GUNNISON, Colo. – Western State Colorado University wrestling came out firing on all cylinders Thursday night. In a packed Paul Wright Gym, the Mountaineers dominated Colorado Mesa University en route to a 26-12 victory.
 
Western (10-4, 3-1 RMAC) won the first three bouts of the night, holding CMU (3-9-1, 1-3-1 RMAC) without a takedown for the first seven periods.
 
No. 8 Trenton Piatt started the dual with an 11-0 major decision over CMU's Cole Bernstein in the 125 pound match.
 
Piatt was followed by Colby Duncan's 6-1 decision over the Mavericks' Tim Romero at 133 pounds.
 
Jody Sandoval made it 11-0 in favor of the Mountaineers with a 12-3 major decision over William Moss in the 141 pound bout.
 
The closest match of the dual came at 149 pounds. After falling behind 4-2 and time running out, Western's Diego Calderon earned a takedown as time expired to force an overtime against CMU's John Daniel. Daniel earned a sudden victory win, giving the Mavericks their first points of the night.
 
CMU climbed back into the dual with two more decision wins at 157 pounds and 165 pounds and trailed the Mountaineers 11-9.
 
No. 5 Brandon Supernaw quickly changed the momentum, winning his 174-pound match by 6-1 decision over CMU's Bruno Nicoletti.
 
In the 184-pound bout, CMU's Adam Visconti earned the first takedown in the opening seconds. However, Brendan Gonzales reversed the takedown and put Visconti to his back, pinning the Maverick at the 1:31 mark of the first period.
 
With two matches remaining, Western was ahead 20-9. The Mountaineers had a grasp on the dual victory, but weren't in the clear.
 
All that changed after the 197-pound match. No. 5 Konnor Schmidt grinded through the first two periods and in the third pinned CMU's Anthony Lodermeier, clinching the dual victory for the Mountaineers.
 
The Mavericks would win the 285-pound match, but Western took the dual win, 26-12.
 
Western will have a quick turnaround and wrestle at the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships this Saturday at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The wrestling will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at 4 p.m. with the finals matches.
 
For all those traveling to watch the Mountaineers, Western will be holding a pre-victory party at the Clarion Inn Hotel & Conference Center at 314 W. Bijou Street in Colorado Springs at 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. on Friday night.