GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Colorado Mesa men's wrestling team came into tonight's (Jan. 27) dual with New Mexico Highlands still riding the high from a big win the night before against No. 8 Adams State, but they didn't let it get to their head as they took care of business in a 44-6 win over the Cowboys in Brownson Arena.
The Mavericks, No. 12 in the most recent NWCA National Rankings, used six pins and two major decisions to secure the win and stay unbeaten and all alone at the top of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference standings.
The one-two punch of
Dawson Collins (125) and
Collin Metzgar (133) was in full effect again this evening as Collins earned a 14-2 major decision followed by a pin for Metzgar to give the Mavericks the 10-0 lead after two bouts.
New Mexico Highlands answered back at 141 pounds then the Mavericks rattled off five straight wins with four of those coming by fall to put the Cowboys away early.
Freshman
Alex Castaneda earned a pin at 149 pounds followed by
Ryan Wheeler's first round pin at 157 pounds.
Gus Dalton capped the streak at 165 pounds with a first-round pin of Colin Brown.
Redshirt senior
Braeson Lewis earned the spot start in place of the injured
Alex Holguin. Lewis wrestled well and came away with a 13-2 major decision victory at 174 pounds.
Jason Bynarowicz earned the fifth pin of the evening as he secured a first-round pin with just one second remaining on a front cradle during the 184-pound matchup.
Highlands earned a 3-2 win at 197 pounds before redshirt freshman
Ruben Samuelson earned a third period pin during the 285-pound matchup.
Colorado Mesa will be back in action next week on the road for a pair of duals against CSU Pueblo and Colorado School of Mines.
Bout-by-Bout Results
125: #6
Dawson Collins (CMU) maj. dec. Rhys Sellers, 14-2
133: #9
Collin Metzgar (CMU) pins Andres Jiron, 4:08
141: Joe Misitano (NMHU) dec.
Denim Torgerson, 9-3
149:
Alex Castaneda (CMU) pins Deklyn Miller, 3:58
157: #6
Ryan Wheeler (CMU) pins Evan Kilgore, 2:10
165: #9
Gus Dalton (CMU) pins Colin Brown, 2:05
174:
Braeson Lewis (CMU) maj. dec. Thomas Tolbert, 13-2
184:
Jason Bynarowicz (CMU) pins Lance Kilgore, 2:59
197: Zach Ferris (NMHU) dec.
Kash Anderson, 3-2
285:
Ruben Samuelson (CMU) pins Kioni Benally, 5:22
