GUNNISON, Colo. – Western Colorado University wrestling team prepares for the 2019-20 season by adding twenty wrestlers from six different states to the roster. The Mountaineer wresting team will be losing five key seniors from their 2018-19 roster, allowing for a new generation of Mountaineers to step into the spotlight.
 
With the addition of the incoming class, the program will grow close to 40 athletes on the roster. Head Coach Charlie Pipher is excited to have young talent and to have his older athletes move into leadership positions. "We are fired up about the 2019 recruiting class.  There are guys from all over the country and add depth up and down our line-up," said Coach Pipher. "It's a good mixture of guys who are going to need some time to develop and some guys who have the ability to step into our line-up right away.  Whether we redshirt or wrestle them they will push the guys currently in the room and will be ready to make some noise in the RMAC and nationally right away."
 
Mark Mayhugh – 5'3" – 125 – Bishop Union High School – Bishop, California
Mark comes to Western from Bishop High School where he was a three sport athlete between wrestling, football, and baseball. In high school Mayhugh was a four time league wrestling champion and league most outstanding wrestler, a sectionals champion and four year scholar athlete. He also earned first team all-league for wrestling four years in a row and two year for football. When asked why he chose Western, Mayhugh said it was "because of the environment and the open atmosphere. I believe Western will allow me to thrive as an individual as well as an athlete, allowing me to become the best person I can be."
 
Cole Hernandez – 5'11" –149/157 – Pueblo Centennial High School – Pueblo, Colorado
Cole comes to Western from Pueblo Centennial High School where he was a four sport athlete between wrestling, cross country, track, and baseball. Competing at the 145 pound weight class in high school, Hernandez was a three time state qualifier with a top finish of runner-up at the state championships. In his high school career he had 134 career wins, 368 career takedowns, with 175 of those takedowns coming in his senior year alone. When asked why he chose Western, Hernandez said it was "because it best suited my lifestyle and athletic prowess."
 
Ethan Andrade – 5'8" –125/133 – Lamar High School – Lamar, Colorado
Ethan comes to Western from Lamar High School where he competed in the 120 pound weight class. In high school he was a three time state qualifier finishing in fourth place in 2017 at the Colorado State Championships, then in 2018 and 2019 finishing runner-up at the State Championships, and making the NWCA Team Colorado for 120 pounds. Andrade finished his high school career with a record of 123-38. When asked why he chose Western, Andrade said it was because of the "great coaching staff, the wrestling program, and the exercise and sports science program.
 
Nicholas Braswell – 5'4" –133/141 – Basha High School – Chandler, Arizona
Nicholas comes to Western from Basha High School where he wrestled at the 140 and 145 pound weight classes. Braswell was a two time state qualifier, finishing fourth at the DI Arizona State Championships in 2016, earning first team CUSD three years throughout high school. When asked why he chose Western, Braswell said the he "felt it was the best place where I could grow. I loved the small town feel. I want to be an orthopedic surgeon and Gunnison has some of the country's best surgeons. The Wrestling team is also pretty dang good."
 
Tannen Kennedy – 5'8" –149/157 – Meeker High School – Meeker, Colorado
Tannen comes to Western from Meeker High School where he was a three sport athlete between wrestling, football, and track. Kennedy was a two time Colorado State Championship finalist. He also holds the Meeker High School All Time Wins record, going 153-25 in his high school career. In the classroom, Kennedy was a member for the National Honor Society and the Future Farmers of America Treasure. When asked why he chose Western, Kennedy said it was because of the "academic possibilities, the great coaching staff, and history of the program."
 
Cole Mortensen – 5'8" –157 – Snowflake High School – Snowflake, Arizona
Cole comes to Western from Snowflake High school where he was a two sport athlete between football and wrestling. Mortensen was a two time Arizona State Champion and a three time finalist, along with earing second place freshman year and third place sophomore year. In high school, Cole went 209-13 with 139 pins in his career.
 
Samuel Freeman – 5'7" –157 – Mesa Ridge High School – Colorado Springs, Colorado
Samuel comes to Western from Western Wyoming Community College where he was a two time national qualifier. In high school, Freeman attended Mesa Ridge High School where he was a State Champion and three time state placer. When asked why he chose Western, Freeman said it was "to get to the top along with a championship team."
 
Alex Alvarez – 5'4" –133/141 – Poudre High School – Wellington, Colorado
Alex comes to Western from Poudre High School where he was a three time 5A state qualifier placing fifth, fourth, and third. Alvarez also earned Athlete of the Week in the Coloradoan. In the classroom he was an honor roll student along with being a student-athlete. When asked why he chose Western, Alvarez said that "Western was my first pick because of the community and location. I attended Western's wrestling camps over the summer while in high school. I got to know the coaches and the kids really well. I also enjoy the outdoor activities that Gunnison has to offer."
 
Liam Bird – 5'5" –125/133 – Keller Central High School – Fort Worth, Texas
Liam comes to Western from Keller Central High School where he wrestled at the 132 pound weight class. Bird was a Cadet Duals qualifier, finished sixth place at Regionals, and was a 2019 State alternate. When asked why he chose Western, Bird said it was because of the "beautiful campus, great wrestling program, and well suited to my Sports Science Major."
 
