GUNNISON, Colo. --- The Western Colorado wrestling team returns to action 6 p.m. Thursday as the Mountaineers travel to take on Colorado Mesa at Brownson Arena in a non-RMAC matchup.
WCU - the defending RMAC champions - and the Mavericks both enter the matchup 1-0 in duals after defeating then-No. 24 Chadron State last month with the Mountaineers winning 28-13 at Paul Wright Gym on Nov. 14 and CMU winning 32-17 on Nov. 16 in Grand Junction.
The Mountaineers are coming off placing seven wrestlers at the UNK - Younes Hospitality Open on Nov. 23 in Nebraska with
Ruger Wyneken (not in the probable lineup this week) leading the way by winning the 184-pound Elite Division. He would go on to be named the RMAC Wrestler of the Week for the second time this season. The Mountaineers had a trio of wrestlers take fourth in
Patrick Allis (125 - Elite Division, 4-2),
Tannen Kennedy (149 - Amateur Division, 4-2) and
Jimmy LaConte (174 - Elite Division, 3-2) while
Nicholas Braswell (133 - Amateur Division, 4-2),
Giovanni Cassioppi (149, 4-2) and
Logan Church (285 - Elite Division, 2-3) each took sixth.
The Mavericks placed nine at that same event with Donnie Negus leading the way by taking second at 197 pounds while sophomore Nolan Krone took third at 184 pounds.
The Mountaineers hold a 31-25-1 edge on Colorado Mesa in the all-time series, including winning the last four duals.
