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Men's Wrestling Gregg Petcoff

Top-25 Matchup at Paul Wright Gym

No. 23 Western Colorado vs. No. 8 Adams State
6 p.m., Fri., Jan. 27 | Paul Wright Gym | Gunnison, Colo.
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GUNNISON, Colo.  It will be a top 25 dual Friday evening in Paul Wright Gymnasium as Western Colorado, tied for No. 23 in the most recent National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) NCAA Division II poll, entertains No. 8 Adams State University in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference bout.

The Mountaineers will finish off the weekend in Golden, Colo., with an RMAC match against the host Orediggers of Colorado School of Mines.

WESTERN HEADING INTO THE DUAL | 7-5 overall, 2-0 RMAC
The Mountaineers are fresh off an upset of No. 17 Fort Hays State (Kan.) at the UNK Midwest Duals, downing the Tigers 33-15. Earlier in the day Western suffered defeats against No. 1 Central Oklahoma (35-10) and No. 3 Nebraska-Kearney (27-16).

Western won the first seven weights in the Fort Hays State match, building a 33-0 lead before the Tigers could take their first bout.

Hunter Mullin (165 pounds), Jason Hanenberg, (149) and Alex Alvarez (133) were each unbeaten on the day. Mullin's 3-0 day included a pair of majors and then a fall in the Fort Hays match, while Hanenberg – ranked No. 4 by NWCA – included a 5-1 decision over sixth-ranked Brik Filippo of Central Oklahoma. Alvarez lived on the edge in his first two matches, winning both by 2-0 decisions, but dominated his Fort Hays opponent with a first-period fall.

Mullin was voted the RMAC Wrestler of the Week for his performance at the Midwest Duals.

Two weeks prior to the Midwest Duals the Mountaineers hosted the 32nd Tray Borah Duals, finishing the day unbeaten with dominating victories over Simon Fraser University (38-12), University of Findlay (39-9), San Francisco State (28-12, in an RMAC match), and Minot State University (35-9).

Cole Hernandez, No. 9 in the NWCA 174 rankings, put on a dominating performance at the Borah, recording four first-period fall, including an 81-second pin in the Minot State match.

Hanenberg also went undefeated in his four bouts, earning first-period pins in two of his four wins.

Western defeated Adams State, 22-17, last season in Alamosa, Colo., and will be trying to extend an eight-match win streak over the Grizzlies.

ADAMS STATE HEADING INTO THE DUAL | 8-0 overall, 3-0 RMAC
The Grizzlies were a perfect 3-0 at the UNK Midwest Duals. They downed Central Missouri, 34-10, in the opening match of the day, trounced Newman University, 46-3, in Round 2, then finished off the Duals upsetting host and third-ranked Nebraska-Kearney, 21-18.

Adams' RMAC wins have come against San Francisco State (30-10), Chadron State (29-9) and Colorado School of Mines (26-15). Other common opponents with Western include a 32-12 win over Findlay and a 38-15 victory over Simon Fraser.

The night before the match at Western, the Grizzlies visit Colorado Mesa University to battle the No. 12 Mavericks.

The Grizzlies have three wrestlers within the NWCA individual rankings: No. 3 Brendan Garcia (133), No. 3 Josiah Rider (149), and No. 1 Noah Hermosillo (157).

Adams State's last victory in Gunnison, Colo., was a 24-10 win on Feb. 2, 2012.

COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND | 8-1, 2-1 RMAC
The Orediggers won both of their matches at the UNK Midwest Duals, defeating Newman (Kan.) University, 33-12, and Central Missouri, 24-14.

Mines had two matches at the Tracy Borah Duals, rolling past both Findlay, 45-3, and Simon Fraser, 39-7.

In between those two events, the Orediggers took on host Adams State on Jan. 14, falling to the Grizzlies 26-15, then bouncing back the next day with a 34-9 RMAC win over New Mexico Highlands.

Other common opponents with Western were S.F. State, a 30-9 Oredigger RMAC win, and then-unranked Fort Hays State, a 32-11 CSM win.

Mines has a pair of wrestlers within the individual NWCA D-II rankings: No. 9 Grayston DiBlasi (141), and No. 5 Anderson Salisbury (197).

LOOKING AHEAD
The Mountaineers host RMAC opponents New Mexico Highlands and Colorado State University Pueblo on back-to-back nights, Feb. 3 and 4. Western then closes out its regular-season RMAC schedule at No. 12 Colorado Mesa on Feb. 9.
    
    
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Players Mentioned

Alex Alvarez

Alex Alvarez

5' 4"
Redshirt Sophomore
Jason Hanenberg

Jason Hanenberg

Senior
Cole Hernandez

Cole Hernandez

Redshirt Junior
Hunter Mullin

Hunter Mullin

Redshirt Senior

Players Mentioned

Alex Alvarez

Alex Alvarez

5' 4"
Redshirt Sophomore
Jason Hanenberg

Jason Hanenberg

Senior
Cole Hernandez

Cole Hernandez

Redshirt Junior
Hunter Mullin

Hunter Mullin

Redshirt Senior