The Colorado Mesa men's wrestling team is headed to Indianapolis for the prestigious Midwest Classic, hosted by the University of Indianapolis. The tournament is slated to begin on Saturday morning and will conclude by Sunday afternoon.
 
DOWN WITH THE SICKNESS
Like most winter sports teams, the Mavericks were struck down with sickness just before the non-conference dual with Western Colorado back on Thursday December 1. At least three Maverick wrestlers were hampered by or were forced to sit out that dual.
 
Dawson Collins had just come back from being sick and wrestled against Patrick Allis where he fell by major decision while both redshirt sophomore Ryan Wheeler (157) and sophomore Alex Holguin (174) did not wrestle at all.
 
As of today, the Mavericks are healthy and set to travel to the Midwest Classic at full strength pending wrestle-offs this week.
 
THE GUS BUS
Redshirt freshman Gus Dalton made a dazzling debut to the dual lineup against Western Colorado two weeks ago. Dalton, who missed most of the fall with an injury, wrestled his first match of the season in the dual and found himself matched up with No. 4 ranked and returning all-American Hunter Mullin.
 
Dalton left Paul Wright Gym later that night 1-0 after a 15-13 thrilling match with Mullin where he led 13-3 at one point of the bout and held on for the narrow win.
 
The Emery, Utah native is 22-8 in his career and was in the running for the most dominant wrestler in Division II despite redshirting during the season.
 
NEW TO THE LINEUP
Freshman Alex Castaneda made his dual lineup debut in the dual with Western Colorado. He took on a tough opponent in Mountaineer Jason Hanenberg, ranked No. 9 by the NWCA, and fell by technical fall 19-4.
 
Despite the setback, Castaneda is 8-3 on the season after placing fifth at the Mines Rookie Open and third at the UNK Younes Hospitality Open. The Eaton, Colo. native is slated to head to the Midwest Classic this weekend and will attempt to make it three for three in his tournament appearances as a freshman.
 
SCOUTING THE FIELD
The 43^rd annual Midwest Classic is scheduled for this Saturday and Sunday at the University of Indianapolis with 46 of the top schools in all of NCAA Division II Wrestling scheduled to attend with No. 3 Central Oklahoma, tie for No. 4 UIndy and Lander, No. 6 Pitt Johnstown, and tied for ninth Gannon and Central Missouri all scheduled to attend.
 
Last season, the Mavericks came away with two placers and a champion from the event. Collin Metzgar became the first Colorado Mesa wrestler to earn a championship at the event as he knocked off Reece Barnhardt of Mary in the final 6-4 at 133 pounds.
 
Dawson Collins was the runner-up at 125 pounds while Ryan Wheeler placed seventh at 157 pounds.
 
COACHING STAFF
Longtime coach Chuck Pipher officially announced his retirement from coaching wrestling just as the season started. Assistant coach Mike Mendoza and Bo Pipher are currently handling the day-to-day duties.
 
Mendoza has been with the program since 2019 after making stops at Northeastern Junior College, Boise State, Cal State Bakersfield, and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference foe Adams State. He spent time as the head coach at Northeastern JC where he elevated the program from an 0-6 dual record when he took over to an 11-3 mark in his final season. He was also the head coach at Boise State the year prior to the school dropping the program.
 
Bo Pipher, nephew of Chuck Pipher, was a three-time Colorado State Champion and wrestled for Cael Sanderson at Penn State for four seasons before graduating. He is in his second season with the program after assisting with the team a year ago helping Dawson Collins and Collin Metzgar to the NCAA National Championship Tournament.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Things don't get easier for the Mavericks following the NCAA mandated winter break as they will head out to the NWCA National Duals in Louisville, Ky. The Mavericks placed sixth at last year's event as they fell to No. 1 Central Oklahoma and No. 3 McKendree while defeating No. 18 Mercyhurst, UNC Pembroke and Fort Hays State.