GUNNISON, Colo. – The Mountaineers of Western Colorado University made quick work of the Cloud County Community College Thunderbirds on Friday. Western wrestling earned bonus points in 9-of-10 bouts, defeating CCCC 50-3.
 
In the season opening dual the ninth-ranked Mountaineers recorded six pins, two technical falls, and one major decision.
 
Western ended the dual with four straight pins to send the Thunderbirds flying out of Paul Wright Gym.
 
Quickest pin of the dual went to Division II's top ranked wrestler at 174 pounds, Brandon Supernaw. The senior put his opponent, Kobryn Mann, to his back just 1:42 into the match.
 
Ruger Wyneken at 184 pounds, Konnor Schmidt at 197 pounds, and Sammy deSeriere at 285 pounds, all followed with pins of their own. Jason Slaughter also earned a fall at 157 pounds.
 
While Supernaw had the quickest fall, deSeriere's may have been the most exciting. Heading into the third period, deSeriere had a 1-0 lead. Cloud County's Benny Hernandez picked the bottom to begin the third. It took deSeriere all of seven seconds to cradle Hernandez and end the dual.
 
Trenton Piatt opened the dual for Western with a second-period technical fall in his 125-pound bout. Piatt earned four takedowns and two four-point nearfalls to win 17-2 and give the Mountaineers a 5-0 lead.
 
Hunter Mullin earned Western's other tech. fall, winning 21-6 at 165 pounds. Mullin earned eight takedowns in the match and scored another four points on a nearfall.
 
Freshman Jason Hanenberg won his match at 141 pounds by major decision, shutting out Tyren Castonguay 12-0.
 
Western will be on the mat Saturday night in Paul Wright Gym to face second-ranked University of Nebraska – Kearney. The dual is set to begin at 7:30 p.m.