The No. 9 Colorado Mesa women's wrestling team are on the road for a singular dual and a tournament this weekend in the great state of Nebraska. They will take on the Chadron State Eagles in a women's then men's doubleheader on Friday at the Chicoine Center before heading East for the York Open on Saturday.
NWCA WRESTLER OF THE MONTH
Freshman Alison Evans was named the NWCA Region 8 Co-Wrestler of the Month following a month where she went a perfect 7-0. Evans went 3-0 at the Chadron State Open on her way to a win at the event followed by a 4-0 effort at the Las Vegas Desert Duals that helped the Mavericks to a 5-1 record.
Evans joined her teammate Sophia Cornish who won the NWCA Region 8 Wrestler of the Month for November.
THE BEAUDOZER IS BACK
Redshirt junior Isabeau Shalack has had a strong run since the calendar flipped to 2025. Now ranked No. 9 in the most recent NWCA Rankings, Shalack has won her last six matches which includes a 5-1 decision victory over No. 7 ranked Ella Beam of Presbyterian in the final bout of the NWCA National Duals.
The Evergreen Park, Ill. native is now 31-16 in her career.
SCOUTING CHADRON STATE
Chadron State enters the dual on Friday evening with a 1-3 record on the season with their lone win coming over regional foe Minot State on December 6. They have had placers in every tournament except the Missouri Valley Open but had an individual champion in Esther Peters at their own Chadron State Open.
Peters along with Mana Chanthasone (103), Heavynne Robles Wright (110), and Shania Wear (117) provide the Eagles with some leadership as they have been with the program for over a year.
The Mavericks are 4-0 all-time against the Eagles in duals since the two programs have had a program. The closest bout came during the 2022-23 season when the two teams duked it out to a 24-23 CMU win with Samantha Vasquez late decision win over Kamila Montenegro at 170 pounds being the difference.
THE YORK OPEN
The Mavericks currently have 19 wrestlers entered into the York Open on Saturday while the tournament currently sits at 225 total wrestlers. The field of competitors is mixed with several NAIA and NCAA schools entered along with a couple top NJCAA programs in Iowa Western and Southeast CC.
THE NEW WEIGHTS
One of the changes to this year's season are the new weight classes. There are still 10 weight classes but have allowed for growth to help encapsulate more women competing in the sport. The new weight classes are as follows: 103, 110, 117, 124, 131, 138, 145, 160, 180, 207.
RMAC CHAMPIONSHIP HAS A HOME
After careful consideration and weighing several bids, the tournament will be in the Olympic City and home to the Olympic Training center in 2025. The RMAC Championship Tournament will be contested at the Reed Gymnasium on the campus of Colorado College this year on February 1. The site was originally supposed to be at the Air Force Academy's East Gym but switched due to the heightened security at the Academy.
The Mavericks will have the opportunity to send 15 wrestlers to the tournament and will look to defend their unofficial title as they finished with a tournament-high six champions and nine medalists. Texas Woman's, Adams State, Chadron State and Simon Fraser will also be in the field.
RMAC PRESEASON POLL
Colorado Mesa checked into the RMAC preseason poll at No. 2, just one-point behind 2023-24 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Champion Simon Fraser. The Mavericks garnered 14 points and two first place votes while the Red Leafs picked up 15 points and three first-place votes.
Adams State, Chadron State and Texas Woman's tied for the third position with seven points.
The RMAC Tournament has been set for Saturday February 1 at Colorado College. Colorado Mesa collected six individual championship and had nine medalists (top-3) in the inaugural event last season held at Regis University.
THE STAFF
Head coach Travis Mercado is in seventh season in charge of the program and is the only coach the program has ever had. He is 52-21 in dual matches and returns a solid lineup with six returning All-Americans in Jennesis Martinez, Isabella Morales, Erica Smith, Jayleen Sekona, Hailey Chapman, and Isabeau Shalack. He has had 35 All-Americans since starting the program ahead of the 2018-19 season and has had an All-American every season.
Marissa Gallegos enters her second 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 returning to the staff is volunteer assistant Jolynn Harris who is in her second season. Harris is a former Maverick wrestler and diver from 2019-22 who earned NWCA Scholar All-American honors during her career.
WHAT'S NEXT
Colorado Mesa will return home for their final home dual of the season when they host Adams State at 4pm on Saturday January 25 in Brownson Arena. The dual will be part of a men and women doubleheader with the Grizzlies.
COLORADO MESA PROJECTED LINEUP
103: Madison Heinzer, Fr., San Jose, Calif. (20-3 overall)
110: Isabella Morales, Jr., Toppenish, Wash. (7-2 overall)
110: #7 Sophia Cornish, Fr., Mission Viejo, Calif. (15-3 overall)
117: Jojo McDaniel, Fr., Orting, Wash. (20-9 overall)
124: Brooke McCurley, Fr., Round Rock, Texas (13-8 overall)
131: Hania Halverson, Jr., Kalispell, Mont. (17-7 overall)
138: Keyla Ajoleza, RSo., Capistrano Valley, Calif. (11-10 overall)
138: Valerie Glenn, So., Gilroy, Calif. (2-4 overall)
145: Celina Cooke, Jr., Sparks, Nev. (15-5 overall)
160: #10 Gretchen Donally, Fr., Ballantine, Mont. (18-5 overall)
180: #10 Alison Evans, Fr., Colorado Springs, Colo. (11-5 overall)
207: #9 Isabeau Shalack, RJr., Evergreen Park, Ill. (8-4 overall)
