The Mesa State Wrestling team battled RMAC rival Western State on Thursday night. Western State came into the dual ranked 6th in the country by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA). Mesa State would lose the dual 28-12. Western State won 7 of the 10 bouts including four straight from 174 to 285.

                Mesa State forfeited at 125 pounds to Western State's Kyle O'Brien to start the dual off.

                Sophomore Tyler Nelson (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) put the Mavericks on the board at 133 pounds. Nelson defeated Mountaineer Cody Cole 5-4. Cole led 5-4 with 13 seconds left in the match before Nelson scored a reversal to take the lead and secure the win. Western State led 6-3 in the dual.

                At 141 pounds, 8th ranked Jesse Cruz earned a major decision victory over Redshirt Sophomore Rhett Breed (Durango, Colo.)10-0. 

                Sophomore Trevor Donarski (Powell, Wyo.) got the Mavericks back into striking distance with a win over Justin Keys 3-2. Donarski scored an escape and a takedown in the third period to take the lead in the bout 3-1 and coasted to a 3-2 victory. The win cut the Mountaineer lead to 10-6.

                Maverick Sophomore Jon Gappmaier (Salt Lake City, Utah) dropped a 5-2 decision to Justin Morris at 157 pounds. Western State extended its lead to 13-6 with the win.

                The Mavericks answered right back at 165 pounds. Redshirt Freshman Dylan Granard (Woodinville, Wash.) won by fall over Mountaineer Zach Frazier to cut the Mountaineer lead to 13-12. Granard led 7-2 heading into the third period and scored the fall at the 1:17 mark.

                True Freshman Zak Slotten (Twin Falls, Idaho) made his RMAC dual debut tonight. Slotten fell to Western State's Jorge Benitez 3-1 in OT. Slotten evened the score at 1-1 with an escape eight seconds into the third period but Benitez scored a takedown with 16 seconds left in the overtime period. Western State then led in the dual 16-12.

                In the 184 pound matchup, 2nd ranked Charlie Pipher of Western State pinned Maverick Junior Kyle Brightman (Cheyenne, Wyo.)at the 4:25 mark in the match. Western State led 22-12.

                Senior Shane Miller (Gardnersville, Nev.) had the toughest matchup of the night. Miller had the task of taking on defending National Champion and #1 ranked Donovan MacMahill of Western. Miller would lose by decision 7-2. Western State would clinch the dual with the win with a lead of 25-12. 

                Senior Trevor Stapp (Corona Del Sol, Ariz) made his debut tonight at heavyweight. Trevor is coming off an All-RMAC football season at tackle for the football team. Stapp would lose his first match of the season 3-1 to Kyle Graulus of Western State.

                                Mesa State will take part in the UNK Loper Open on December 11 before taking two weeks off for the Christmas Break.

Mesa State v. Western State Results