We continue our trip down the all-decade team path as we enter the month of November and the beginning of winter sports. The men's wrestling team is next up and deciding to pick a true 'team' was rather difficult, we decided to pick the top ten wrestlers of the decade.
 
During the 2010s, the program saw its first NCAA National Champion, a program best seven NCAA national qualifiers in 2015, and at least one all-American in nine straight seasons which is a RMAC best amongst schools currently in the conference.
 
Our first honoree on the all-decade team was an all-American during the magical 2015 season, 174 pounder Randy Boerner. The Thornton, Colo. native finished his career with a 65-23 record, winning nearly 74 percent of his matches, and finished eighth at the national tournament in 2015.
 
Jason Buhr wrestled for the Mavericks from 2014-19 and is the only recipient on the list to not have won an all-American award but that doesn't mean he didn't have some incredible accomplishments along the way. The La Jara, Colo. native posted 111 wins in his time, third most since the program was reinstated, and went to three NCAA Championship tournaments.
 
Our next recipient wrestled for the Mavericks from 2010-14, Dylan Granard. Granard is one of just three multi-time all-Americans on the all-decade team having picked up the honor in 2012 and 2014 while qualifying for the NCAA Championships three times. He won 99 matches in his career which is fourth all-time since the program was brought back in 2006.
 
Marcus Haughian spent one season with Colorado Mesa after transferring from Grand Canyon University following the discontinuation of wrestling. Haughian made the best of his one season, earning all-American honors at 197 pounds in 2016. He finished the season at 18-11 and placed third at the RMAC Championships in February that season.
 
James Martinez is one of, if not the most decorated wrestlers in Colorado Mesa history. Martinez claimed three all-American honors during his career capped by winning the 157-pound NCAA National Championship in 2015. Martinez had 115 wins during his career and had a program best 39 wins, winning nearly 93 percent of his matches, during his national championship season. (Martinez Earns First NCAA National Championship)
 


Our next recipient on the all-decade team competed twice at the NCAA National Championships, Bruno Nicoletti. The Aurora, Colo. native won 86 matches in his career in a Maverick singlet and reached the semifinals at the national tournament in 2018 before settling for fifth-place at 174 pounds.
 
Las Vegas native Eduardo Penha is our next recipient on the all-decade team. Penha spent two seasons at Colorado Mesa but could only compete one season due to transfer rules. He made the most of his one season, going 27-3 and finishing third at the NCAA National Championships at 141 pounds during the 2019 season.
 
Nick Petersen spent two seasons with the Mavericks and didn't waste any time racking up the honors. The Delta, Utah native had 58 wins in his two years, winning over 72 percent of his matches, and earned all-American honors both seasons at 184 pounds. He placed seventh in both 2012 and 2013 at the national meet.
 
Our next member of the all-decade team wrestled in 144 matches as a Maverick, Jordan Passehl. The Western Slope product won 86 matches in his career and earned all-American honors in his lone trip to the NCAA Championships during the 2015 season. Passehl placed eighth at the tournament at 285 pounds.
 
Our final all-decade team recipient is local product Daniel Salazar. The Clifton, Colo. native placed fourth at the NCAA Championships during the 2017 season to earn all-American honors for the first time in three trips to the national tournament. Salazar tops the list of individual wins since the program was brought back with 120 wins.
 
Men's Wrestling All-Decade Team
Randy Boerner, 2013-16
Jason Buhr, 2014-19
Dylan Granard, 2009-14
Marcus Haughian, 2015-16
James Martinez, 2010-15
Bruno Nicoletti, 2013-18
Eduardo Penha, 2017-19
Nick Petersen, 2011-13
Jordan Passehl, 2010-15
Daniel Salazar, 2012-17
 
Honorable Mention: Paco Retana, Drew Schumann, Zak Slotten, Payton Tawater
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Previous All-Decade Team Releases
Women's Swimming & Diving - Oct. 29
Men's Swimming & Diving - Oct. 29
Women's Soccer - Oct. 22
Men's Soccer - Oct. 15
Football – Oct. 8
Men's and Women's Tennis – Oct. 1
Volleyball – Sept. 24
Men's and Women's Cross Country – Sept. 17
Men's and Women's Golf – Sept. 10