GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference title came down to the final dual of the year for Western Colorado University wrestling. Needing a win against Colorado Mesa University to earn a share of the conference title, the Mountaineers overpowered the Mavericks with a 27-12 victory, earning the program's seventh conference championship.
 
Western (14-4, 6-1 RMAC) finished the dual season on Wednesday night in the Battle in Brownson, becoming RMAC Co-Champion with the Colorado School of Mines.
 
It was the program's seventh team RMAC title and first since the 2014 season.
 
The Mountaineers won 6-of-11 bouts on Wednesday against CMU, earning bonus points in three of those matches.
 
Trenton Piatt set the tone for Western, opening the dual at 125 pounds. Piatt entered the second period with an 11-2 lead before earning an escape and takedown. Piatt turned that takedown into a pin, giving the Mountaineers a 6-0 lead.
 
In the next match, Western's Cody Fatzinger started where Piatt had left off. Fatzinger earned four takedowns in the first period and one in the second period, taking a 10-5 lead into the third. The redshirt freshman was able to hang on for an 11-10 decision win, putting Western ahead of CMU 9-0.
 
The Mavericks fought back on their home mat, earning the following two matches by decision to trail the Mountaineers by just three points, 6-9.
 
Jason Slaughter put three more points on the board for Western at 157 pounds. Slaughter allowed CMU's Luke Au­Yeung just one takedown, earning a 10-5 decision win.
 
At the midway point of the dual, the Mountaineers led the Mavericks 12-6.
 
Senior Jason Buhr earned CMU's only bonus points of the dual with a 16-5 major decision at 165 pounds.
 
Heading into the 174 pound match, Western held a two-point lead, 12-10. However, the Mavericks were penalized one team point for a late challenge during the 174 pound bout and Western led by three points, 12-9 in the first period of the bout.
 
Top-ranked 174-pounder Brandon Supernaw then kept his perfect record intact, earning a fall against CMU in the second period and giving the Mountaineers an 18-9 lead with three matches remaining.
 
Konnor Schmidt, ranked fifth at 184 pounds, entered the third period against CMU's Nolan Krone trailing by one point, 5-6. Krone started the period on bottom and quickly earned an escape. Schmidt then earned a takedown to tie the match at seven points. With time running out, Schmidt turned Krone for a four-point nearfall to take an 11-7 decision win.
 
With two matches remaining Western led by six points, 21-9. The Mountaineers could solidify the dual win and a share of the conference title, as long as they didn't give up two falls in the final two bouts.
 
The Mountaineers called upon Michael Thelen to wrestle at 197 pounds. Thelen, typically a 174 pounder, but wrestling up two weight classes on Wednesday night, put on a memorable performance that will live in Western wrestling lore.
 
Thelen trailed 2-0 after the first period. The redshirt sophomore then earned a takedown in the second period and rode-out CMU's Anthony Lodermeier to go into the final period tied 2-2. Not only did Thelen not give up any bonus points, he nearly came away with a win. However, Lodermeier earned an escape and late takedown to earn a 5-2 decision win.
 
Despite the loss at 197 pounds, Western clinched the dual win and in turn clinched a share of the RMAC title.
 
In the final match of the night, Sammy deSeriere held a 7-0 lead in the second period before CMU's Hunter Mooring was forced to forfeit due to injury, giving Western a 27-12 win.
 
Western will have a week off before returning to the mat for the NCAA Division II Region IV Championships on Feb. 23 in Kearney, Neb. The top three finishers from each weight class at the Region IV Championships will qualify for the National Championships on March 8 in Cleveland, Ohio.