HAYS, Kan. – Midway through Friday night's dual, 19^th-ranked Western Colorado University trailed 12^th-ranked Fort Hays State University by seven points, 13-6. The Mountaineers rallied and won the final five bouts to complete the upset and earn a 30-13 dual victory.
 
With the win, Western (10-3, 3-1 RMAC) reaches 10 dual victories on the season. It's the second season in-a-row Western has reached double digit dual wins. It's also the first time the Mountaineers have had back-to-back double digit dual victories in a season since 2013-14 and 2014-15. Western also had 11 dual wins in 2012-13.
 
After falling behind 13-6 following the first five bouts, Hunter Mullin stepped onto the mat at 165 pounds for the Mountaineers. Mullin dominated FHSU's Conrad Vajnar from start to finish, not allowing Vajnar a single takedown. Mullin won the match by major decision 18-6, and put the Mountaineers within three point of the Tigers, 10-13.
 
Top-ranked Brandon Supernaw earned a forfeit at 174 pounds to give Western a 16-13 lead before Konnor Schmidt took to the mat at 184 pounds for the Mountaineers.
 
Schmidt earned an 8-4 decision, also holding FHSU's Micquille Robinson without a takedown in the match. The Mountaineers went ahead of FHSU 19-13 with two bouts remaining.
 
At 197 pounds, Dylan McBride made his season debut for Western. McBride fell behind early and trailed 11-1 entering the third period. The freshman started the period neutral, earned a takedown followed by a two-point nearfall and a four-point nearfall. With 34 seconds remaining in the match McBride put FHSU's Jordan Davis to his back, earning a fall and solidifying the dual win.
 
Sammy deSeriere capped-off the dual with an 18-3 technical fall over AJ Cooper in just 2:31 at 285 pounds.
 
Western's Trenton Piatt started the dual with a 10-4 decision win for the Mountaineers at 125 pounds.
 
Piatt was followed with a 6-2 decision win at 133 pounds by teammate Colby Duncan. Neither Duncan nor Piatt allowed a takedown in their matches and put Western ahead 6-0 to begin the dual.
 
The Tigers earned a major decision at 141 pounds, a 7-6 decision at 149 pounds and a fall at 157 pounds to lead Western 13-6.
 
The win is Western's fourth over a ranked opponent this season. The Mountaineers improve to 4-1 against ranked opponents in 2018-19.
 
Western will face another ranked opponent in No. 18 University of Central Oklahoma Saturday at 1 p.m. (MST) in Edmond, Oklahoma.