The Mesa State Wrestling team held its Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Home Opener yesterday afternoon and came away with a convincing victory. They took on the Colorado Mines Orediggers who were receiving votes in last weeks National Wrestling Coaches Association poll. The Mavericks won eight of the ten matches to come away with the win 28-7.

          Clay Flot (Kersey, Colo.) got things started at 125 pounds. Flot came away with a 14-0 major decision over Oredigger Elias Arias.

          The 'Diggers and Mavericks would trade wins in the next four bouts with the Oredigger's picking up a decision victory at 133 pounds and a major decision at 149 pounds. The Mavericks Bery Tack (Cheyenne, Wyo.) picked up a 6-0 victory at 141 pounds.

          Jon Gappmaier (Salt Lake City, Utah) stepped out on the mat at 157 pounds. Gappmaier trailed Mines' Jamie Sheets for the better part of the first two periods by a score of 3-0. With about 10 seconds left in the second period, Jon scored a takedown and took Sheets to his back for a five point swing. Gappmaier led 5-3 after two full periods. In the third, Gappmaier once again took Sheets to his back, but this time held him there to pick up the pin (6:32.) Gappmaiers fall brought the dual score to 13-7 in favor of the Mavericks.

          Mesa State's Dylan Granard (Woodinville, Wash.) scored a 7-5 decision over Jordan Larsen at 165 pounds to improve his record to 24-9 and 5-0 in the RMAC. Granard's 24 wins is the second most in a season at Mesa State since the program was reinstated in 2006.

          Freshman Zak Slotten (Twin Falls, Idaho) scored a win at 174 pounds to push the Maverick lead to 19-7.

          The hottest wrestler for the Mavericks right now might be 184 pounder Kyle Brightman (Cheyenne, Wyo.) Brightman notched a 9-4 decision over 'Digger Bradley Price to clinch the dual for the Mavericks 22-7. Brightman is currently riding an eight match win streak and is 4-1 in RMAC matches this season.

         Shane Miller (Gardnersville, Nev.) and Trevor Stapp (Tempe, Ariz.) closed the dual out, each picking up decision victories.

          Mesa State is now 6-5 on the season and 3-2 in the RMAC.

          The Mavericks will hit the road again this week with a dual scheduled against Chadron State in Chadron, Neb. on Thursday and a select bunch will compete in the Rocky Mountain Open on Saturday in Golden, Colo.

Mesa State v. Colorado Mines Final Results