HAYS, Kan. – The Colorado Mesa men's wrestling team opened up 2021 on a high note after sweeping a pair of duals from nationally ranked MIAA opponents.
 
Colorado Mesa 22, #23 Newman 14
The Mavericks claimed five of the nine contested bouts and earned a forfeit in the 22-14 win over the Newman Jets to open the day up. They had two bonus point victories as the Mavericks received was a forfeit for Ryan Wheeler at 149 pounds and senior Donnie Negus earned a 9-1 major decision victory at 197 pounds.
 
The big win of the match came from freshman Gabe Carranza as he claimed a 3-1 sudden victory win over Jacob Stoneberger at 285 pounds to seal the upset victory. Carranza appeared to have earned a takedown on a couple of different occasions in the waning seconds of regulation but earned the takedown early in the extra period on the edge of the mat.
 
Cian Apple, Dylan Keeney, and Nolan Krone also claimed wins in the dual.
 
Bout-by-Bout Results
125: Cian Apple (CMU) dec JJ Gilbert, 10-9
133: Dylan Keeney (CMU) dec Jake Patch, 4-2
141: Tyler Lawley (NEWM) dec Daniel Magaña, 12-6
149: Ryan Wheeler (CMU) wins by forfeit
157: Baylor Smith (NEWM) dec Dyllan Fuchs, 8-3
165: #3 Kameron Frame (NEWM) tech falls Fred Green, 17-2
174: Noah Perkins (NEWM) dec Seth Latham, 8-5
184: #7 Nolan Krone (CMU) dec Nate Panagakis, 9-4
197: Donnie Negus (CMU) maj dec Ivan Balavage, 9-1
285: Gabe Carranza (CMU) dec Jacob Stoneberger, 3-1 (SV1)
 
Colorado Mesa 22, #12 Fort Hays State 21
The former RMAC rivals wrestled to five decisions and five bonus point victories with the Mavericks claiming two important ones in a 22-21 win over the Tigers.
 
Cian Apple held on for an 11-6 win at 125 pounds while Andrew Silva earned a hard fought 6-3 win at 141 pounds, replacing Daniel Magaña due to injury.
 
Fred Green picked up his first win of the season after a 13-2 major decision victory at 165 pounds before back-to-back matchups featuring nationally ranked opponents.
 
Seth Latham wrestled his best match of the year in an 8-5 win over sixth-ranked Martin Verhaeghe. Latham improves to 4-2 all-time in the individual series and controlled the match from the outset.
 
The Mavericks claimed both bouts as seventh-ranked Nolan Krone defeated ninth-ranked Aryus Jones 8-2 he earned a four-point nearfall at the end of the first round to stretch his early lead in the bout and held on for the win.
 
Donnie Negus claimed a come-from-behind win at 197 pounds earning a pin with six seconds left to seal the dual victory.
 
Fort Hays State claimed a pin at 133 pounds by second-ranked Mason Turner and a disqualification victory at 149 pounds due to a slam. The Tigers also earned a pin in the 285-pound bout.
 
Bout-by-Bout Results
125: Cian Apple (CMU) dec Broderick Green, 11-6
133: #2 Mason Turner (FHS) pins Collin Metzgar, 0:43
141: Andrew Silva (CMU) dec Rhett Edmonson, 6-3
149: Cole Zebley (FHSU) over Ryan Wheeler, DQ
157: Anthony Scantlin (FHSU) dec Dyllan Fuchs, 6-5
165: Fred Green (CMU) maj dec Cody Hicks, 13-2
174: Seth Latham (CMU) dec #6 Martin Verhaeghe, 8-5
184: #7 Nolan Krone (CMU) dec #9 Aryus Jones, 8-2
197: Donnie Negus (CMU) pins Tereus Henry, 6:54
285: AJ Cooper (FHSU) pins Gabe Carranza, 2:08
 
Colorado Mesa will return to action on Thursday for their first RMAC dual of the season. They will matchup with No. 10 Adams State in Brownson Arena at 6pm. Exhibitions will begin at 4pm with all the action broadcast on the RMAC Network.