#9 Mines at Western Colorado, Saturday, 7 p.m. [RMAC Network] [Live Results]
 

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THE MEET
The two lone unbeaten in RMAC competition will meet Saturday as #9 Colorado School of Mines (6-2, 4-0 RMAC) heads to Gunnison to face off against Western Colorado (9-5, 2-0 RMAC). The dual will be streamed live on the RMAC Network.

LAST TIME OUT
Mines stayed perfect in RMAC competition, never trailing as they defeated #25 Colorado Mesa on the road 28-11. The Orediggers were led by Nolan Funk's overtime upset of #8 Donnie Negus at 197, while Ryan Fidel and Weston Hunt secured pins and Noah Ottum had a major decision. Matt Lavengood, Jake Woods, and Robert Gambrell also added decisions. The win was Mines' fourth in a row and third straight over a top-25 opponent.
 
IN THE POLLS
Mines was a big mover in the last NWCA top 25 poll, cracking the top 10 for the first time in program history with the #9 team tournament ranking. Mines individuals made big jumps in the rankings as well as Robert Gambrell (10-1) moved up one spot to #2 at 174 pounds, while Weston Hunt (9-2) went up three places to #4 at 285 pounds and Skyler Lykins (15-2) had a six-spot leap to #6 at 165. Earning his first career ranking was Anderson Salisbury (17-6), who debuted at #12 at 184 pounds. Western Colorado is receiving votes in the team poll with two ranked individuals in #10 Patrick Allis (125) and #12 Jimmy LaConte (174).

THE HUNT FOR THE RMAC TITLE
The winner of Saturday's dual will take over sole possession of first place in the RMAC as Mines comes in 4-0 and Western 2-0. The Orediggers own wins over New Mexico Highlands, San Francisco State, Chadron State, and Colorado Mesa; Western has beaten Adams State and Chadron State, and beaten Colorado Mesa out-of-conference as well. WCU will face San Francisco State Friday night. Three teams – Colorado Mesa, Adams State, and CSU-Pueblo – sit behind Mines and Western with one loss.

SCOUTING WESTERN COLORADO
The Mountaineers are 9-5 overall and 2-0 in the RMAC; they are coming off a 2-1 showing at Midwest Duals on Jan. 25 where they beat #23 Northern State 20-17 and Newman 21-17 but lost 32-9 to #3 Nebraska-Kearney. Their lineup is led by #10 Patrick Allis at 125 (22-6), who is the reigning RMAC Wrestler of the Week, and #12 Jimmy LaConte at 174 (14-9).

LAST YEAR VS. WESTERN COLORADO
Mines upset then-#9 Western Colorado 25-16 last year in Golden, led by a Robert Gambrell pin and tech falls by Noah Ottum and Skyler Lykins. Noah Au-Yeung, Connor Ventura, and Weston Hunt also had wins for the Orediggers. The win was Mines' first over the Mountaineers since 2002-03.

LEADING THE WAY
This season, Mines has some familiar faces and some new ones leading the way. Anderson Salisbury leads the team in wins at 17-6 with Skyler Lykins second at 15-3. Lykins and Jake Woods boast the team's best dual record (7-1) and Lykins has the top record versus D-II opponents (13-3). Woods leads the team with 30 dual points, Salisbury leads the team in major decisions (4) and tech falls (4), while Woods and Nolan Funk co-lead the team with five falls each. Carter Noehre owns the season's fastest fall at 0:23.

SCHEDULE CHANGE
Mines' next home dual on Feb. 7 vs. #13 Adams State has been moved up one hour to a 6 p.m. start time.

#9 MINES at WESTERN COLORADO PROJECTED LINEUPS
125 - Matt Lavengood (6-1) vs. #10 Patrick Allis (22-6)
133 - Jake Woods (11-5) vs. Cody Fatzinger (11-12)
141 - Wes Rayburn (14-7) or Taylor Gambill (2-2) vs. Jason Hanenberg (10-7) or Nicholas Braswell (7-11) or Jody Sandoval (7-7)
149 - Noah Ottum (9-7) or Carter Noehre (4-3) vs. Giovanni Cassioppi (16-12)
157 - Ryan Fidel (12-6) vs. Cole Mortensen (6-8)
165 - #6 Skyler Lykins (15-3) vs. Michael Thelen (9-12) or Hunter Mullin (11-9)
174 - #2 Robert Gambrell (11-1) or Perry Rodenbeck (2-5) vs. #12 Jimmy LaConte (14-9) or Hunter Mullin (11-9)
184 - #12 Anderson Salisbury (17-6) or Connor Ventura (1-4) vs. Ruger Wyneken (13-5)
197 - Nolan Funk (12-8) vs. Espen Weber (2-9)
285 - #4 Weston Hunt (10-2) vs. Sammy deSeriere (9-6)