Giovanni Cassioppi – 5'9" –149 – Hononegah Community High School – Roscoe, Illinois
Giovanni comes to Western from Hononegah Community High School where he was a three sport athlete between wrestling, football, and tennis. For wrestling, Cassioppi was a three time Illinois state qualifier, with a top finish of fifth place. He was a multiple time national placer and won four conference championships. In the classroom he finished with a 3.6 grade point average and was a student academic award winner.
 
Jacob Gonzales – 5'6" –125 – Pueblo Centennial High School – Pueblo, Colorado
Jacob comes to Western from Pueblo Centennial High School where he was a two sport athlete between wrestling and football. During his high school wrestling career he was a four time state qualifier and a four time Colorado state placer. He the 2017 Warrior Classic, along with the 2019 Rocky Welton Champion.
 
Espen Weber – 5'11" –165 – Columbine High School – Littleton, Colorado
Espen comes to Western from Columbine High School where he was a two sport athlete between wrestling and football. When asked why he chose Western, Weber said it was "because of the immediate feeling of belonging and acceptance I received from the staff and students. When I first began my talks with Coach Pipher, I had a genuine feeling of interest and that I wasn't just another wrestler looking for a school to go to. I loved the way the school made me feel at home and just the positivity that you found everywhere and from everyone."
 
Aiden Barrios – 5'7" –165/174– Delta High School – Delta, Colorado
Aiden comes to Western from Delta High School where he played both football and wrestled. In his high school career Barrios was a three time state qualifier, two time regional champion and a state placer wrestling at the 170 pound weight class. When asked why he chose Western he simply said that there is "No better place!" 
 
Ryan Wilson – 5'10" –149/157 – Centennial High School – Boise, Idaho
Ryan comes to Western from Centennial High School where he was a state champion, two time state runner up, placed all four years at the state championships, and was a four year varsity recipient. After going 181-36 in his high school career, Wilson was a 2018 Idaho Hall of Fame Member. He was a two time Triple Crown Winner along with a six time Freestyle State Champion. When asked why he chose Western, Wilson said it "felt like home and the best fit for me."
 
Patrick Allis – 5'9" –133 – Discovery Canyon High School – Larkspur, Colorado
Patrick comes to Western from Discovery Canyon High School where he was a two time state champion, three time state finalist, a four time state qualifier and placer. Allis was a three time Fargo All-American and one time Fargo finalist. In his high school career, Allis went 142-21. In the classroom he was a three time academic letter recipient, along with making principal honor roll three times.  When asked why he chose Western, Allis said it was because of "the beautiful scenery, a great wrestling program with great coaches, and the ability to hunt and fish."
 
Edmund Delva – 6'1" –184/197 – Columbine High School – Littleton, Colorado
Edmund comes to Western from Columbine High School where he was a two sport athlete between wrestling and football. In high school Delva wrestled at the 195 weight class as he was a 2019 state qualifier and earned first team all-conference. For the 2019 season, he went 25-9 with 11 pins. When asked why he chose Western, Delva said, "It already had a different feeling than anywhere else. When I came to visit I knew I wanted to be a part of it.
 
Stanley Suter – 6'2" –197 – Nazareth Academy High School – Berwyn, Illinois
Stanley comes to Western from Nazareth Academy High School where he was a three sport athlete between wrestling, football, and track and field. Suter not only achieved success on the mat, but earned Nazareth Academy Scholar Athlete, achieved 16 consecutive A honor roll quarters, American Legion Scholarship recipient, part of National Honor Society and National English Honor Society. When asked why he chose Western, Suter said, "I chose Western because I'm looking for personal relationships with my professors, and a smaller enviorment." 
 
Mikinzie Klimper – 5'1" – 184 – Moffat County High School – Craig, Colorado
Maikinzie comes to Western from Hiram College where he lettered in division III football. Kilmper attended Moffat County High School where he was a three sport athlete between wrestling, football and track. In high school, Klimper was a four-time state qualifier, two-time regional runner-up, two-time regional champion, and two-time CHSAA state runner-up. In the classroom, he was a two-time All-State Honorable Mention in wrestling, football, and track. When asked why he chose Western, Klimper said, "Western has an amazing wrestling program and will give me the opportunity to start a career in the field I want."
 
Mikhail Garcia – 5'9" – 125 – Gunnison High School – Gunnison, Colorado
Mikhail comes to Western from Gunnison High School where he wrestled at the 126 pound weight class, and qualified for the State Championships. When asked why he chose Western, Garcia said, "I chose Western because I love the atmosphere of the college."
 
Jacob McCarley – 5'8" – 149 – Manitou Springs High School – Green Mountain Falls, Colorado
Jacob comes to Western from Manitou Springs High School where he wrestled at the 141 pound weight class along with participating in football, and track. On the mat, McCarley was a four-time letter winner, two-time state qualifier, one-time regional champion, two-time wrestler of the year, two-time All-Conference recipient of the coach's choice award. When asked why he chose Western, McCarley said, "The location of Western fits my outdoor hobbies, as well as being away from home but not too far. Out of the schools I looked at for wrestling Western's team felt like the right fit for me. Western felt like it could become an easy second home."
 
The Mountaineers 2019-20 schedule is now available at GoMountaineers.com or by clicking the link above.