The No. 4 ranked Colorado Mesa women's wrestling team will compete in a pair of duals tonight on the road in Alamosa. They will take on the Adams State Grizzlies in a dual followed by a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference matchup with Texas Woman's as a part of a triangular. Duals are scheduled to begin at 6:00pm this evening inside Plachy Hall.
 
THE DEETS
Colorado Mesa comes into tonight's duals ranked No. 4 with the new rankings due out today and have won 23 of their past 25 duals they have competed in dating back to January 30, 2021. They are currently 2-0 on the season in duals with wins over Chadron State and Snow Junior College, who is ranked No. 4 in the NJCAA ranks.
 
The Mavericks enter tonight's dual relatively healthy with Kiely Tablado being the only dual time decision at 116 pounds.
 
BACK ON THE MAT
No. 1 ranked Jennesis Martinez is scheduled to compete this evening for the first time since the season opening tournament in Brownson Arena. During that tournament, Martinez went 3-0 en route to the 101-pound title at the Maverick Open where she didn't surrender a point.
 
Martinez is 59-18 in her career now and is shooting for her fourth all-American honor this year. It is also the first time in her career she has gained the No. 1 individual ranking.
 
THE MATCHUPS
The Grizzlies will host their first-ever duals this evening having competed in just the Maverick Open on November 4 and the Bob Smith Open at Fort Hays State last Sunday. They had four placers at the Bob Smith Open including a runner-up finish from Bella Devoto who is now 3-4 on the season.
 
The Pioneers are gaining steam in their second season with a program under the direction of former Olympic Medalist Randi Miller. They are coming off a tri-dual split last weekend as they defeated Chadron State and dropped a one-point decision to Schriener in Denton, Texas. Nari Miller is the Pios top wrestler and could bounce between 155 and 170 where she is 7-3 on the season.
 
ELEVATING TO A CONFERENCE
In April, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference announced it would be sponsoring the sport of women's wrestling marking it as one of only two conferences (Conference of the Carolinas) to do so. The conference will feature Colorado Mesa, Adams State, Chadron State, Texas Woman's, and Simon Fraser as members with each doing a single round robin for duals. They will conclude with the RMAC Tournament on February 3 at a site yet to be determined.
 
Colorado Mesa was the inaugural pick to win the conference in the preseason coach's poll.
 
THE STAFF
Head coach Travis Mercado is in sixth season in charge of the program and is the only coach the program has ever had. He is 32-15 in dual matches and scored a program best 108 points at the National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championship giving the program a fourth-place finish at the National Meet. He has had 29 All-Americans since starting the program ahead of the 2018-19 season and has had an All-American every season.
 
New this season, the Mavericks added a full-time assistant that most Maverick fans will recognize. Marissa Gallegos enters her first season on the coaching staff and will assist in the day-to-day operation with duties including but not limited to work-out plans, recruiting, and advanced scouting. Gallegos capped her career with an undefeated season and the program's first National Champion.
 
Also, back to help in a volunteer role is Jolynn Harris who spent last season as a diving graduate assistant coach and part-time wrestler at McKendree.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Colorado Mesa will head to Sin City next weekend for the Las Vegas Desert Duals that take place in the Ballroom at the Flamingo Hotel. The Mavericks are set to compete in six duals with a couple of those earmarked for high importance. The first would be their fourth dual of the day where they will compete against Simon Fraser, a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference counter, and the second a matchup with the University of Iowa.
 
COLORADO MESA ENTRIES IN THE MISSOURI VALLEY OPEN
101: #1 Jennesis Martinez, RJr., Albuquerque, N.M. (5-0 overall)
109: #9 Adriana Gomez, Fr., Laveen, Ariz. (11-3 overall)
116: #10 Kiely Tabaldo, Fr., Sunnyvale, Calif. (6-0 overall)
123: Hania Halverson, So., Kalispell, Mont. (7-1 overall)
130: #7 Hailey Chapman, So., Lake Arrowhead, Calif. (5-2 overall)
136: #4 Holly Beaudoin, RJr., Poulsbo, Wash. (1-0 overall)
143: Valerie Glenn, Fr., Gilroy, Calif. (9-6 overall)
155: #2 Dalia Garibay, RJr., Brentwood, Calif. (2-1 overall)
170: Melena Jones, RJr., Kansas City, Mo. (3-4 overall)
191: Shandiin Largo, RSo., Gallup, N.M.(7-5 overall)