GUNNISON, Colo. – Select members of the Colorado Mesa men's wrestling team competed in the Western Colorado Open on Friday (Jan. 5) afternoon just ahead of Saturday's Tracy Borah Duals inside Mountaineer Fieldhouse. The Mavericks had a total of ten placers in the event including one champion.
 
Redshirt sophomore Ruben Samuelson breezed his way through the 285-pound bracket as he finished 3-0 on the day with all his wins coming by fall. He opened the day with a 46 second fall of unattached wrestler Jose Rosales followed by a second period pin of Western Colorado's Drew Johnson at 4:34 to head to the final.
 
In the final, he defeated Air Force Prep's Myles Johnson with a pin at the 53 second mark of the match to move his season record to 7-3 on the season. The placing was also his second of the season.
 
Estevan Maldonado placed third at 149 pounds after going 5-1 on the day. He finished the day with three falls, a technical fall, a major decision and a decision victory for his first placing of the season. Maldonado earned a pin over Adams State's Travis Vialpando in the third-place match while three of his other victories in the tournament came against opponents from Western Colorado.
 
The redshirt junior moved his season record to 6-3.
 
Braden Baumgartner placed fourth at 197 pounds after going 3-2 on the day. Baumgartner earned two wins over Western Colorado and a win over Minot State on his way to the third-place match. The redshirt sophomore fell by major decision in the third-place match.
 
Redshirt freshman Logan Noble placed fifth at 184 pounds after going 3-2 on the day.
 
The Mavericks will be in action tomorrow at the Tracy Borah Duals with their first dual to take place at 10:30am against New Mexico Highlands.