WESTERN COLORADO at COLORADO STATE PUEBLO
6 p.m., Thu., Jan. 29 | Massari Arena | Pueblo, Colo.
Watch (PPV) | Live Results | Tickets
WESTERN COLORADO at NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS
6 p.m., Fri., Jan. 30 | John A. Wilson Complex | Las Vegas, N.M.
Watch (PPV) | Live Results | Tickets

PUEBLO, Colo., LAS VEGAS, N.M.  It is a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference road weekend for Western Colorado wrestling, as the Mountaineers take on the host ThunderWolves at CSU Pueblo on Thursday, then head south to N.M. Highlands to match up with the Cowboys on Friday evening.

WESTERN COLORADO HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND

• The Mountaineers tote a 6-4 overall record and a 0-1 RMAC record into the duals at Pueblo and Highlands.
• Western enters the RMAC duals with a pair of wrestlers ranked within their individual weight classes. Vincent Cabral is ranked 11th at 157 pounds in both the National Wrestling Coaches Association rankings as well as The Open Mat rankings.
• Devin Gomez skyrocketed to No. 8 in The Open Mat rankings at 125 pounds after he upset then-No. 14 Caleb Coyle during Western's dual last weekend at second-ranked Nebraska-Kearney.
• Other recent highlights of the season include Riley Butt capturing the title at 285 at the Jet Open hosted by Newman University on Jan. 4, and then a week later the Mountaineers recording wins in duals against Minot State, Cal Poly Humboldt, and Menlo College at the 35th Annual Tracy Borah Duals.

CSU PUEBLO HEADING INTO THE DUAL

• The ThunderWolves have a 4-5 overall record and have dropped their first two RMAC duals, but both coming against nationally ranked squads.
• CSUP's three-match losing streak have all been to ranked programs, in fact. It was dealt a 23-19 RMAC loss to No. 16 Adams State, then fell 39-3 to the RMAC's and 17th-ranked Chadron State. It's most recent defeat came in a 36-6 loss to No. 1 Central Oklahoma.
• Two ThunderWolves have earned individual rankings. Jacob Myers at 133 pounds is sixth in The Open Mat rankings and 11th on the NWCA list, while Eddie Bowman is 13th in the NWCA rankings at 14 pounds and 15th on The Open Mat list.
• CSUP earned a fifth-place finish at 133 from Myers at the Midwest Classic.

NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS HEADING INTO THE DUAL

• The Cowboys have dropped each of three RMAC duals this winter, losing to Colorado School of Mines (20-14), No. 18 Colorado Mesa (24-13), and more recently, to No. 15 Chadron State (30-9), as well as a non-conference loss (38-3) to No. 1 Central Oklahoma last Saturday.
• Highlands is led by Ivan Smith at 165 pounds. He is ranked third in The Open Mat rankings and eighth on the NWCA list. Smith captured one of two titles at the Bob Smith Open on Dec. 7.
• The other Bob Smith Open champion was Devin Kinlicheenie at 197 pounds.

UP NEXT

• Western will host No. 17 Chadron State on Feb. 5 in Paul Wright Gym.
• The dual is the Mountaineers' annual Wing Night, sponsored by 5B's Barbecue.