GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. --- The Western Colorado wrestling team dropped a 24-22 decision to Colorado Mesa in a non-RMAC dual on Thursday night at Brownson Arena.
 
The Mountaineers (1-1 overall, 1-0 RMAC) started strong as Patrick Allis picked up a 14-5 major decision win at 125 pounds, Cody Fatzinger followed with a 13-5 major decision win at 133 pounds and Jason Hanenberg made quick work of his opponent at 141 pounds with a fall at 1:13 to give WCU a quick 14-0 lead.
 
But Colorado Mesa won the next four matches – including the last two by fall – to take the lead back at 19-14.
 
WCU's Hunter Mullin – wrestling up two weight classes at 184 – rallied to win 14-12 to cut the Mavericks' lead at 19-17. But a tech fall for CMU at 197 gave the Mavericks a 24-17 lead. Sammy deSeriere picked up a technical fall for the Mountaineers at heavyweight with a 21-5 win, but the Mavs had already clinched the dual.
 
The Mountaineers return to action next weekend at the Midwest Classic in Indianapolis.