GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Colorado Mesa wrestling team came away with four of the ten champions at the Colorado Mesa Open on Saturday in Brownson Arena. The host Mavericks had nine total top three finishes on the day in their own tournament.
 
Newcomer Dawson Collins won the title at 125 pounds after knifing his way through the bracket. Collins secured a 17-2 technical fall win over Gabriel Gray of Wayland Baptist for his first win as a Maverick. He then earned a 21-6 technical fall win over Salahdin Farukh of Sierra College in the semis before taking out teammate Cian Apple in the final by major decision 12-4.
 
At 133 pounds, Collin Metzgar finished the day 3-0 on his way to the title. Metzgar won his quarterfinal match by pin at 2:20 over Binyam Barila of Western Colorado before a narrow 7-6 win over Alex Pena of Wayland Baptist in the semifinals. In the championship bout, the Colorado Springs native pulled out a 5-1 win over Nick Krug of the Air Force Academy for the title.
 
True freshman Alex Holguin may be cementing himself as the starter at 165-pounds. Holguin captured the title at the weight after defeating teammate Braeson Lewis 10-5 in the tournament final. The Arenas Valley, N.M. native went 4-0 on the day and had a decision victory, a sudden victory and a technical fall on his way to the title bout.
 
Redshirt freshman Gabe Carranza pinned his way to the title at 285 pounds. He defeated Blaine Nye of Colorado State in 3:45 in the quarterfinals before pinning Travis Adams of Montana State-Northern in the semifinals at 4:52. Carrana's quickest pin came in the title bout with a quick 2:04 fall of Zeke Alleman of Dixie State to claim the championship.
 
The tournament featured teams from all levels including NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NAIA, NCWA, and Junior College. It was the largest-ever tournament the Mavericks have hosted in terms of total entries which came in at 146.
 
Colorado Mesa will host Dixie State in a dual on Sunday at 1pm in Brownson Arena. They will head out on the road next weekend for the UNK Younes Hospitality Open in Kearney, Neb. Where several the Mavericks top wrestlers will make their debut in Seth Latham, Nolan Krone and Donnie Negus.