hanenberg                                                                                                     
                149 - Diego Calderon                                                                                                       
                157 - Jason Slaughter                                                                                                       
                165 - Hunter Mullin                                                                                                                                       
                174 - #1 Brandon Supernaw
                184 - Ruger Wyneken
                197 - #2 Konnor Schmidt
                HWT - Sammy deSeriere
               
 Fans that can't make the dual can follow live online by clicking the links above, or by following Western Wrestling and Mountaineer Athletics on social media (@WCUWrestling, @WCUMountaineers).