The Colorado Mesa University women's wrestling team will compete in their fourth-ever home dual on Saturday as they will take on the Schreiner Mountaineers (Kerrville, Texas) at noon in Brownson Arena.
 
SEASON OF CHANGE
By now, most people surrounding athletic departments have embraced the season of change approach. That is no different with the women's wrestling program.
 
The Mavericks were scheduled for a rematch with nationally ranked Emmanuel College on Saturday but was canceled due to contact tracing at their campus in Georgia. That is just one of the changes on the horizon.
 
The NCAA women's wrestling programs are still unsure whether or not regional tournaments will take place for the first time or not along with the site of the second WCWC National Championship as speculation has arisen if the tournament can be held in Adrian, Mich. again. Stay tuned.
 
MAVERICKS AT HOME
Colorado Mesa will be hosting their fourth-ever home dual as a program when they face Schreiner, a NCAA Division school, on Saturday.
 
The Mavericks are 2-1 all-time in Brownson Arena having fallen to NAIA No. 1 Wayland Baptist during the 2018-19 season. They fell 33-14 in that dual having won three of the ten bouts. One win came from now Junior Kaylee Lacy who earned a 10-0 tech fall win at 136 pounds. She is slated to wrestle at 143 pounds this weekend.
 
They have also earned wins over Lindenwood in the inaugural season and a win over Midland University of Nebraska last season in the first-ever Fall Brawl.
 
EARLY SEASON SUCCESS
After just one weekend of action and against some of the top competition in the nation, Colorado Mesa experienced a decent amount of success in those matches.
 
Redshirt sophomore Marissa Gallegos went 6-1 in the weekend including two over ranked opponents. Her pin of Payton Stroud of McKendree was the best win of her weekend as she entered ranked No. 7 at 123 pounds and earned wins in a couple of larger open tournaments.
 
Junior Kaylee Lacy went 6-3 in her matches on the road. The Grand Junction native had a big win over No. 7 ranked Julia Padilla of Emmanuel by pin with 12 seconds left in the bout. Two of her three losses came at the hands of wrestlers that have qualified for the Olympic Trials later this year in Emma Bruntil of McKendree and Ashlynn Ortega of King.
 
Heralded freshman Tristan Kelly finished the weekend at 5-1 with three of her four wins coming by technical fall in her debut weekend. Her lone loss came to Joye Levandusky of McKendree whom she also lost to at the U23 World Team Trials in November, this time by a score of 7-2.
 
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS
Schreiner has competed just twice this season once at the York Duals and a day later at the York Open. They had two placers at the York Open in Jordan Johnston who placed fourth at 143 pounds and third place finisher Alina Kinsey at 116 pounds.
 
The Mountaineers had two wresters ranked in the NWCA Preseason poll but neither have wrestled thus far this season. Serena Cervantes was No. 8 at 130 pounds while Mirian De La Garza was No. 8 at 191 pounds.
 
THE COACH
Head coach Travis Mercado is entering his third season leading the Mavericks and has them prepared for the season ahead. Mercado has a 11-13 record overall in duals including 7-4 mark a year ago and a fourth-place finish at the NWCA National Duals and the WCWC National Championships.
 
Prior to Colorado Mesa, Mercado was an assistant coach at King University in Tennessee where he oversaw the women's program and assisted with the men's team. At King, Mercado trained ten USA Olympic Trials competitors and nine USA Junior National Team members.
 
Last year, Mercado was named the head coach for Team USA at the Junior Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The team would have included the top finishers at the Junior World Team trials that were postponed due to COVID.
 
FREE YEAR
With uncertainty rampant during the college wrestling season this year, the NCAA granted all winter sports student athletes (Basketball, Wrestling, Indoor Track, Swimming & Diving) an extra year of eligibility similar to what took place during the fall season with football, volleyball, soccer and cross country.
 
So, in terms of eligibility, the year you see on the roster for the Colorado Mesa men's wrestling team this year, will also be their year next year as well.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
The Mavericks will head out on the road next weekend for three duals. They will take on the Lindenwood Lions at 5pm (MT) on Friday February 5 before a pair of duals on Sunday in Lebanon, Ill. against top ranked McKendree and North Central College (IL).
 
Schedule of Events
Saturday January 30
12pm – Schreiner dual
Approx. 1pm – Extra Matches
 
Projected Lineup
101: #3 Jennesis Martinez, So., Albuquerque, N.M. / Manzano (2-3 overall)
109: Hailey Ward, Fr., Turlock, Calif. / Turlock (0-0 overall)
116: #7 Anja Tschohl, So., Andover, Kan. / Andover (4-4 overall)
123: #3 Marissa Gallegos, RSo., Denver, Colo. / Jefferson (6-1 overall)
130: Holly Beaudoin, Fr., Poulsbo, Wash. / North Kitsap (4-4 overall)
136: #2 Dalia Garibay, So., Brentwood, Calif. / Freedom (0-0 overall)
143: Kaylee Lacy, Jr., Grand Junction, Colo. / Grand Junction (6-3 overall)
155: Zoe Gress, Fr., Hoosick Falls, N.Y. / Hoosick Falls Central (3-4 overall)
170: Tristan Kelly, Fr., Erie, Colo. / Douglas County (5-1 overall)
191: Isabeau Shalack, Fr., Evergreen Park, Ill. / Evergreen Park (3-2 overall)