MANHEIM, Pa.— Two Colorado Mesa University Mavericks wrestlers were ranked in the NCAA Division II Men's Preseason Rankings, recently released by the National Wrestling Coaches Association.
Alex Castaneda is ranked fifth at 149 pounds while
Dayson Torgerson is ninth at 125 pounds.
As a team, the Mavericks are listed in receiving votes category, based on a tournament power index off of the individual rankings. The Mavs have 14 points, just two off a spot in the top 25.
Castaneda, a fifth-year out of Eaton, Colorado, strung together a successful season last year earning a 17-12 record as well as placing third at NCAA Super Region VI Tournament to qualify for the NCAA National Championships.
Torgerson is expected to return to the lineup after redshirting during the 2025-2026 season. Prior to that, the senior out of Aurora, Utah was an All American at the 2024-25 NCAA National Championships, where he finished seventh. He boasted an impressive 23-8 record that season. During last year's redshirt season
Dayson Torgerson competed unattached at four different notable open tournaments, placing in the top four at each and compiling a 15-3 record.
Adams State is the lone Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference school in the top 25 and sits 20
th in the preseason national team rankings. Western Colorado, New Mexico Highlands, CSU Pueblo and Chadron State all have nationally-ranked wrestlers as well.
Fellow NCAA Super Region VI foe and returning national champion, Nebraska-Kearney is ranked second with 62.5 total points and has six nationally ranked wrestlers. Nebraska-Kearney falls only behind number one ranked Glenville State, who has nine ranked wrestlers and 70 points in the power index.
The Mavs, who finished 25
th at last year's NCAA Championships, will host their annual Marron vs. White Intrasquad dual at 2 p.m. on Sunday (Nov. 1) in Brownson Arena.
Colorado Mesa will then officially open the season on Nov. 8 at the Mines Rookie Open and will compete in their first home dual against New Mexico Highlands on Dec. 6 at 2 p.m.
