The No. 6 Colorado Mesa women's wrestling team will compete for the first time in 2025 this weekend when they travel to the NWCA National Duals presented by the U.S. Marine Corps. This year's event will be held in Cedar Falls, Iowa at the University of Northern Iowa Dome and begins on Friday January 10.

START IT OFF RIGHT 
Colorado Mesa is blessed with a solid 1-2 punch at 103 pounds in four-time All-American Jennesis Martinez and freshman Madison Heinzer. Martinez is 3-0 on the season having competed in just the Chadron State Open as she recovers from injuries while Heinzer is 16-2 on the season and 10-0 in dual matches.

With Heinzer being unbeaten in dual matches, the Mavericks have started off every dual this season with a lead. This has been a big reason why Colorado Mesa is 9-1 in duals on the season heading into the Dual National Tournament.

BACKEND STRENGTH 
The Mavericks have also received a nice push from the wrestlers in the backend of the lineup at 145, 160, and 180 pounds. Each of those weights have gone 9-1 in the duals thus far. 

The combination of Erica Smith and Celina Cooke at 145 pounds, Gretchen Donnally and Kim Carlin at 160 pounds and Maggie Smith and Allison Evans at 180 pounds have gone a combined 27-3 in dual matches through the first half of the season. 

YOUTH MOVEMENT 
There has been a youth movement in women's wrestling across the country and at Colorado Mesa it is no different. The Mavericks have nine freshman that are making the trip to Iowa for the NWCA National Duals and will play a role in the lineup this weekend.

The Maverick freshman are a combined 45-6 in their matches during duals this season.  

QUICK SCOUT OF SACRED HEART 
The Mavericks will be taking on an opponent they have never faced before in a dual in Division I Sacred Heart. The Pioneers are 3-3 on the season in dual meets as they fell to arguably the three of the top teams in NCAA women's wrestling in King, North Central and McKendree in the Adrian Duals to open the season.  

Sacred Heart is coached by Paulina Biega and is the only coach in the program's history which began in the 2022-23 season. Biega currently has one ranked wrestler in the latest NWCA National Rankings in 180-pounder Madison Sandquist. Sandquist is a three-time All-American and has a record of 20-6 on the season. 

HISTORY AT THE NWCA NATIONAL DUALS 
This will be the fourth trip to the NWCA National Duals for the Mavericks and each of the previous three times they came away with a placement plaque. Last season the Mavericks placed eighth with wins over Elmira College and Emmanuel and losses coming to McKendree, Lindenwood, and Presbyterian. 

In their first two trips, Colorado Mesa reached the semifinals before falling twice to place fourth in both 2020 and 2023. The National Duals were not held in 2021 and the Mavericks had travel complications for the 2022 event that was held in Louisville.

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 Air Force Academy's East Gym this year on February 1. 

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 a site yet to be determined. 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 
The Mavericks will head to Nebraska for an RMAC Dual with Chadron State on Thursday January 16. This will be the third of four conference duals for Colorado Mesa and the have never lost to the Eagles going 4-0 the past two seasons. 

Colorado Mesa will also send a group of wrestlers to the York Open on Saturday January 18. They will compete against several NAIA programs and a few NCAA programs in a tournament style format. 

NWCA NATIONAL DUALS PROJECTED LINEUP 
103: Madison Heinzer, Fr., San Jose, Calif. (16-2 overall) 
110: Isabella Morales, Jr., Toppenish, Wash. (5-2 overall) 
110: #7 Sophia Cornish, Fr., Mission Viejo, Calif. (13-2 overall) 
117: Lorianna Piestewa, Fr., Gallup, N.M. (1-0 overall) 
117: Jojo McDaniel, Fr., Orting, Wash. (18-6 overall) 
124: Brooke McCurley, Fr., Round Rock, Texas (12-6 overall) 
124: Thalia Vogelsang, Fr., Houston, Texas (15-5 overall) 
131: Hania Halverson, Jr., Kalispell, Mont. (13-6 overall) 
138: Keyla Ajoleza, RSo., Capistrano Valley, Calif. (11-7 overall) 
138: Valerie Glenn, So., Gilroy, Calif. (2-2 overall) 
145: Erica Smith, Sr., Nuevo, Calif. (9-4 overall) 
145: Celina Cooke, Jr., Sparks, Nev. (13-5 overall) 
160: #3 Gretchen Donally, Fr., Ballantine, Mont. (17-2 overall) 
160: Kim Carlin, Jr., Loveland, Colo. (7-4 overall) 
180: Maggie Smith, RFr., Rock Springs, Wyo. (13-7 overall) 
180: Alison Evans, Fr., Colorado Springs, Colo. (11-2 overall) 
207: Isabeau Shalack, RJr., Evergreen Park, Ill. (3-4 overall)