LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Colorado Mesa men's wrestling team finished in sixth-place at their first-ever trip to the NWCA National Duals at the Kentucky International Convention Center. Check out the quick recaps below;
 
#15 Colorado Mesa 34, Fort Hays State 10
The Mavericks won seven of the ten bouts on their way to a 34-10 win over regional and former Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference foe Fort Hays State to open Saturday's action. Sic of the seven wins came by bonus points for Colorado Mesa.
 
Cian Apple and Erik Contreras earned pins around a 13-1 major decision victory by Collin Metzgar in the first three bouts of the dual. The Tigers countered with back-to-back wins at 149 and 157 to keep the dual close early.
 
Alex Holguin picked up a major decision win at 165 pounds followed by an 18-0 technical fall win for Seth Latham at 174-pounds before Fort Hays State stopped the rally. Donnie Negus earned a second-round pin at 197-pounds and the Mavericks closed out the dual with a win at 285-pounds by Kash Anderson who filled in for the nicked up Gabe Carranza.
 
Bout-by-Bout Results
125 – Cian Apple (CMU) pins Broderick Green, 2:45
133 – #2 Collin Metzgar (CMU) maj. dec. Rhett Koppes, 13-1
141 – Erik Contreras (CMU) pins Cole Zebley, 4:11
149 – Cason Lindsey (FHSU) dec. Nick Gallegos, 3-2
157 – Anthony Scantlin (FHSU) maj. dec. Ariel Rodriguez, 13-2
165 – Alex Holguin (CMU) maj. dec. Cody Hicks, 10-0
174 – Seth Latham (CMU) tech falls Clint Herrick, 18-0
184 – #5 Martin Verhaeghe (FHSU) dec Jason Bynarowicz, 5-3
197 – #10 Donnie Negus (CMU) pins Tereus Henry, 4:25
285 – Kash Anderson (CMU) dec. Anthony Caldwell, 7-1
 
#3 McKendree 21, #15 Colorado Mesa 12
In the dual for fifth-place, Colorado Mesa matched up with one of the top teams in the country in No. 3 ranked McKendree. The Mavericks kept it close through five matches but a run of three straight wins including a pin at 184-pounds did them in during a 21-12 loss to the Bearcats.
 
McKendree won the first two bouts followed by a three-win run by the Mavericks. Erik Contreras, Nick Gallegos, and Ariel Rodriguez each picked up decision victories to make it 8-6 after a team point deduction.
 
The Bearcats answered with three straight wins before Donnie Negus stopped the streak at 197-pounds with a 12-0 major decision win.
 
Kash Anderson matched up with No. 2 ranked Ian Kuehl at 285-pounds and gave the ranked wrestler all he wanted. Despite the 5-2 loss, Anderson nearly had two takedowns in the waning moments of the third period which would have tied the bout at the time.
 
Bout-by-Bout Results
125 – #1 Christian Mejia (MCK) dec. Cian Apple, 4-1
133 – Tyler Delaware (MCK) dec. #2 Collin Metzgar, 4-3
141 – Erik Contreras (CMU) dec. Ryan Ripplinger, 10-6
149 – Nick Gallegos (CMU) dec. Joseph Semerad, 5-2
157 – Ariel Rodriguez (CMU) dec. Mason Gray, 15-11
165 – #4 Cory Peterson (MCK) dec. Alex Holguin, 3-2
174 – #6 Josh Jones (MCK) dec. Seth Latham, 4-3
184 – Rozell Baker (MCK) pins Jason Bynarowicz, 0:49
197 – #10 Donnie Negus (CMU) maj. dec. Max Rinklin, 12-0
285 – #2 Ian Kuehl (MCK) dec. Kash Anderson, 5-2
 
NWCA National Duals Team Placement

1. Central Oklahoma
2. St. Cloud State
3. Nebraska-Kearney
4. Newberry
5. McKendree
6. Colorado Mesa
7. Fort Hays State
8. Mercyhurt

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Western Colorado Open
 
Colorado Mesa sent a small contingent of wrestlers to the Western Colorado Open on Friday afternoon in Gunnison. The Mavericks had a champion and a total of six placers in the tournament. Check out all the results at the link provided at the top of the page.